Gus Malzahn: A New Hope?
by kleph on Jun 19, 2009 10:01 AM CDT
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As much as we like to bash on Chizik for being the boob that he is, the bona fides of the barn's new offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, are much more sound. As the assistant HC at Tulsa last year, he oversaw a Golden Hurricanes squad that lead the nation in total offense and scoring. Hopes are high on the plains he will succeed in bringing a similar high-powered attack to Jordan-Hare.
Recent reports out of Opelika indicate that what is being installed in is an up-tempo, no-huddle attack relying on precise timing. Controlled chaos is one way the players are describing it. "We just run play after play after play," said quarterback Kodi Burns. "We’ll have an advantage over defenses by wearing them down."
This was enough to pique the interest of Chris over at Smart Football who gave a peek at the Malzahn creation (if you click one link in this story to read, the one in this sentence is it). His assessment:
It's still worth asking what his Xs and Os will actually look like. And, if spring practice is any indication, we know the answer: a lot like they did at Tulsa.
If that sounds at all too familiar... there is a good reason.
Last year offensive whiz kid Tony Franklin was brought in to soup up Auburn's languid offense - then unceremoniously shown the door when things went off the rails. His ignominious exit raised a hell of a lot of questions concerning chaos in the football program as well as athletic department as a whole that - conspiracy theorists aside - Franklin's recent interview with the Montgomery Advertiser tended to confirm.
While it's reasonable to assume things will be different this year it's not clear if that means things will improve. According to our own Pete Holiday, the high-octane approach Malzahn (and Franklin) offer face one serious (and unbeatable) hindrance in Opelika - lack of talent.
"Malzahn's offenses have run wild when they have vastly superior talent, but folded when faced with even the slightest resistance."
Without talent, Holiday notes, the will to resist is likely to be at a noticable low. Case in point. The clockwork accuracy of the Malzahn offense puts a premium on the QB and the current situation at that position in Auburn is... unsettled. Add to that the challenges of implementing the third offense in as many years... well, while the optimisim is understandable the odds against Malzahn seem steep to the point of insurmountable.
FanPosts are just that; posts created by the fans. They are in no way indicative of the opinions of SBN and the authors of Roll Bama Roll.
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We are not wearing pants...
…but we are wearing panties.
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jun 19, 2009 9:54 AM CDT reply actions
when will Dave Clausen take over as the next OC/barn-messiah?
October, or January?
seriously though. good piece, glad to see Smart Football wrote somethin on it. along those lines? any chance of your faithful readers getting a sneek peek at that piece ya’ll did w/ Chris on Sabans 3-4 for the 2009 yay Alabama? i can wait for the book, but i am having trouble waiting on that article. i want to read it, consume it, become it, and teach it to my dynasty cause the EA sports folks just dont know how to run a proper 3-4, this much i know.
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
i’ve personally been very curious about malzahn after reading steele’s positive assessment of the tigers. steele seems to think that the fact the barn will have 15 returning starters bodes well and includes them in his “most improved” list for 2009. obviously, if things go south of the offense like they did last year, that’s not likely to happen. so there’s a lot in terms of auburn’s 09 seazon that hangs on how successful malzahn will prove to be.
i cant get to my 08 copy right now
but i’m pretty sure Phil Steele had them as top 10 last year and winning the SEC west. And darn it if i didn’t leave my 09 copy at work, cause i’d love to read up on his assessment of how the Tulsa thing went down. yes, Malzahn certainly was putting up gaudy numbers in Tulsa, but if i’m not sure i’m ready to believe that will translate to auburn, particularly given the limitations of the talent at barn compared to the talent of the D’s they’ll face. (w/o checking, i’m going to go ahead and say auburn is vastly more loaded at all 11 offensive positions that Tulsa was/is, however barn has to play far better teams than Houston. and Houston of course shut Tulsa down like a light switch.)
