Auburn Football: Crime Must Show Steps for Tigers to Remain Competitive in SEC

It doesn't matter what you did previously, when you win three games in a time. That's where Auburn finds itself after going 3-9 (0-6 SEC) last season following a championship plan. Gus Malzahn's return to the Tigers has undoubtedly encouraged some hope on the list of Auburn faithful. As offensive coordinator of the Tigers in 2011, yards were averaged 5.24 by Auburn per carry, which ranked sixth in the first and place in the SEC. Cam Newton was on the staff then, but Auburn also ranked 11th in the world in yards per carry without Newton this year. Crime will be important for the Tigers if they expect you'll jump from the disastrous 2012 period. Last year, they placed 114th in the united kingdom in points per game (18.7). That incorporated rank 79th in yards per carry and 58th in yards per pass endeavor, via CFBStats.com. Touchdowns were tossed eight by tigers quarterbacks to 15 interceptions. Senior running back Tre Mason should have a stellar season, for starters. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry last year, but frankly did not have the ball enough (171 bears for 1,002 yards). It is likely that he will receive in 2013 to a much bigger workload, particularly with sophomore Mike Blakely transferring throughout the offseason. His leg damage early in the spring probably will not hurt his likelihood of beginning, despite having the stable work fromACameron Artis-Payne andACorey Grant. Brandon Marcello of Al.com noted on Monday that Malzahn "didn't feel all that bothered with Mason standing on the sidelines with a leg injury." However the work of Artis-Payne and Grant will probably be worth noting. Artis-Payne, a college transfer, displayed the rate, power and arms during the A-Day game to be an advantage out from the backfield. He'd a 42-yard reception that raised eyebrows. Grant had his second consecutive strong spring. The quarterback condition is the largest item of concern, though. Senior Kiehl Frazier and sophomore Jonathan Wallace have now been fighting for the spot this spring. Malzahn told WarEagleExtra.com that it was a "dead heat" between the two quarterbacks this spring. You would have to think Frazier would fundamentally land under middle, given his understanding of the fact and the machine that Malzahn seriously recruited him in 2011. As Travis Haney of ESPN.com observed, Malzahn can create Frazier like he did Chris Todd back in 2009. Simply speaking, the Tigers do have a talented backfield and if Malzahn can bring out Frazier's potential, maybe it's a stunning bounce-back plan for Auburn.

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