StatTiger from ITAT seems to think so:
Auburn's rushing totals for the 2008 season...
1642yds-469-12tds / 3.50 YPC
Gus Malzahn's rushing totals on 1st down only...2006: 1813yds-283-12tds / 6.41 YPC
2007: 1777yds-315-13tds / 5.64 YPC
2008: 2240yds-379-16tds / 5.91 YPC
I realize comparing his Tulsa numbers to Auburn's numbers is apples to oranges but it's still an amazing stat for first down rushing. He along with Gene Chizik aren't blowing smoke, when they talk about wanting to run the football. I'm sure the Auburn runningbacks and OL are excited about running the football in this offense.
The year before Malzahn arrived at Tulsa...2006: 1149yds-248-11tds / 4.63 YPC (rushing on first down)
* No doubt CGM improved their running game *
* From 2006-2008, Auburn as a team has rushed for over 200-yards in 9 games. In the past three seasons, Gus Malzahn's running game has rushed for over 200-yards on first down alone in 10 games.
http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=6&f=1010&t=4193365