Jay Tate: Q & A with Malzahn

[AWK]

AUBURN -- The regular season may be six months away, but that doesn't matter to Gus Malzahn. Auburn's offensive coordinator doesn't believe in an offseason.

The widescreen television in Malzahn's office is hooked to a computer that contains more than 1,000 hours of footage. Malzahn spent a portion of his Wednesday afternoon with that plasma maiden, reliving 2009 games and trying to learn from his own strategic mistakes and successes.

"It's something I feel like I should do every day," he said. "If you're not improving, you're sliding backward. You can't be in neutral."

Malzahn spent some time at the end of his day to discuss his daily regimen, changes in Auburn's 2010 attack, the search for a new primary tailback and his secret dossier of Auburn's most valuable intelligence.

Yes, it's a real folder.

Question: What have you been doing strategically since the season ended?

Answer: We have been really focusing hard on last year as an offensive staff -- trying to evaluate what we did well, where we need to get better, how we can teach it better. We go through every play in detail. It's all about trying to improve.

Q: When you examine these plays, are you paying attention to tendencies or the sequencing or what?

A: The more you see, the more experience you get, the more precise you get as a play-caller. You don't look back and wince as much. The bottom line is taking what the defense gives you and not calling plays just by sheer numbers or preconceived ideas.

The only way to improve that is to go back and watch how I made decisions. I have to see what I did -- why it worked or didn't work.

Q: Do you ever add plays or ideas from outside sources, or do you formulate new elements from scratch?

A: If there's something out there that fits our talent and could make us better, we're always going to look at it. We want to get better, but it's more about evaluating the defenses, the SEC defenses. I evaluate the defensive coordinators. I try to get in their minds and understand how they think.The main opponents, the teams where you really want to win, are the ones I watch all year. I search for ways to exploit them all the time.

You need to know everything about these coordinators. I want to know how they think so I can predict what they'll do in a certain situations.

Q: So do you have a secret stash of intelligence, a folder somewhere?

A: I sure do. I'm old-school, I like to write stuff down. The more I write down, the more I can remember. There is a file and it's one I read a lot.

Q: How differently will this offense operate this fall?

A: It will be somewhat different. Any time you come into a new situation, you just trying to build on your pre-existing strengths. When you have a chance later on to recruit certain positions and you can get the guys you want, the offense will change.

We still have a core philosophy that we're going to run the football, we're going to have a physical edge and we're going to play-action the ball deep. That won't change. You'll just see little differences as we recruit to fill specific needs.

Q: With Ben Tate gone, what is your plan at tailback? Is Mario Fannin going to be a player in this sweepstakes?

A: He's got a chance. He has running back skills. We asked him to do a lot of things last year on the receiving end. We'll give him an opportunity to be the guy. Ben Tate, he was a tough guy. He took a beating. In this league, it's a beating every week. You have to have a real physical guy.

Q: Do you have that guy?

A: We believe we will. I can't sit here and say who it'll be. We have a lot of different options. Dontae Aycock is going to have a chance. Onterio McCalebb -- his head was spinning for half the year. We think he'll be in a comfort zone this year. He's adding weight. Then we have Michael Dyer coming in. He has that physical body.

Q: How do you see Kodi Burns' role developing?

A: He does a lot of things right. He understands the game. He started becoming a real solid receiver. He did a lot of the dirty work early. Late in the season, his routes were getting better. We have high expectations for him there. He still could be doing some Wildcat stuff and things to put pressure on the defenses. It's all to be determined.Q: You were given a significant raise earlier this month -- all the coaches were -- and (Gene) Chizik said he did that to keep you all together. How important is that familiarity?

A: To be the only school in the SEC with no turnover says a lot. It says a lot about our leader, Coach Chizik. The future is bright. Something special is happening here. We all want to be part of it.

This first year, we were all coaching together for the first time. Over time, we get more familiar with each other. We'll get more efficient each year. It's critical that we keep everyone together. I can tell a big difference right now as far as the understanding -- with coaches and players.

Q: Considering the numbers Auburn generated in 2009 and you now being the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league, do you feel like there's a target on your back?

A: I don't even think that way. I think about improving. I'm thinking about us. We have to find ways to get better. We had weaknesses. We have to find a way to win in the fourth quarter. We have to be more efficient near the goal line. And the penalties. That has to be corrected immediately.

Q: Has the theme at quarterback changed? It looks like you're right back where you started -- searching for a new guy.

A: It's the same story as it was last year. We have no preconceived ideas. We're looking for someone who can make us successful on a consistent basis. I don't want to carry this out like we did last fall. It's not a good thing to do it like that. We have some really good options, so that's the good news.

This is going to be my fifth year as a coordinator and I'll be on my fifth new starting quarterback. It'd be nice to have a couple years with one guy running the offense. I don't even know what that's like.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100225/SPORTS0402/2250323/1179/sports0402/Auburn-football-Malzahn-intense-on-subject-of-offense

The bold part makes me happy, especially that he recognizes the problems with penalties.

[jadennis]

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20100225/SPORTS0402/2250323/1179/sports0402/Auburn-football-Malzahn-intense-on-subject-of-offense

The bold part makes me happy, especially that he recognizes the problems with penalties.

Me too.  I remember last year hearing how pissed he was about our ability (or lack of) to be consistent on short yardage.  How many times last year were we 2nd and 3, then 3rd and 1, then punting.  It was way too often.  I know he wants to be more consistent in getting those tough 2 and 3 yards on third downs.

[Aubie16]

To be the only school in the SEC with no turnover says a lot. It says a lot about our leader, Coach Chizik. The future is bright. Something special is happening here. We all want to be part of it.

I'm gonna need a new pair of khakis...

[boartitz]

More from Gus's file.
http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2010/2/25/1326326/for-your-eyes-only-the-auburn?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+edsbs/rss2+(EDSBS

[Tiger Wench]

This is going to be my fifth year as a coordinator and I'll be on my fifth new starting quarterback. It'd be nice to have a couple years with one guy running the offense. I don't even know what that's like.

I want him to know what that is like too - the possibilities make me giddy...

[The Prowler]

 

[The Prowler]

This is going to be my fifth year as a coordinator and I'll be on my fifth new starting quarterback. It'd be nice to have a couple years with one guy running the offense. I don't even know what that's like.

I want him to know what that is like too - the possibilities make me giddy...

Well, that rules out SR. Neil Caudle.

[AUChizad]

 

[jmar]

Malzahn humors ordinary people with coach speak. Those pesky penalties.