also from what i know about malzahn’s character, he doesn’t sound like the kinda guy who can work through a difficult situation and persevere over the years to get his system in place. seems like his dedication to Springdale high was about as minimal as you can get though it was understandible. the manner in which he pimped damien williams and mitch mustain out for an OC gig though, that was troublesome. His obstinate refusal to hand off to darren mcfadden and felix jones while insisting that true frosh mustain was the best option for the 06 arkansas team? that was either hubris of the highest order or well, hell that was hubris of the higest order (unless you wanna help me out here? got any powerful metaphors for what kind of jackass insists an 18 yr old mitch mustain should be the focal point of a team that also has D-Mac, felix jones, and payton hillis on it?)
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions
Steele
He’s not expecting huge improvement—just “bowl eligibility,” pretty much, so only a one or two game difference. And I don’t know if he’d say that’s really due to Malzahn being the genius savior. Auburn had a really poor turnover margin, poor offensive yards-per-point ratio, and were 2 in close games-i.e. they had a lot of bad luck that should swing back the other direction. There are a lot of starters back, and the schedule is slightly easier with West Virginia coming to J-Hare and the roadie to Vandy replaced by a home date with Kentucky. So you’d kind of expect Auburn to pick up another win or two even if they weren’t any better than last year … and I don’t think it’s really possible they’ll be quite that bad again. Malzahn’s Tulsa numbers blow Franklin’s from Troy clean out of the water and he won’t have to battle for control of the offense with his assistants; the two situations really aren’t comparable.
As for whether Malzahn’s offense will “work in the SEC,” Arkansas gave up more yards to Tulsa last year than they did any other team on their schedule. The Golden Hurricane (of Oklahoma, noted for its difficulty with tropical storms) did run into turnover problems against better teams (the Hogs included), but it’s such a small sample size I’m not sure you can draw too much of a conclusion from it. I tend to think the “can’t work in the SEC” complaint about Malzahn will eventually go the same way the same complaints did of Spurrier, Meyer, etc.
it seems, though, there is a lot of this promised “improvement” being hung on a QB slot that is still a choice between to lukewarm candidates. if nothing else, last year’s outing shows how fast things can go south is the offense implodes trying to implement an overly complex scheme for the talent on hand.
Arkansas'
defense was horrible, thats a bad example. They were ranked 72 nationally and dead last in the SEC in 2008. I do think Auburn will improve by 2 games though. If by nothing else, they’ll have cohesiveness for the first time in a while.
Also,
and the schedule is slightly easier…the roadie to Vandy replaced by a home date with Kentucky
That’s kind of a pathetic statement if you think about it.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
by Bens4vcobra on Jun 19, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Horrible or not ...
Tulsa did better yardage-wise against that horrible defense than LSU, Texas, Ole Miss, etc. If we’re asking “would Tulsa’s offense have been SEC caliber?” the evidence we have from the Arkansas game, at least, indicates that it would have been. So why wouldn’t a Malzahn offense with (hypothetically) better talent at Auburn be SEC-caliber?
I should have specified, however, that when I say “eventually” I do mean at least two years and maybe more. I’m not expecting miracles this fall given the QB/WR situation—just something not quite so pathetic as last season. But we’ll get there eventually, maybe as soon as 2010 (loaded o-line, year of experience for whoever the QB is, etc.)
If you’re saying it’s pathetic we’re splitting hairs over “road to Vandy” vs. “home at Kentucky,” both of which should be cakewalks for any competent SEC team … well, yes, last year our team was pathetic and as a result we are sort of pathetically splitting those hairs these days. But the statement itself is still more along the lines of being “accurate,” yesno?
i guess this addresses my particular question. it’s clear a complex offensive scheme is going to need two to three years to get in place and recruit the specific talent to run it. but, given the spectacular flame-out of franklin’s attempt, the questions seems to be – can malzahn do enough this year to keep the wolves at bay long enough to see his plan avoid gang aft agly?
my assumption is that’s going to depend heavily on how well the defense keeps opposing teams from lighting up the scoreboard. but, as several folks have pointed out here, the downside of such a speed offense is it tends to put more pressure on the defensive squad particularly if it starts having trouble.
i’m really glad you and chris and pete have all given such detailed looks at the nuts and bolts of malzahn’s approach. i really feel i’ve got a much better grasp of what is at stake when the time for folks to line up on the field comes to pass.
