Auburn DB: Stopping Fournette 'shouldn't be difficult'

AUBURN -- Auburn's defensive game plan against No. 13-ranked LSU starts and ends with Leonard Fournette.

"The challenge is just to stop No. 7," Tigers safety Rudy Ford said.

Mississippi State couldn't do it last week as Fournette rumbled for 159 yards and three touchdowns in LSU's 21-19 win over the Bulldogs. So No. 18 Auburn, which is allowing an average 199.5 yards on the ground, should have its hands full Saturday in Baton Rouge -- or not.

"That shouldn't be difficult (or) that much of a challenge" Ford said. "We've got a great front seven and even on the back end, we're all going to be ready to tackle, but our biggest thing is our energy level. Soon as we get off that bus, we're ready to attack. Don't take anything lightly. We all got to be ready to go."

Ford expressed confidence in Auburn defensive tackles Montravius Adams and Dontavius Russell, two guys who will be called upon to handle LSU's inside running game. Fournette is fast enough to bounce outside, but is devastating when hitting the hole up the middle with the option to cut left, right or keep trucking forward.

Auburn has yet to face a back like Fournette this season. The last time it did, Melvin Gordon ran for a ridiculous 251 yards and three touchdowns in leading Wisconsin past the Tigers in the Outback Bowl. The Tigers can't allow Fournette to do the same if they want to remain unbeaten.

"We've got the tools," Ford said. "We're going to be ready to go."