Rhett Lashlee: Failed third downs 'most disappointing' part of first half

AUBURN – Converting on third-and-short was a near-certainty for Auburn last season.

Nick Marshall would hand the ball to Tre Mason, or occasionally ran it himself, and the sticks moved moments later.

Auburn's efficiency on third down in 2013 was what made the struggles early in Saturday's game so startling.

Cameron Artis-Payne, who converted 9-of-13 times on third-and-one to three last season, failed on consecutive attempts from third-and-one during the second quarter of Auburn's eventual 45-21 drubbing of Arkansas.

"The most disappointing part of the first half was probably the third and shorts," Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "That's something we were really good at last year, so we've really got to be better in that area moving forward. We had chances with the lead to stay on the field and maybe try to extend our lead."

Auburn was up 21-14 and went three-and-out after Artis-Payne was stopped for a loss. Arkansas tied the game on the ensuing 93-yard drive.

The Tigers went three-and-out again, losing all the momentum they had built after taking a 21-7 lead, when Artis-Payne was stopped in his tracks again.

"They threw a couple of different looks at us from the backside," said Artis-Payne, who went on to finish with a career-high 177 yards and a touchdown. "Once we got that down, we executed after that."

Lashlee explained the Tigers were unable to "cut off" back side blitzes on both situations and Artis-Payne "never had a chance on either" play.

"That's why on the first one you see CAP get hit and it's unfortunate because if we do a good job of picking and hinging on the back side it would have been more than a first down, it'd have been a pretty big play," Lashlee said. "The second time we just got beat underneath on the back side, got beat underneath by a spiking defensive end. … That's an area we've got to tighten up. That's definitely an area we got to improve in."