Auburn's offense not crossing the (goal) line

AUBURN, Ala. - Al Borges is pleased with Auburn&#39;s offensive production, up to a point. And that point falls somewhere in the vicinity of the end zone.<br> <br> The sixth-ranked Tigers (8-1) have managed just three offensive touchdowns in their last three Southeastern Conference games all victories.<br> <br> ``That&#39;s been a concern of mine,&#39;&#39; said Borges, Auburn&#39;s offensive coordinator. ``We need to score more touchdowns.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Instead, they have been keeping placekicker John Vaughn busy. His 17 field goals and 8.6 points per game lead the SEC, and nobody else has made more than 11.<br> <br> Vaughn&#39;s two short fourth-quarter field goals were enough for the Tigers in a 23-17 win over Mississippi. But after Saturday&#39;s game against Arkansas State, Georgia and Alabama await.<br> <br> ``I don&#39;t know if we can win our last three games without making some touchdowns,&#39;&#39; Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said.<br> <br> Auburn&#39;s offense has made strides since a loss to Arkansas despite the touchdown shortage. Quarterback Brandon Cox has improved his passing numbers, and he hasn&#39;t been sacked in the past 10 quarters.<br> <br> Kenny Irons rushed for 106 yards and the Tigers gained 428 yards against Ole Miss.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re moving the ball; 430 yards total offense, that&#39;s a great day,&#39;&#39; Cox said. ``But then you look and we only scored 23 points. I think we&#39;ve just got to execute.<br> <br> ``We&#39;ve got to get it to where we&#39;re all playing together and finish it.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> One problem for Auburn has been injuries. The Tigers have had to replace center Joe Cope and tight end Cole Bennett and Irons has sat out two nonconference games with an ankle injury.<br> <br> Cope could see some action against Arkansas State, Tuberville said. Bennett might be available for the Georgia game.<br> <br> ``I haven&#39;t complained about injuries and I&#39;m not going to, because nobody&#39;s sympathetic to injuries,&#39;&#39; Borges said. ``But that&#39;s the fact. That&#39;s the way it&#39;s been. And when you consider we&#39;ve improved our last three games since we played Arkansas, we&#39;ve become a better offensive football team every week.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Except for that one minor problem about having drives stall short of the end zone.<br> <br> The Tigers tried a variety of plays after penetrating deep into Ole Miss territory on their final two drives.<br> <br> The first drive stalled with two incompletions and a 1-yard Brad Lester run. The result was Vaughn&#39;s 20-yard field goal.<br> <br> Auburn handed to Irons three straight times on the next touchdown chance, and he gained 2 yards, lost 3 and gained 6. Vaughn kicked a 29-yarder.<br> <br> Auburn lost another shot at points with Cox&#39;s interception deep in Ole Miss territory in the first half.<br> <br> Tuberville said the Tigers can&#39;t be predictable in trying to finish off drives.<br> <br> ````We have at least scored field goals most of the time,&#39;&#39; he said. ``Last year, we weren&#39;t making even half of our field goals. It will work out. You just have to keep a positive attitude but understand that you just can&#39;t keep doing the same things. Each week we try different things.<br> <br> ``We try different personnel, different formations. You try to change the tempo a little bit.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> TIGER TALES: Joe Cope will return to the starting spot at center after missing the last four games with a broken ankle. Jason Bosley had started in his place.