Gus Malzahn knows some close finishes this season are inevitable.

Considering half of Auburn’s regular-season foes were ranked in the top 13 of the preseason coaches poll, it’s highly likely the Tigers will go down to the wire against at least a few opponents.

And when facing a margin 3 points or fewer in the clutch, Auburn wants its kicker to be prepared for anything.

Tigers placekicker Anders Carlson, the younger brother of three-time Lou Groza Award finalist Daniel Carlson, heads into his redshirt sophomore season after a fair amount of inconsistencies last year. The Colorado Springs product was a perfect 44-for-44 on extra points, yes, but made just 15 of 25 field goals on the year.

Carlson’s struggles were three-fold: Auburn’s offense experienced its worst red-zone season in the Malzahn era last year (the Tigers made more field goals than touchdown passes inside the opponents’ 20-yard line); Malzahn admittedly forced Carlson into too many 50-plus-yard attempts, from which the kicker was 2-for-9; and Carlson admittedly was, at times, simply a nervous freshman.

“I don’t know that Anders (Carlson) is struggling," Malzahn said last season. "I know that we’re asking him to kick a lot of 50-plus-yard field goals. I know if you’re a young guy, obviously you have a few more shorter ones, then when those long ones come around every now and then, it’s not as big a deal.

“But we’ve been asking a whole lot of him. I think he’s an excellent kicker. I think you’ll see that the rest of the season, him being consistent. We just have to put him in positions to be a little more successful."

An increase in Auburn’s putrid red-zone numbers of 43 scores in 53 attempts last year — which ranked third-to-last in the SEC — won’t happen overnight, but the head coach has been putting a heavy emphasis on converting red-zone opportunities with his two quarterbacks this fall camp.

Then, obviously, there’s the matter of Carlson’s confidence, which wasn’t in question at the team’s first fall scrimmage Thursday.

Carlson, who was named preseason third team All-SEC last month, nailed a 58-yard kick during the 11-on-11 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, according to Malzahn. But it was the end of the scrimmage that most simulated a pressure-packed situation for the kicker.

Malzahn lined up him from 47 yards out — right hash — as the stakes were set. A miss, and it’s 10 up-downs for the whole team until he makes it. A make, and Auburn “wins the championship.”

“Just trying to put him in as many pressure situations,” Malzahn told reporters Thursday, “because the likelihood with our schedule, there will be a lot of games that have a chance to go down towards the end.”