Tate: 'We're just awful' on offense

AUBURN - Offensive players were still searching for answers a day after Auburn's offense fell apart during the final three quarters of Vanderbilt's 14-13 win.

Three plays into the game, it looked like the Tigers had returned to "Auburn football" and abandoned the spread. Tailback Ben Tate ran off-tackle on a counter play for 40 yards on the first three plays.

"It felt really good," Tate said. "The offensive line was loving it. We were loving it. I'm pretty sure the fans were loving it. We were marching right down the field. It was good overall."

The Commodores ultimately stopped Auburn on a goal-line stand on the drive, but Auburn seemingly found a way to dominate the line of scrimmage.

When Vanderbilt adjusted, bringing both safeties into the box, Auburn went to play-action. A play-action passed produced Auburn's second touchdown when Chris Todd hit Mario Fannin for a 28-yard score.

After halftime, though, Auburn set out to throw the ball more. The Tigers came out in the spread offense, went three-and-out on three consecutive drives to open the half and never regained momentum.

Many offensive players are still wondering why the offense went away from the runs from Ace formation.

"We came out in the first quarter and rushed for about 100 yards and looked like the Auburn of old," center Ryan Pugh said. "We got our confidence going and then all of a sudden we completely go away from it.

"As a player, it's frustrating. As someone watching the game, I'm sure it's frustrating. To come out like that and then come out and lay an egg in the second quarter and the second half is really embarrassing on offense."

Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was unavailable to the media Sunday, normally the only day he speaks with reporters after practice. Franklin wasn't available to the media after Saturday's game either.

Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said he's trying to make it easier for Franklin to coach by not having to deal with the media.

Tuberville said the Tigers went away from the run because of Vanderbilt's adjustments and because Auburn doesn't currently have many plays from the Ace formation.

Pugh later contradicted Tuberville when he said "you're always going to have a lot (of plays)."

Back in the spread, Auburn's season-long offensive woes continued.

"We're definitely trying to find our identity," Tate said. "As an offense, to be truthful, we're just awful. There's no other way to put it. Your numbers don't lie. When you look at yourself on film, that doesn't lie either. Other teams are probably just licking their chops. We're just not good on offense right now. We just have to find a way to get better."

Tuberville said Auburn will expand on its Ace formation package this week.

He also said he thinks the package could have been helpful in the second half as well.

"Hindsight, we might have been able to do it a little more in the second half but it all comes back to getting done with whatever you do," Tuberville said. "We did some new things in the second half that we felt would work, maybe the same that they had not seen. We tried to do one or two new things where they can't adjust during halftime but obviously it didn't work."

This time, it cost Auburn a game.

Vanderbilt took the lead midway through the third quarter. The Tigers never mounted a real scoring threat after the lead change.

"I just want to do whatever works," Pugh said. "No one likes to go out there and lose. Whatever gives us the best chance to win as a player. It doesn't really matter if we throw it every down or run it every down."