West Virginia won't face the same Auburn team it did nearly a year ago when the Mountaineers travel south this weekend.
Instead of encountering a struggling Auburn squad trying to find its offensive identity, West Virginia must try to stop an offense that ranks fourth in the nation through two weeks.
"Going into the season, we didn't know what to expect," first-year Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "We still don't know what to expect. We've only played two games."
But after those two games, the Tigers are averaging 572.5 yards. Auburn is also the second-best rushing team in the nation, bested only by Air Force. Behind a slew of running backs and dual-threat quarterbacks, the Tigers are averaging 345.5 yards on the ground.
"It's going to be very, very difficult to contain Auburn," said WVU coach Bill Stewart, whose team won last year's matchup, 34-17.
After experimenting with a spread passing attack last year, the Tigers ended the season as a more conventional running team. This year, Stewart said Auburn's offense is similar to a spread in that it runs at a high tempo, but it doesn't use four- and five-receiver sets.
"They can run it all. They can run the draw, they can run the power, the belly, the zone," Stewart said. "It's fun to watch, when you aren't playing them."
In addition, Auburn has a Wildcat element with wide receiver/quarterback Kodi Burns. He started under center against WVU last year.
"When you've got somebody back there that's as fast as him, it's hard to contain," WVU nose tackle Chris Neild said. "Him being in the Wildcat is going to be even harder for us."
When the teams played last year, Auburn ranked 108th in total offense. The Tigers are averaging nearly 50 more yards on the ground than it did heading into last year's game.
Because of Auburn's improvement in the running game, Stewart said it's imperative for West Virginia to take an early lead and try to force Auburn to pass.
Neither Louisiana Tech nor Mississippi State could do that against Auburn this season.
"They'll volley, and we'll volley," Stewart said. "I just hope we return well enough."
Notes: WVU defensive tackle Scooter Berry (sprained shoulder) and linebacker Reed Williams (sprained foot) are day-to-day after leaving last Saturday's game against East Carolina in the first half. Both are expected to travel with the team this weekend, but Williams' situation is "brighter," according to Stewart. ... West Virginia implemented two new packages to its offense against ECU - the pistol and Wildcat formations. Both are used to trick defenses and keep the offense less predictable, said Stewart, who would like to keep both packages. ... WVU running back Noel Devine had 207 yards rushing against Auburn last season. Stewart said the junior running back was able to exploit the man coverage the Tigers were playing. Auburn, under new defensive coordinator and former Duke head coach Ted Roof, is varying its coverages more on defense this season.
Instead of encountering a struggling Auburn squad trying to find its offensive identity, West Virginia must try to stop an offense that ranks fourth in the nation through two weeks.
"Going into the season, we didn't know what to expect," first-year Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. "We still don't know what to expect. We've only played two games."
But after those two games, the Tigers are averaging 572.5 yards. Auburn is also the second-best rushing team in the nation, bested only by Air Force. Behind a slew of running backs and dual-threat quarterbacks, the Tigers are averaging 345.5 yards on the ground.
"It's going to be very, very difficult to contain Auburn," said WVU coach Bill Stewart, whose team won last year's matchup, 34-17.
After experimenting with a spread passing attack last year, the Tigers ended the season as a more conventional running team. This year, Stewart said Auburn's offense is similar to a spread in that it runs at a high tempo, but it doesn't use four- and five-receiver sets.
"They can run it all. They can run the draw, they can run the power, the belly, the zone," Stewart said. "It's fun to watch, when you aren't playing them."
In addition, Auburn has a Wildcat element with wide receiver/quarterback Kodi Burns. He started under center against WVU last year.
"When you've got somebody back there that's as fast as him, it's hard to contain," WVU nose tackle Chris Neild said. "Him being in the Wildcat is going to be even harder for us."
When the teams played last year, Auburn ranked 108th in total offense. The Tigers are averaging nearly 50 more yards on the ground than it did heading into last year's game.
Because of Auburn's improvement in the running game, Stewart said it's imperative for West Virginia to take an early lead and try to force Auburn to pass.
Neither Louisiana Tech nor Mississippi State could do that against Auburn this season.
"They'll volley, and we'll volley," Stewart said. "I just hope we return well enough."
Notes: WVU defensive tackle Scooter Berry (sprained shoulder) and linebacker Reed Williams (sprained foot) are day-to-day after leaving last Saturday's game against East Carolina in the first half. Both are expected to travel with the team this weekend, but Williams' situation is "brighter," according to Stewart. ... West Virginia implemented two new packages to its offense against ECU - the pistol and Wildcat formations. Both are used to trick defenses and keep the offense less predictable, said Stewart, who would like to keep both packages. ... WVU running back Noel Devine had 207 yards rushing against Auburn last season. Stewart said the junior running back was able to exploit the man coverage the Tigers were playing. Auburn, under new defensive coordinator and former Duke head coach Ted Roof, is varying its coverages more on defense this season.
