Auburn's Back To The Future Offense

[AWK]

Makes Them One of 2010's Most Interesting Teams

When Auburn hired Iowa State coach Gene Chizik last summer, Tiger fans were apoplectic. Charles Barkley said it was racist. Alabama fans laughed. Alabama fans might still be laughing, but after Chizik's first season we saw Auburn tack on three extra wins despite a major drop off in defense (from 29th to 68th in total yardage) and the continued presence of noodle-armed statue Chris Todd at the offense's helm.

Auburn managed this trick by seeing their offense improve from 104th to 16th, which was almost entirely the doing of Gus Malzahn, the high school coach turned offensive coordinator at the heart of Arkansas's telenovela-style meltdown during Houston Nutt's final year as head coach. If  you follow college football at all, you know that Malzahn's offense is weird and fast, but here's ten minutes explaining some of the many ways in which it is weird and fast:



The video doesn't explicitly mention this, but since I just edited an article about the history of the state of the art in football offenses and I've got this stuff on the brain: Malzahn's offense is a modern-day version of the single wing. This is not exactly a new assertion. When the New York Times has mentioned the same thing you have, you are not breaking ground. But you can say the Malzahn offense is the single wing 2.0 and people will nod without actually understanding it.

The above video provides an excellent introduction for anyone wondering just what the heck people are talking about when they say this. The single wing…

    * incorporates many possible different ball carriers that head in different directions.
    * uses misdirection as the primary way to acquire big plays. It's not "keeping the defense honest" so you can run your bread and butter without the opponent cheating, it's an attempt make the defense confused on every play.
    * often features a primary ball handler who spins wildly to set up playfakes heading in opposite directions.
    * depends on sowing confusion and can be vulnerable to teams that are well-drilled at stopping it.

Auburn's offense was alternately explosive— putting up 49, 41, 33, and 38 against various BCS opponents and putting up 21 points againstAlabama's outstanding defense—and disappointing—clunking out just 10 against LSU and, more alarmingly, 14 and 23 against Kentucky and Arkansas, respectively, in ugly losses against a couple of the worst defensive teams in the country.

It'll be fascinating to watch the SEC adapt to the offense, and whether that will be offset by the Tigers's massive athletic upgrade at quarterback, where former five-star recruit and Tebow heir-apparent Cam Newton replaces the game but limited Todd. What will Malzahn be able to do when his quarterback is a threat to take off? You'll have to ask 1930s-era Heisman winners.

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/69491/auburns_back_tohttp://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/69491/auburns_back_to_the_future_offense_makes_them_one_of_2010s_most_interesting_teams_the_future_offense_makes_them_one_of_2010s_most_interesting_teams

[Godfather]

Makes Them One of 2010's Most Interesting Teams

From his keyboard to God's ears

[No Huddle]

Also the Notre Dame Box could be used to describe it as well.

[Birmingham]

I enjoy watching it.  What I don't enjoy is it making me have memories of the Utah game.  There was just nothing in the world we could do to stop the bleeding in the first half against Auburn last year.  It felt exactly like Utah.  Completely outperformed.

[djsimp]

I enjoy watching it.  What I don't enjoy is it making me have memories of the Utah game.  There was just nothing in the world we could do to stop the bleeding in the first half against Auburn last year.  It felt exactly like Utah.  Completely outperformed.

The Utah game was a disgrace to the bammers no doubt; I even felt sorry for...no nevermind. The one thing you should remember is that Auburn is only getting better. History will prove that once the CFB team that reaches the pinnacle only goes down from here, so I would choose your words lightly. Of course, I will doubt your ability to do so because I have yet to see your humility.

[GH2001]

History will prove that once the CFB team that reaches the pinnacle only goes down from here

This is true. But I would venture to say it has more to do with the 85 scholly limits of today's game and early exits to the NFL than anything. And then there are also all of the dumb socialist rules starting to get implemented (lobbied for by the Big East) all in the name of parity.

[djsimp]

This is true. But I would venture to say it has more to do with the 85 scholly limits of today's game and early exits to the NFL than anything. And then there are also all of the dumb socialist rules starting to get implemented (lobbied for by the Big East) all in the name of parity.

Tis true. The limits on scholarships have a lot to do with it. It also seems like coaches push hard for one particular year with the alignment of the stars. After they win the NC, they take a slide for a couple of years. Not all teams do this though but it seems like a trend.

[JR4AU]

Also the Notre Dame Box could be used to describe it as well.

Actually, much of it is very Wing T like.  Misdirection, sleight of hand fakes, angle blocking, several backs being a threat to carry the ball on any play, and play action passing off that are all Wing T staples.  The Buck Sweep, the twin pulling guards, is an iconic play of the Delaware Wing T under Harold "Tubby" Raymond.  Malzahn is the only coach in Div 1 football currently employing that version of the sweep play.

teh googles:

http://www.bucksweep.com/ 

http://www.bucksweep.com/sweep.htm

http://coachmetz.com/Documents/Bucksweep.pdf

[GH2001]

Actually, much of it is very Wing T like.  Misdirection, sleight of hand fakes, angle blocking, several backs being a threat to carry the ball on any play, and play action passing off that are all Wing T staples.  The Buck Sweep, the twin pulling guards, is an iconic play of the Delaware Wing T under Harold "Tubby" Raymond.  Malzahn is the only coach in Div 1 football currently employing that version of the sweep play.

teh googles:

http://www.bucksweep.com/ 

http://www.bucksweep.com/sweep.htm

http://coachmetz.com/Documents/Bucksweep.pdf

JR hearts him teh googles.

[No Huddle]

Actually, much of it is very Wing T like.  Misdirection, sleight of hand fakes, angle blocking, several backs being a threat to carry the ball on any play, and play action passing off that are all Wing T staples.  The Buck Sweep, the twin pulling guards, is an iconic play of the Delaware Wing T under Harold "Tubby" Raymond.  Malzahn is the only coach in Div 1 football currently employing that version of the sweep play.

teh googles:

http://www.bucksweep.com/ 

http://www.bucksweep.com/sweep.htm

http://coachmetz.com/Documents/Bucksweep.pdf

All that is old is new again. A few years ago I was watching film on a team that used the Maryland I and used a mid-line option with an Iso. It was sick. The coaching staff, thankfully, stopped using it before we played. But back to what you were saying I work at Grayson High School and they run the Wing T. It is awesome when you have the horses.

[djsimp]

It is awesome when you have the horses.

You have entered the correct password. Not only do you have to have the horses but in Malzahn's offense you have to have a stable. Like many things in history, it will be repeated so one has to study history to be prepared for the future. This would be as close to a time machine as possible. Would it be safe to say that Malzahn could also be called Doc Brown?

[No Huddle]

He does not have the hair for it.

[djsimp]

He does not have the hair for it.

True, but there is the "Hair club for me". Besides its metaphorical you dang copper. I'm sure you know what that means considering all the soon to be rappers you see out there on da skreets.

[No Huddle]

True, but there is the "Hair club for me". Besides its metaphorical you dang copper. I'm sure you know what that means considering all the soon to be rappers you see out there on da skreets.

I was being literal No Huddle. Opie and Anthony reference