Behind the Box Score: Auburn

The box score is a bit deceiving this week, as LSU was in cruise control for most of the second half, exchanging yards (and even points) for time. Auburn's offense didn't cross the 50 in the first half, and then scored three touchdowns in the second. That pretty sums up the difference in intensity. Still, there is still some lessons to be learned from the box score, primarily regarding how badly LSU beat Auburn down.

19-228-3. We have to start with Leonard Fournette's line. If anything, it short changes how spectacular he was this weekend. He didn't have a single fourth quarter carry because the staff was protecting him after a slight injury, but also in a show of mercy.

174. The combined passing yards of both teams. LSU can explain away its 74 yards passing, as Fournette kept busting huge runs, and then the team had such a huge lead that there was no sense throwing the ball. But Auburn? Teams that are losing, especially by a large margin, tend to throw the ball more in an attempt to come back. Throwing for only 100 yards in a blowout loss is unspeakably terrible. I guess that Jeremy Johnson Heisman campaign is never going to get off the ground.

41. The number of rushing yards gained by Darrel Williams on 8 carries. This total ranked fourth for LSU, behind Fournette (228), Harris (66), and Guice (55). It's also the total number of rushing yards gained by Jeremy Johnson, Auburn's leading rusher. He did gain 94 yards, but lost 53 on sacks. Auburn's leading running back, Roc Thomas, had 37 yards on 8 carries.  Yeah, LSU completed dominated the running the game, on both sides of the ball.

18:41. LSU's time of possession in the first half. Controlling the clock by a nearly 3:2 advantage helped strangle any chance Auburn had of keeping pace in this game. LSU's offense is not quick strike, it is slow, merciless torture. LSU had four drives of at least 50 yards in the first half, and three of them required at least six plays. Meanwhile, Auburn's offense was trapped in the mud, and kept giving the ball right back with almost no time coming off the clock. LSU games go quickly, by reducing the number of possessions. The first half was a master class.

7-7. The teams combined for a perfect day in the red zone. Every trip, for either team, resulted in points. Even more importantly, it usually resulted in a touchdown. Only once did a team settle for a field goal inside the 20. LSU went 4 of 5 on converting red zone opportunities into a touchdown, and 5 for 5 on successfully scoring points. This was one of the LSU offense's big issues from last season and so far this year, it is a complete reversal. LSU is taking advantage of its opportunities to get points.

5. The number of sacks. LSU now has 8 sacks in SEC play. This is a year after LSU only had 19 sacks on the season, and only 11 in SEC play. Devon Godchaux had two sacks, pushing his season total to three. That number would have been the second best on the team last season, and more than any player had in SEC play. Ed Orgeron is worth the money.