First, +1 for the Burns reference
Second, Malzahn will have more than one year unless the offense is just an outright abomination or it turns out Chizik can’t really handle living with the no-huddle. The wolves—well, any wolf that’s not so braindead as to start posting “Gus Malzann needs to be fired NOW” on al.com—know this is a rebuilding year and that aside from the RBs and spots along the line, Malzahn has precious little to work with. (Yeah, I’m still holding out hope the light comes on for Burns or that Caudle was unfairly buried by the previous staff, but that’s not the rational side of things, probably.) Any kind of incremental offensive progress, even if it comes at the expense of the defense, will be so welcome after the past couple of years Malzahn won’t have anything to worry about provided the record doesn’t sink into the 3, 4-win range. And I can’t imagine Auburn not taking some sort of baby steps forward offensively. I know we said that entering last year, but seriously: it’s impossible.
A couple of thoughts...
I do not think the Tulsa game matters one way or the other. Yes, Tulsa racked up a ton of yards, more than other SEC teams. On the other hand, though, they also scored only 23 points, whereas Arkansas gave up 31 points a game in conference play, so you could easily make the opposite argument. In any event, the sample size is so small you’re just trying to get water from a stone regardless of which way you argue it.
As for Auburn, though, the biggest problem they have is not scheme but overall talent and quality depth. Kleph mentions that they will need 2-3 years to get players to fit their scheme — and while that is true — hell they 2-3 years to get players of regardless of what scheme they run. Keep in mind this isn’t a Franklin / Malzahn problem. To the contrary, the Auburn offense has effectively sucked since the 2005 Iron Bowl, regardless of what scheme they were running or who was calling the plays. It’s just simple… bad quarterback play, offensive line struggles, nearly no true playmakers at the skill position, and very little depth… I don’t care if you bring in Bill Walsh, you aren’t going to be very good as long as you have that going against you.
For this season, though, no there’s no way that Malzahn gets canned after one year (well, surely not, anyway). I figure Auburn will improve a bit offensively, if but for nothing more than more experience at the QB position and the offensive line should be bulked up more. On the other hand, though, it’s hard to see this offense having much upside this year, and frankly they could make some pretty decent gains from a year ago and still be a really bad offense. Hell, even if Malzahn can double point production in conference play relative to a year ago, they are likely still going to be in the bottom half of the conference in scoring offense.
We’ll see how it works out. It should be interesting, if nothing else. Malzahn is going to try a new approach to things, and if nothing else that generally makes for some entertaining football.
by outsidethesidelines on Jun 19, 2009 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Good point
re: the small sample size of one game. It’s more a response to the idea that Tulsa got shut down whenever they stepped up in competition … and while yes, they turned the ball over more (2 TOs in Arky’s red zone and a TO on downs inside the 10 at game’s end, IIRC) against better teams, they weren’t flat stoned, either.
And one more point...
… people keep talking about Malzahn’s hurry-up offense and how that creates hell for opposing defenses.
Well, that’s nice — and to an extent true — but it should be pointed out that the underlying foundation of being able to do that is the ability to move the football at will. Being able to successfully implement the hurry-up offense and achieve all of its theoretical benefits is directly predicated on your offense having the ability to move the football at will.
