And since it worked so well last year, I hope he continues to do so. New wrinkles and more passing--absolutely. I'm looking forward to seeing how the new studs do tomorrow. DQ and Stanton Truitt catching, Barber running. Anxious about who replaces Prosch. Maybe Gage Batten or Chris Laye. Trovon on D will be interesting.
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http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2014/04/gus_malzahn_auburns_offense_in.htmlGus Malzahn: Auburn's offense in 2013 was a 'very, very simplified version'
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Brandon Marcello | bmarcello@al.com By Brandon Marcello | bmarcello@al.com
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on April 17, 2014 at 7:48 PM
AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn's motto last season on offense was, well, simple.
This season promises to be different, Gus Malzahn told CBSSports.com this week in a sit-down interview.
The second-year Auburn coach plans to expand his offense in 2014, especially with a second-year starter at quarterback for the first time in his nine seasons as a college coach. The Tigers' offense could tilt to a more complicated and robust attack.
“Last year we were a very, very simplified version," Malzahn said of the offense, which relied heavily (71.9 percent) on the running game. "Our goal is to get better at our base foundation of offense and defense. But we're a year farther along, so we have been a little bit more specific on some things we'd like to do in the fall. We still haven't lost the concept of the foundation of offense and defense. We've still been pretty simple.â€
The Tigers leaned on running back Tre Mason (1,816 yards and 23 touchdowns) and quarterback Nick Marshall's feet (1,068 yards, 12 touchdowns) to power the nation's top rushing offense. Malzahn has expressed a desire to move to a more balanced offense in 2014, but that's up to Marshall, who he believes has progressed this spring and is being more reactive on his reads in the passing game.
"A lot of people took chances trying to stop the run last year," Malzahn told CBSSports.com. "We just need to make them pay on a more consistent basis. That's what we've been working hard on in the spring."
Marshall completed 59.4 percent of his passes in 2013 but misfired on several throws, including to wide-open receivers down the field.