How will Arkansas approach defending Auburn this time around?

All-22 Film and Cut-ups from 2013 Arkansas vs Auburn 

Part 1: Inside Zone

When Auburn rolled in to Arkansas last season no one could predict that the Tigers would go on to play in the BCS National Championsip Game. It took several unbelievable plays to get there, but nonetheless the engine behind their success was the run game. Against Arkansas one individual concept plus  a few variations proved to be enough on the road at DWRRS. The Inside Zone play, and the use of Nick Marshall as a run threat on the Inside Zone Read amounted for a majority of their 233 yards rushing.

The Razorbacks actually did a decent job slowing Auburn down overall offensively. That number of 233 yds was fourth lowest of the season with Florida St. at 232 yds (Auburn Loss) , LSU 213yds (Auburn Loss), and Mississippi St with the fewest at 120yds. (Bulldogs Lost 24-20 on go ahead TD pass with 10 sec left)

Obviously without the three offensive turnovers Arkansas would have had a much better chance of winning the game. This season at Auburn will not be any easier than it was last year if the Razorbacks are not able to slow down the Indy, Indy Read, and Indy Back plays. I was able to get some ALL 22 Film to break down exactly where the 2013 Defense struggled, and I will also show what new DC Robb Smith's approach might be to stopping the Auburn Inside Zone/Read.

1st and 10 at AUB 19

Tre Mason rush for 15 yards to the Aub 34 for a 1ST down.

Auburn busted a few big runs on the very first drive that set the tone. 

Wide View:



Mason and the other Auburn running backs used this play to gash the Arkansas defense throughout the first half. The defensive tackles for Arkansas both see double teams, and do a good job of holding ground and fighting through the blocks. The problem occurs in the design of the play which brings the linebackers away from their gap responsibilities.




Nick Marshall is sort of reading #42 Chris Smith, but it is all for show. The play is intended to bounce away from the direction of the FB Jay Prosch and off of LT Greg Robinsons block. It is a called give all the way like a majority of Malzahns Zone Read plays.

Arkansas Linebackers post snap:

The biggest issue for the Linebackers on this play involves reading the QB Mesh while simultaneously reading the blocks of the offensive lineman.

At the mesh point in the pic above, you can see the threat of the QB to pull on the backside causes Ellis #51 to fill the C Gap to his left along with DE #42 Smith. This allows the QB to essentially block 2 defenders himself and keeps them from pursuing from the backside.

Also #39 Lake has moved to the play side A gap directly across from Mason and Marshall. Due to the double teams up front on the defensive tackles there is no path for Lake to take in order to gain ground on the RB. At this point he is beat, but the defense is designed for Lake to spill the back outside where the SS and Corner should have an angle.

But there is another problem on this particular play in that the DE #86 crashes inside and leaves an easy bounce to the outside. Normally this tactic of a scrape exchange would work, but the SS is not able to contain Mason due to the crack block (gets in the way) of the WR.  In the pic below you can see the WR who is blocking down on the SS Turner. If the WR would have made a better block on this play it would have been a TD instead of a 15 yd gain.

 Mason has open grass from the hash marks to the sideline to make a move 1 on 1 with the Corner, which was a bad matchup for the defense.

The SS Alan Turner uses a good angle and has the speed to keep the RB from getting up the sideline but the end result is a huge gain.

Window Dressing:

1st and 10 at AUB 34

Tre Mason rush for 9 yards to the Aub 43.

Malzahn then followed it up with the same play just with different "window" dressing. He had Mason line up in the slot and motioned into the backfield for the mesh with the QB.

As you can see here it is the same exact play, but this time the DE stays outside and makes Mason take the inside path instead of breaking to the outside as he did on the previous play.

The result is still a 9 yd gain but the LB missed Mason in the hole at the LOS, and the WR doesn't get much of a block again and actually trips Mason in the process. This is a more sound approach to stopping the play with mistakes not occurring in alignment or technique as much as over pursuit.

Mistakes by the Defense on this series:
1. Linebackers being over aggressive in flowing toward the read side of the play
2. DE crashing inside to chase the QB mesh instead of slow playing and forcing ball carrier inside.

These two plays set the stage for the rest of the cat and mouse game that goes on in adjustments. Arkansas changed personnel and went to a slightly different scheme in the 2nd half.

In part 2 I will look at how Arkansas played the Indy Read (designated keep by Marshall), and Indy Slice plays later in the game with different adjustments. Also will look at what Mississippi St. was able to do to hold the Auburn rushing attack to 120yds. Then in the final part I will attempt to put together what Robb Smith will have in store for Auburn.