Now for Tulsa last year, that was just fine because they could move the football at will. In conference play last year, they averaged over 30 first downs per game. But compare that to Auburn, who didn’t even average 15 first downs per game last year in conference play. If you struggle to move the football like Auburn did last year, the huddle-up goes away from being a weapon to being a massive liability. If that is the case, all you are doing is having three and outs that take one minute or less off the clock, and in the meantime your defensive coordinator is standing on the sideline channeling his inner Buddy Ryan getting ready to deliver a right hook to offensive coordinator’s jaw.
Again, you have to be able to move the football consistently in order to get the benefits of running the hurry-up. If you cannot move it consistently, all you are going to do is have a bunch of quick possessions of six plays or fewer, and you are going to kill your defense in the process.
by outsidethesidelines on Jun 19, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions
All true
And certainly a concern. It’s not a coincidence Tulsa’s D went in the toilet after Malzahn arrived. I think Malzahn (and the personnel) just good enough that it won’t be enough to wreck the whole train this season, but I would expect some tense moments between O and D this fall against the better teams on Auburn’s schedule, sure.
Jerry
have you heard anything more on Aairon Savage? Is he out fo the year?
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
As probably the least "connected" blogger on the 'Net
… I haven’t heard much. But the muttering I have come across still seems to be of the “he’s done” variety. Marshall confirmed it’s an Achilles injury and there’s been lots of talk Savage has already undergone surgery; sounds like a tear to me. I’m less certain than I was when the story broke and all signs were pointing towards “out for the year,” but I’ll still be surprised if thats’ not where we end up.
Tulsa did better yardage-wise against that horrible defense than LSU, Texas, Ole Miss, etc.
LSU got worse as the season went on (sans their bowl game when Miles finally had the good sense to make a change at QB) and Arkansas got better. As for Texas and UM, sure I’ll give you that, but I don’t think success is totally comprised of yardage gained.
If we’re asking "would Tulsa’s offense have been SEC caliber?" the evidence we have from the Arkansas game, at least, indicates that it would have been. So why wouldn’t a Malzahn offense with (hypothetically) better talent at Auburn be SEC-caliber?
Well I guess it depends on what your expectations are. You keep saying “SEC caliber” but what does that mean? Leading the nation in total offense? or just not being last in the conference? That’s a big range. By that broad account, UK technically has an “SEC offense” I mean they weren’t ranked last. But then you follow that up with…
I’m not expecting miracles this fall given the QB/WR situation—just something not quite so pathetic as last season.
I think its safe to say Auburn won’t be as pathetic as last season by any stretch. But again I’m just curious what your expectations are. Obviously by that statement I take it that you don’t expect to blow everybody’s doors off, but you don’t expect to be the worst offense in the league either… so my question to you is what exactly to Auburn fans expect?
If you’re saying it’s pathetic we’re splitting hairs over "road to Vandy" vs. "home at Kentucky," both of which should be cakewalks for any competent SEC team … well, yes, last year our team was pathetic and as a result we are sort of pathetically splitting those hairs these days. But the statement itself is still more along the lines of being "accurate," yesno?
You got it. Just razzin’ ya…
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
Expectations
Me personally, 4 wins or less is officially not cutting it, 5-7 isn’t the end of the world but it’s a disappointment, 6-6 is progress and okey-dokey, and anything better is solid-to-excellent work. If you had to pin me to a record today … eh, probably .500, but more likely 7-5 than 5-7 because of the swing in luck. I think most Auburn fans would edge towards 7 wins rather than 6, but I’m not sure if we’d collectively expect 8 after last season.
By “SEC caliber” I just mean “an acceptable level of offensive production in the SEC,” the kind that could at least get us to 8 or 9 wins with a competent defense. Tulsa didn’t have a competent defense or special teams that game, wasted a bunch of red zone opportunities, and still almost won the game … so I would call that SEC cailber, yeah. But as OTS says below, I may be making too much of it.
I
think looking at BCS shools vs. mid-major schools can get tricky. Just look at Troy vs. LSU last year. LSU really probably should’ve lost that game. Troy put up 31 on them, but we both know LSU is far superior, and I don’t know if I would classify the now TF-less Troy as an “SEC caliber offense.”
