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Auburn Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Oregon in Week 1

By Shelbie Warr

AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson #3 and linebacker Jeff Holland #4 of the Auburn Tigers celebrate after sacking quarterback Shai Werts #4 of the Georgia Southern Eagles during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on Saturday, September 2, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 2: Defensive lineman Marlon Davidson #3 and linebacker Jeff Holland #4 of the Auburn Tigers celebrate after sacking quarterback Shai Werts #4 of the Georgia Southern Eagles during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Jordan Hare Stadium on Saturday, September 2, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images) /
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OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 20: Running back JaTarvious Whitlow #28 of the Auburn Tigers looks to run the ball by Tylan Knight #28 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS – OCTOBER 20: Running back JaTarvious Whitlow #28 of the Auburn Tigers looks to run the ball by Tylan Knight #28 of the Mississippi Rebels during the second half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /

1. The run game needs to establish itself

The Oregon defensive front has the ability to be a special unit within the Pac-12 thanks to a couple extremely talented freshman joining the unit this year. Kayvon Thibodeaux, Mase Funa and Keyon Ware-Hudson all have the ability to come out and make a big-time impact against the run for Oregon. Which will be good for them in this one because Auburn’s run game isn’t exactly great.

Auburn’s run game sputtered quite a bit in 2018. In fact, it finished four separate games with under 100 rushing yards. That won’t work against Oregon — I’m telling you that right now.

This team needs good production night from its running backs. Of course, part of that is going to be the offensive line play. The unit is loaded with five senior starters that may not be obnoxiously special, but they have the ability to do enough to finally establish a consistent run game.

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JaTarvious Whitlow and Kam Martin are the duo for Auburn this year and the two are simply too talented to slip through the cracks and barely manage 100 yards week in and week out. This unit will have to establish itself against Oregon or things will ugly bad in a hurry.

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