Auburn's offensive woes last season extended beyond the team's struggles in the passing game, as the Tigers were one of the nation's worst teams when it came to scoring touchdowns in the red zone.

Auburn ranked 97th nationally in that category in 2016, finding the end zone just 56.36 percent (31-of-55) of its red-zone trips last season. As first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey revamps Auburn's offense ahead of the team's season opener against Georgia Southern, one of his priorities will be improving the team's execution inside of the opponent's 20-yard line.

"I know Chip has worked extremely hard," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. "We've had all kinds of red zone versus the defense and all that. Lot of situations. Chip brought a few new wrinkles, too. That's always good."

Just what those new wrinkles are remain to be seen, but Malzahn did emphasize the importance of being able to run the ball when that deep in opponent territory, as well as converting third downs in the passing game.

Twenty-five of Auburn's 31 red-zone scores came on the ground last season, with the Tigers totaling 349 rushing yards on 127 attempts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Ten of those touchdowns came via running back Kerryon Johnson (who saw plenty of Wildcat snaps in the red zone), while Kamryn Pettway accounted for five scores in the red zone.

Auburn completed just 20-of-33 pass attempts for 131 yards in the red zone last season and scored just five touchdowns through the air. The Tigers also threw a pair of red-zone interceptions that thwarted scoring opportunities.

Those numbers figure to improve this fall with Jarrett Stidham as the team's starting quarterback. While his sample size is limited from his freshman season at Baylor in 2015, Stidham flourished inside the red zone that season. He completed 7-of-9 passes for 68 yards and six touchdowns -- more than Auburn threw in those situations all of last season. Stidham also ran for two scores in the red zone that year.

Auburn's new quarterback should also have plenty of big targets once in the red zone. Lindsey has wanted to better utilize Auburn's tight ends, and inside the 20-yard line could be an ideal situation for the likes of Sal Cannella and Jalen Harris, who are 6-foot-5 and 6-foot-4, respectively. Cannella has been described as a "matchup nightmare" for defenses, and his big frame and basketball background could help him on jump balls in the end zone, while Harris has caught two career passes -- both of which went for scores last season.

"Any of the bigger bodies you know, C.J. Uzomah's and all of that -- he was very successful so those bigger bodies that are experienced do nothing but help as that field condenses because those windows are very small," Malzahn said. "You have to earn it down there in the passing game."

The hope for Auburn is that it will have to rely less heavily on kicker Daniel Carlson, who single-footedly raised the Tigers' overall red-zone scoring rate to 85.45 percent (47-of-55) last season -- which tied for 52nd nationally -- by connecting on 16 field goals on the team's trips inside the 20. If everything comes together and Lindsey's new wrinkles pan out, Auburn's offense overall could look more like it did in 2013, when it ranked 13th nationally in red-zone touchdown conversions (72.13 percent).

"To be one of the best, you've got to be able to run the ball in," Malzahn said. "You've got to be very good on third downs throwing the football in the red zone. That's always been a big key. When we've been really good, we've been really good in the red zone."