Auburn standing by QB Todd

AUBURN, Ala. — The quarterback questions continue coming at Auburn, but coach Gene Chizik's answer hasn't changed.

The Tigers (5-3, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) are sticking with struggling Chris Todd going into Saturday's game with No. 24 Mississippi.

"We're not going to make a change this week," Chizik said Sunday. "We still think Chris gives us the best chance to win."

Same time last week, his answer was: "We've named our starter."

The questions continued after Todd passed for just 47 yards in Auburn's 31-10 loss at No. 9 LSU on Saturday night and has thrown for 260 yards in the last three games, all losses.

He knows the criticism comes with the position, but said the offense isn't far from clicking again.

"Any time things happen, as a quarterback you have to be able to take that on your shoulders," Todd said. "I'm definitely looking at myself and trying to improve things to help us move on and win some ball games. I think we're really close to getting a spark going and being able to get things rolling."

Backup quarterback Neil Caudle led the final drive and capped it with a 1-yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen with 3 seconds left. But Todd and Caudle's combined 81 yards passing was the fewest for Auburn since the 2006 team managed 35 yards against Georgia in 2006.

Caudle wasn't lobbying for the starting job, but said he's ready if it comes.

"We're handling it the right way," he said. "We believe in Chris. We believe he's a good player. He's shown that numerous times. We're just not clicking on offense right now."

Chizik said the concerns go well beyond Todd. Leading receivers Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams combined for one reception for a single yard, and Auburn allowed four sacks.

"We have talked in depth on exactly what we feel like are some things that we need to look at offensively as a whole," he said. "But that's from offensive line to wideouts to Wildcat to the whole gamut. So it wasn't specifically related to one guy."

One change was lining H-back Mario Fannin up at tailback at times, with No. 2 rusher Onterio McCalebb nursing an ankle injury. Fannin gained 56 yards on six carries.

The Tigers' offensive production has tailed off dramatically in the last three games, when they have managed just 47 points. Auburn averaged 41.4 points over the first five games.

"Right now we're not producing at a level for us to be able to win these tough football games. It's that simple," Chizik said.

It's harder for Auburn and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to surprise defenses at this point in the season. The Tigers gained 556 yards and 589 yards in their first two games in the system.

"Does everybody know what we're doing on offense right now? Without question," Chizik said. "But it still comes down to execution. We've got to execute better. It's that simple. We've got to block better. There are a lot of one-on-ones now that we're losing the battle. And we have to continue to try to win those battles."

TIGER TALES: Auburn didn't hold its usual light practice Sunday, using the time to watch film and meet. Defensive end Antonio Coleman said the rest came at a good time. "We're banged up defensively," Coleman said. "We don't have much depth. Today really helped us." ... Chizik said Wildcat quarterback Kodi Burns played the final three quarters after getting two teeth knocked out and stitches in his lips. ... LB Adam Herring didn't play because, Chizik said, he was "banged up."