EXTRA POINTS
By Jimmy Carter
When Gus Malzahn made the jump from Springdale High School head coach to Arkansas offensive coordinator in 2006, it was debated whether his spread offense would be successful in the Southeastern Conference.
Turns out, the question would initially go unanswered as the Razorbacks didn’t run Malzahn’s patented hurry-up, no-huddle system in his lone season with the Hogs.
As Tulsa’s co-offensive coordinator in 2007 and 2008, Malzahn’s offenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in numerous categories. Still, that was in Conference USA.
New Auburn coach Gene Chizik named Malzahn the Auburn offensive coordinator on Dec. 28, 2008, giving Malzahn the freedom to unleash his high-octane offensive attack on the rest of the SEC.
Prognosticators predicted it would take Malzahn time to stockpile enough offensive weapons to successfully implement his style of offense after the Tigers’ offense ranked near the bottom of both the SEC and the country in scoring offense and passing offense. The general prognosis was that Auburn would struggle mightily on offense until Malzahn got his personnel in place.
That assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth. Malzahn and the Tigers have showcased a high-scoring offense on their way to a 5-0 start and a No. 17 ranking in this week’s AP poll. The Tigers rank fifth in the country – second in the SEC only to Florida – averaging 41.4 points per contest.
“Auburn’s playing well,” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. “They’re offense has been scoring a lot of points, running the ball real well. They’re doing an excellent job of running the ball. We have to be able to stop the run, put some pressure on their quarterback to win the game.”
Unlike stereotypical spread offenses, the Auburn offense is run-oriented. The Tigers average 253.8 yards per game on the ground. That’s good for fifth in the country and again ranks second to the Gators in the conference.
“This week we’ll find out how we are stopping the run,” Petrino said. “(Auburn is) running the ball, they’re doing a good job of utilizing their strengths. They’ve got two real good running backs (Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb). They’re calling (Mario Fannin) a fullback, but he’s another running back that can catch the ball and played wide receiver some last year. He’s a real good player. They utilize those guys, they run reverses, they run misdirections.”
Malzahn has successfully molded Auburn senior quarterback Chris Todd into a solid signal-caller in the spread offense. Todd struggled mightily in 2008, throwing for 903 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions while splitting time at Arkansas native Kodi Burns.
Burns was moved to receiver and Todd has excelled under Malzahn’s tutelage in the Tigers’ dash to national notoriety. Through the five wins, Todd has totaled 1,230 passing yards and thrown 12 touchdowns against just one interception.
“(Todd’s) done a great job of executing their offense,” Petrino said. “He’s taking care of the ball, he’s distributing where they want him to distribute it and he’s had very good time. They’re doing a nice job with their protections schemes and not getting guys on him. We’ve got to try to get some pressure on him and him, see if we can get him in some 3rd-and-long situations.
While Malzahn’s offenses at Tulsa featured an aggressive vertical passing attack, the Auburn offense has relied on the short and intermediate passing game so far this season. Auburn running backs have combined for 44 percent of the team’s receptions as Todd has limited the Tigers’ offensive mishaps.
“At Tulsa (Malzahn) had a quarterback that really threw the ball down the field and they would take three or four deep shots a quarter,” Petrino said. “They seem to be more into the controlled (offense), getting lots of completions and not throwing interceptions this year.”
Malzahn has also shown that he can successfully recruit the state of Arkansas since taking the job at Tulsa. In the 2007 class, Malzahn snared standouts Charles Clay and A.J. Whitmore from Arkansas as the Hurricanes’ lead recruiter for the state. Clay is an all-conference fullback for the Hurricane, posting 1,024 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns as a freshman. He and Whitmore are both in the top three in receptions for the Hurricanes this season.
In his two seasons at Tulsa, Malzahn signed seven players from Arkansas and had a verbal commitment from Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson before Wilson flipped to the Hogs. Malzahn has continued the trend of actively recruiting the state since being hired at Auburn.
Little Rock Christian running back Michael Dyer is a consensus top-30 player nationally in the 2010 class, and is leaning toward the Tigers. Dyer cited his relationship with the Auburn coaching staff as one of the main reasons for his strong interest in the program. His teammate, senior tight end Dakota Mosley, has also been offered by Auburn.
Two Shiloh Christian junior standouts, quarterback Kiehl Frazier and defensive tackle Samuel Harvill, have interest in the Tigers. Frazier, one of the more highly-touted quarterbacks in the country in the 2011 class, has an offer from both the Hogs and Tigers. He and Harvill attended camp at Auburn during the summer. The Tigers have also offered Springdale Har-Ber junior offensive lineman Brey Cook, after he excelled at their summer camp.
Malzahn’s connections in Arkansas high school football ensure the three-time state champion coach while at Springdale and Shiloh Christian will continue to successfully delve into the Natural State for recruiting in the future.
Meanwhile, Auburn has yet to play a ranked opponent this season this season, so the verdict is to an extent still out on the team’s legitimacy. The Tigers still have to face LSU, Ole Miss, Georgia and Alabama.
It will probably take a few seasons before the Tigers are ready to seriously contend for the SEC Western Division crown. We know with Malzahn calling the plays on offense, Auburn’s resurgence will be sooner rather than later.
Don’t be surprised if Malzahn rakes in the awards and head coaching offers after shattering Auburn school records this season.
He’s earned them.
Jimmy Carter is an assistant sports editor for The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Wednesday.