Magic or Mastery: Can Auburn replicate 2013's run?

Gus Malzahn’s predecessor won a national championship in his second season at Auburn.
So, perhaps in his second year in charge on The Plains Malzahn can duplicate what Gene Chizik was able to accomplish in 2010.

Of course, Malzahn came tantalizingly close to bettering Chizik a year ago when the Tigers shocked the nation by winning the SEC championship and then came within 13 seconds of the national title.

There are reasons to bet on Malzahn this year. He has quarterback Nick Marshall back. The Auburn offensive line projects as one of the best in the country. The receivers are big-play threats. The defense figures to improve in its second season under Defensive Coordinator Ellis Johnson.

Yet, there may be more reasons to be skeptical.

Brilliant running back Tra Mason, a Heisman Trophy finalist who rushed for more than 1,800 yards in ’13, has gone to the NFL. So has mammoth offensive left tackle Greg Robinson and Dee Ford, the Tigers’ best pass rusher a year ago. Both were first round selections in the NFL Draft. The Tigers must also replace an all-conference cornerback as well as their punter and kicker.

But the primary question facing the Tigers is whether that game-winning pass Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston threw to Kelvin Benjamin in the national championship game put an end to a remarkable streak of good fortune Auburn enjoyed.

Sure, the Tigers were good. But they were even luckier.

Last season Auburn posted five victories by eight points or less. Three times the Tigers scored game-winning touchdowns in the final 30 seconds. That included a returned missed field goal to beat Alabama with no time remaining and an improbable deflected touchdown pass to beat Georgia with 25 seconds to go.

The Tigers also escaped Texas A&M, 45-41, when the Aggies were at the Auburn 18-yard line in the final seconds.

Auburn doesn’t figure to be that lucky again in 2014.

But if their second year under Malzahn, maybe the Tigers won’t need to be.

Auburn Tigers

Coach: Gus Malzahn

2013 record: 12-2

Returning starters:

• Offense (8): QB Nick Marshall, WR Quan Bray, WR Sammie Coates, TE C.J. Uzomah, G Alex Kozan, C Reese Dismukes, G Chad Slade, T Avery Young
  
  
• Defense (6): DE LaDarius Owens, DT Gabe Wright, WLB Casanova McKinzy, STAR Robenson Therezie, CB Jonathan Mincy, FS Jermaine Whitehead
  
  
• Special teams (1): KR Corey Grant

Position of strength: Even though Greg Robinson departed for the NFL, the offensive line remains one of the best in the country. All-SEC C Reese Dismukes heads a group of four returning starters up front. Last season the line enabled the Tigers to lead the nation in rushing yards with a 328.3 average. They also allowed just 28 sacks.

Position of concern: The secondary looks like the Tigers’ Achilles Heel. Two starters from their SEC championship team are gone — including all-conference CB Chris Davis. Safety Ryan Smith, who had 62 tackles and three interceptions last season, is also gone. Even with them the Tigers allowed 258.6 passing yards per game and were ranked 100th in the nation in pass defense. That was also with Ford, now departed to the NFL, supplying a pass rush.

Obviously, Auburn’s secondary wasn’t very good last season. The Tigers aren’t likely to be much better this year. But maybe they won’t have to be because there doesn’t appear as many quarterbacks in the SEC this year that can take full advantage of those potential shortcomings.

Time is now: Offensive tackle Shon Coleman was a five-star rated prospect and considered the top player in Mississippi when he signed with Auburn in 2010. But just weeks after he signed, Coleman was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He underwent treatment at St. Jude’s Children’s Regional Hospital and in 2012 was cleared by doctors for limited practice. Last season he backed up Robinson, who was the second player selected in the NFL Draft. Now at 6-6, 310-pounds, Coleman is projected to finally step into the starting lineup.

Emerging newcomer: WR D’haquille Williams was rated a five-star prospect after posting 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns for Mississippi Gulf Coast C.C. He demonstrated remarkable ability in the spring and will give the Tigers another deep threat to go along with Sammie Coates.

Schedule analysis

The Tigers figure to get off to a fast start. They’d better.

Auburn’s place in the SEC West, its annual game against Georgia and adding South Carolina in place of Tennessee as an opponent from the SEC East gives the Tigers a very challenging schedule. Indeed, eight Auburn foes posted at least eight victories a year ago.

The going gets treacherous in October and continues through November when the Tigers' clashes with South Carolina and Georgia are mixed in with the SEC West grind. Auburn gets a break on Nov. 22 against FCS member Samford, but then travels to face Alabama.

2013 schedule:

• Aug. 30 vs. Arkansas
• Sept. 6 vs. San Jose State
• Sept. 18 at Kansas State
• Sept. 27 vs. Louisiana Tech
• Oct. 4 vs. LSU
• Oct. 11 at Mississippi State
• Oct. 25 vs. South Carolina
• Nov. 1 at Ole Miss
• Nov. 8 vs. Texas A&M
• Nov. 15 at Georgia
• Nov. 22 vs. Samford
• Nov. 29 at Alabama