Slowing down Fournette is job No. 1 for Auburn’s defense

AUBURN | There are a lot of things Auburn must do well if it’s to upset No. 18 LSU at Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday.

But there’s nothing more important for the homesteading Tigers than to slow down All-American running back Leonard Fournette.

Quite the opposite occurred in last year’s 45-21 loss at LSU.

“The only thing I really remember is just the feeling,” senior defensive tackle Montravius Adams said. “I don’t remember the score, but I know it was a bad score. I just remember the feeling.”

And it wasn't a good feeling.

Fournette ran through and over Auburn’s feeble defense for 228 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. He had a 71-yard run along with touchdown runs of 40, 29 and one yard. He averaged 12.0 yard per carry and 163 of his yards came after contact.

“Last year he got to the second level on us and then we had trouble tackling him,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “A guy like that you have to gang tackle him, team tackle him. The key is not letting him get to the second level. That will be a big challenge.”

Malzahn believes Auburn’s improved defense is up to the challenge.

“We're a different team and a different defense than we were last year,” he said. “I think each individual guy on the defensive side wants to redeem themselves. They've got nine of their guys back on offense so that'll be a big part of the game: stopping the run. They're going to run the football. A big part of the game that will be a key to the outcome.”

While Auburn’s defensive players have been reluctant to say too much about last year’s LSU game or Fournette, it’s clear they’re highly motivated to earn a bit of redemption Saturday.

“I think it’s kind of a different mindset,” Adams said. “It’s really time to play ball. Everybody has to make those tackles and everybody has to be in their gap in be in their spot. Going against a good back like that, we have to do what the coaches put in the plan.”

Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.