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
BOOM!!!
roasted…
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 20, 2009 5:56 AM CDT up reply actions
I think...
I think Jerry brings up some very good points. Auburn did have quite a few things go against them last year, and to an extent there should be some regression to the mean in some areas. On the other hand, I do not believe it would be a good idea to read too much into that. The next season is not merely the previous season replayed, and that certainly isn’t the case of given the massive amount of turnover Auburn has had since the 2008 season.
Anyway, if your definition of “success” is bowl eligibility, then Auburn may be in decent shape, but even so it’s hard to say. Yes they were very close to making a bowl last year, but again that really does not mean anything with all of the turnover that they have. The problem is that they will need six wins, and that might be tough to come by. Alabama, LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas, and West Virginia beat them a year ago, and barring a pretty big upset they should do that again this year. That is five losses right there, so it creates a pretty small margin of error, with more than a few tough games remaining on the schedule. Louisiana Tech made a bowl game last year, beat MSU, and returns a ton of starters. Mississippi State is pretty much even with Auburn at this point. Kentucky has won three straight bowl games, and they should be pretty good again in 2009. Tennessee really cannot get any worse than a year ago, and it took Auburn a fluke deal to win then. So, it might be tough for them to back to a bowl game. Again, unless they can really pull off an upset or two, the margin of error will practically be zero with several quality opponents remaining.
As for Malzahn, no one really knows what to make of him. He lit it up at Tulsa, but that was really Graham’s offense, and frankly had it not been for Mustain and company he would still be coaching high school football in Arkansas. Maybe he can make it work at Auburn, we’ll see. However, I will say that if he can get this Auburn offense to producing a fair amount of points in 2009, he ought to be the considered the top assistant in the conference. What can you really say? As a unit, they look to have bad QB play, no proven wide receivers, no true playmakers aside from Fannin (and who knows if he can stay healthy), a questionable offensive line, and depth problems at every single position. With that backdrop, I doubt that Malzahn flames out like Franklin, but it’s hard to see him having much success either.
The biggest question mark in this whole deal, though, is going to be Chizik, not Malzahn. He looked like a complete trainwreck in every aspect at Iowa State, all the way from discipline to preparation to game management to everything else. Regardless of his own talent level, you do not go 5-19 in the Big XII North without being an outright disaster in almost every area imaginable. Now some Auburn fans claim that he learned a lot in those couple of years and he’ll be a much better coach at Auburn in 2009 and beyond. Perhaps they are right, learning experiences can count a lot, and I don’t think it’s right to dismiss that argument just yet with regard to Chizik. Nevertheless, though, Chizik is the key here, and if he looks anything in 2009 like he did at Iowa State in 2007 and 2008, Auburn’s season is going to be a complete and unmitigated disaster regardless of what else goes for them or against them.
by outsidethesidelines on Jun 19, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Chizik
He was terrible at Iowa St. There’s really no way to spin it. When you’re a defense-first coach who oversees one of the 10 or so worst defenses in the country, that’s not defensible. I think the legitimate hope for Auburn comes from:
1. That maybe he learned something
2. That he’s hired such good assistants they can give him enough slack to make up for his mistakes
I’m betting on option No. 2, but as with Kiffykins there’s no way to really know what the hell’s going to happen until we see some on-field evidence. I do think there’s going to be issues with game management, but as for the rest of it, who knows. So, yeah, basically, re: Chizik: I agree.
