Auburn defense preparing for 'unexpected'

AUBURN – The Tigers defense spent the entire offseason focused on matching up with a pro-style, heavy running attack from Arkansas.

After a very effective first half by the Razorbacks corps of three tailbacks, Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson made some adjustments at halftime of last week's game, resulting in Arkansas gaining just two rushing yards in the second half.

The style of attack is completely different tonight, as San Jose State comes to the Plains with a pass-first offense and with its top running back suspended. The absence of Jarrod Lawson didn't stop the Spartans from running the ball 40 times for 150 yards against FCS opponent North Dakota last week, making it difficult for Auburn to know what to expect from the SJSU offense tonight.

"It's that time of year we've got so many unknowns," Johnson said. "Is this a new skill set and their play selection different, or were they just kind of working on a game plan for that particular game? I think we're going to have to be really prepared for the unexpected."

"… But they have a little bit of our offense in their offense, and they have a little bit of Arkansas. They substitute liberally in personnel packages, and that's why we have to go in prepared for just about anything."

Even with a 40-to-26 disparity in play calls towards the run, SJSU still passed for 256 yards compared to 150 rushing last week and was far more effective in the air.

"I think it'll be kind of a balanced attack," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "They definitely have some talent."

Malzahn cited the Spartans' 62-52 win over then No. 16 Fresno State at the end of last season, their first over a ranked opponent in 13 yards, as evidence of how good the Spartans are, but this is not the same team as a year ago. Quarterback David Fales, who set career and single-season offensive records at SJSU, is now in the NFL and little is known about fifth-year quarterback Blake Jurich, who entered the season with 92 career passing yards and 208 career rushing yards.

SJSU has historically favored the passing game, and even if they try to run early on, will probably trail by so much, so early, that Jurich will be forced to pass for most of the second half.

Jurich does have some reliable targets to aim for, leading with Tyler Winston, who had 10 catches for 96 yards and two touchdowns last week.

Johnson was impressed with SJSU's receiving corps.

"I don't see any of them ever drop anything, if it gets within reach where their hands can touch it, they make catches," he said. "They make them behind the back, they make them over their head, they make them low, they throw them in the dirt and they dig them out. They're really good. When I say 'behind the back' I mean it, back shoulder, they catch everything.

"You literally have to throw it out of reach before their guys miss balls."

Still, it's hard to see a team with so little experience, size and overall talent hanging with a top five team on the road for very long.

Even as 31-point favorites, Malzahn is focused more on how his Tigers execute their plan than what the Spartans do.

"We're going to do what we do, we've got to get better and that's the way we're approaching it," Malzahn said. "There won't be anything that changes or not play these guys as much. No, we're going at this thing and we're going to try to get better from Week 1 to Week 2."