Focusing on Positives for Auburn Football after Iron Bowl Loss
After a disappointing end to the regular season for Auburn football, we take a look at the positives from the 2016 season following the Iron Bowl.
Auburn’s 30-12 loss in the Iron Bowl was a sour way to end the regular season, but there were a lot of positives for Auburn football this year.
Things did not look bright after a terrible 2015 season where the Tigers barley made a bowl game, and wound up in the Birmingham Bowl.
Coming into the 2016 season the team remained without an answer at quarterback, and we really didn’t know what our identity would be on offense.
Our defense was once again dealing with a new coordinator, this time in Kevin Steele.
Gus Malzahn was on the hot seat, and after a 1-2 start it looked like he wasn’t going to make it through the season.
Injuries certainly plagued Auburn at the end of the season, but on the whole Auburn fans should be happy with the season.
Offensive Identity
Auburn is still without an answer at quarterback as the regular season ends – although you hope Woody Barrett is ready next year – but we do have an identity on offense.
After Gus Malzahn struggled to find any success on offense through the first three games, Rhett Lashlee came in and established the running game with Kerryon Johnson and Kamryn Pettway.
That led to Auburn averaging almost 300 rushing yards per game and putting up unreal numbers on the ground.
If Barrett does take over the starting quarterback job next year, I think Auburn’s run game gets even better.
Dominate Defense
Kevin Steel took over a defense that struggled with tackling over the previous two or three season, and he helped build one of the best defensive units in the country.
The defensive line was absolutely amazing, and even though we’ll likely lose Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams after the season, there is a young core of talent there to make sure the defensive line is solid for years.
I thought the linebackers really emerged this season, especially Tre’ Williams, and all of them will be back next year.
Carlton Davis and Joshua Holsey will become two of the best shutdown corners in all of college football.
Going forward, Auburn should continue to have one of the best defenses in college football.
Bright Future
More from Fly War Eagle
The end of the regular season certainly wasn’t how we wanted to finish. That loss to Georgia will sting until we beat them next year.
However, Auburn football finished as the second best team in the SEC West, which essentially makes them the second best team in the SEC.
The future certainly looks bright for Auburn football as we are setup to contend for the SEC Championship for years to come.
War Eagle!
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