I would quibble with your assessment of Auburn’s schedule, though. West Virginia lost road games last year at East Carolina, Colorado, and Pitt; they’ve said good bye to nearly the entire offensive line and White; and they’re coached by Opie. I don’t think that game’s unwinnable. Is State really “pretty much even” with us? They were already the worst team in the league last year and return fewer starters than anybody else on top of it. Yeah, 3-2, but we outgained them by 200 yards in Starkville. Kentucky will probably be Kentucky again, but they were slightly worse than we were in pythag and much worse in SEC yardage margin (-105, 2nd worst by a hair to State), and they come to Auburn. Tech scares the ever-lovin’ crap out of me, but Auburn hasn;‘t lost to a mid-major since like 1991 and Tech wasn’t quite as good as their record (+9 TOs, 3 net close wins). Survive them (oh please oh please oh please), hold serve against State, UK, Ball St. (who lost pretty much everything from last year) and Furman—again, all those games are at home—and that’s five wins. I have to think there’s an upset somewhere else out there on the schedule (maybe two if the luck goes completely in the opposite direction) to get us to a bowl.
well, there’s a possibility of number two if chizik sticks to running the defense and gives mlazahn full reign with the O. but even in that scenario you are going to have to rely on gene for gameday decision and ISU fans will remind you, the precedent there isn’t so hot either.
I was just going to say...
that how could someone say it was a talent issue when auburn should innately have more offensive talent that franklin @ troy, and malzahn @ tulsa. I didn’t think my whole thought through though (wow say that 5 times really fast). but, I think tempebamafan nailed it precisely when he talked about the talent of the defenses those offenses would be facing with an SEC schedule. we just might see auburn’s offense turned off like a switch this year…
so easy... even an Auburn fan can do it!
i think this is part of the logic...
the key to these up-tempo offenses is getting in that rhythm early and keeping up the pressure. but if the defense forces them to a series of three-and-outs from the start mixed in with a turnover or two… well, the afternoons will prove to be long and tough for that vaunted talent.
let em run draws and throw jailbreak screens
either way they’ll be turning it over and taking hits this year. if malzahn really has the goods then we may have soem chit to deal with, but i like our chances in year one. but if i can get good odds on dave clausen headin to west ga. anytime soon, i’ll take em.
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
Sorry...
…but contractual obligations prevent it. If you ordered it from MSP though, it ships in 18 days.
any chance of your faithful readers getting a sneek peek at that piece ya’ll did w/ Chris on Sabans 3-4 for the 2009 yay Alabama? i can wait for the book, but i am having trouble waiting on that article.
i'm going to put that bad boy on Pirate Bay
for real, after i make it available for free download to the masses, i’ll twitter it to the Iranians, and then go on a mission to the philipeans just to spread the good word.
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions
i seriously want to f-ing kill
95% of the people on TV and the radio who mention twitter. these people cant attach a file to an email and they’re talking about “follow my tweets and get all the latest info about blah blah blahblah……”
but yes, props to the people of Iran for using Twitter in a non-douchy way. this looks like it could be the first real world case study where the internet facilitates an actual revolution. that’d be pretty bad ass if you ask me. flashmobs FTW!
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions
i guess i'm not really being fair. Twitter is just like any other technology
there’s nothing inherently wrong or bad or damaging about it’s existence, the manner in which it is utilzed can cause some issues though…
i watch a lot of finance news and politics shows, and i got maria bartiromo and larry kudlow screamin at me to read their “tweets”/advertisements for their employer and become a “follower” so they can tag an bag me based on demographics and find new ways to market products to me. screw that.
i like to jam twitter with disinformation; i’m an 89 year old polygamist black jew, who makes less than 10 K a year, owns more than 3 houses, has multiple post graduate degrees, is planing to purchase a car within the next 6 months, regularly travels and yet does not own a TV
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 10:57 AM CDT up reply actions
Fact
bears eat beats. Bears. Beats. Battlestar Gallactica.
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
by Bens4vcobra on Jun 19, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
In the modernized West...
…most of these new inventions are nothing more than toys. In places like Iran, they can be used by the young and tech savvy to push their message. Twitter and its photo compainion, TwitPic were also used a lot last year during the rioting in Greece to convey info to the masses. I followed a lot of that as well and it was fascinating to see this stuff used beyond: “I think I’m going to to get a Mediterranean veggie sandwich for lunch today.”
