Search still on for consistent pass rush

AUBURN -- With just one sack on a blitz by linebacker Cassanova McKinzy in Saturday's 45-21 win over Arkansas, Auburn's defense is still in need of pass rush.

The Tigers had nine quarterback hurries on Brandon Allen's 31 drop backs but seven were by blitzing players, including Robenson Therezie's hit that led to Jermaine Whitehead's pick-six.

"We rotated a lot of different guys, looked at some different people at it, still feel like we've got some guys that can really get it done, but the majority of our pressure in the second half came from blitzes and a couple of things we put in in that odd package," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "But I think we've got to improve in that area."

Johnson said Montravius Adams, Gabe Wright, McKinzy, Elijah Daniel and LaDarius Owens are "probably our best" group of pass rushers, it's a matter of them executing.

"I think we've got the right guys working in the pass rush," Johnson said. "We've just got to get better."

With a predominantly passing team like San Jose State coming to town Saturday night, Auburn should have more opportunities to create pressure in the backfield.

"We definitely need to get better at pass rush," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "If you think back to this time last year, it was real similar and we got better each week. That's what we're working really hard to do."