COLUMN: Georgia's rushing success has Auburn fans longing for good ole days of 2019

The Auburn defensive front was torched for more than 200 yards rushing in a 27-6 loss to Georgia on Saturday. (Auburn Media Relations)

By GRAHAM DUNN

Any good fortune the Auburn Tigers built in last week’s win over Kentucky was quickly erased in Georgia’s relatively easy 27-6 victory Saturday at Sanford Stadium.

Last week’s Georgia offense was voted off the island and was replaced with a more succinct bunch that kept the Auburn defense on its heels and fans wondering where Derrick Brown, Marlon Davidson, et al had gone.

What was considered “no man’s land” last year, the AU defensive interior running lanes were a walk in the park for the Bulldogs’ rushing attack. Georgia ran the ball 38 times between the tackles, gained nearly 180 yards, 12 first downs and scored twice.

The rushing success allowed walk-on Stetson Bennett to use the deep route successfully against a secondary that was forced to be in two places at once.

The Dawgs’ offensive success supports the old adage of a good running attack leads to a better passing attack.

That’s John Heisman football, not Mike Leach.

The night was also a constant reminder of who is not in the middle of the D-line for Auburn this season.

It’s a tough notion for Auburn fans. But reality sometimes hits square in the nose.

News flash - last year’s defense was a special group.

Another news flash – the replacements are still trying to figure out which way is up and unfortunately has to do it against an SEC foe every week as opposed to facing a Kent State or Alabama A&M every now and then to learn the ropes.

It’s the story for every team in the league and in Auburn’s case, there was no time to fiddle with the lineup before facing one of the nation’s best teams.

The irony is Auburn’s defensive group may be better in a month when this game is traditionally played… or was. Georgia is going through a learning curve, as well, but it seems to have found out more in two games, particularly at quarterback where a walk-on former JUCO player enjoyed something Bo Nix is still looking for – a win in the South’s Oldest Rivalry.

The 125th version of this series will not go down in history as anything more than a dominant Georgia victory.

And it’s doubtful any statues will be erected around Jordan-Hare Stadium to celebrate last year’s defensive front, but plenty of honor is owed to the group that may have saved Gus Malzahn’s bacon the last couple of years.

Those sculptures might gain more traction as the season progresses, especially if Auburn can’t find more victories.