Auburn will..
be much better than they were last year. Every time Auburn is projected to finish 7-4 or worst record they win more than expected and that’s what I expect from them this year. Ole Miss may end up finishing behind Auburn when its said and done. Alabama will still win the west and possibly beat Florida this time around. Our defense will be ready for Tebow this year. Auburn’s defense will be its downfall this year. They won’t be able to stop most of the teams they face, however their offense will be get them wins people don’t expect for them to win. The Alabama running game will be too much for Auburn and our defense will be ready Malzahn’s offense.
Someone PLEASE post something else on the main page
so we don’t have to look at these two clowns all day long! I could care less what “The Spread Gus” looks like!
you might want to note...
…there is a pretty good policy at RBR of promoting quality fanposts to the front page. if you want to move something further down it, feel free to take the matter into your own hands.
It's for Real
Living in exile here in Tulsa, I got to watch Malzahn work first hand. His attacking tempo puts a LOT of pressure on the defense. During the championship game, Skip Holtz had his guys faking injuries to give them a chance to breathe….literally every other play in the late third and early fourth quarters.
Auburn will be better this year. I think they win 7 or 8. But I don’t see much more than that. Because Malzahn also puts a ton of pressure on his own defense. Tulsa turned the ball over a lot…and I think there’s an upside limit based on the talent available to him at Auburn.
aw shit
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jun 19, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I may be wrong,
but didn’t everyone talk about how great and awesome auburn’s offense would be last year? Yeah, that worked out great for them. It will be hard for auburn’s QB to be the captain of a high powered offense when he is laying on his back 90% of the time.
check these out
Here are two paeans to up-tempo “guru” Tony Franklin written last year prior to the season:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview08/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3524989
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview08/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3524954
If all the hype over Malzahn seems familiar… that’s because it is.
Dude...
i can’t believe Gump didn’t jump all over this thread….
‘When you build a house and you make it hurricane-proof by putting certain kinds of windows in it, and use cement instead of stick construction and all that kind of stuff, you’re getting prepared for what? A hurricane that may or may never every come." ’We’re going to have 12 hurricanes next year, we know they’re coming.’
- Coach Nick Saban
I was kicking myt heels up ain PCB on Friday
it would figure I miss out on a civil Auburn thread. Maybe it was civil cause I was out.
Anyway I think the offense hinges on two things. Our O line and QB. Last year we had a monumental QB fiasco and a non existent O line. It’s hard to tell whether either will be much improved this season, but i am optimistic.
The O line got a little experience running an up tempo offense last season and even though it was a cluster f**k the experience has to help improve. I just hope we dont use the up look to the side down whack-a-mole bs as last year.
I am hoping Gus will have a little more luck than TF did with QB’s last year. I think TF planned on Todd carrying the load when he cam e to AU, but that isn’t easy with a bum shoulder. I think TF resented AU fans support of Burns and the two never really established a working relationship. I hope Gus knows how to help build these kids confidence whil teaching the new offense and I hope to the good Lord above that we don’t end up with another revolving door QB strategy.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on Jun 22, 2009 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions
No such luck
I was actually down there to celebrate the end of my house arrest.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on Jun 22, 2009 11:38 AM CDT up reply actions
Anyway I think the offense hinges on two things. Our O line and QB.
Way to go out on a limb there Gump. Just givin’ you crap…
"A demagogue is one who preaches doctrines he knows to be untrue to men he knows to be idiots." -H. L. Mencken
by Bens4vcobra on Jun 22, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah yeah
if there is one thing \I’ve learned in the past year and a half is that when it comes to Auburn football the obvious seems to escape some fans.
"Jay Jacobs can't go to the bathroom without Bobby Lowder's permission" - Paul Finebaum
by GumptownTiger on Jun 22, 2009 1:13 PM CDT up reply actions
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