When debating the pros and cons of the Malzahn regime, the one thing I don't see stressed nearly enough is the complete void of outside experience that exists across the entire offensive coaching staff. It's the reason they stand around with their fingers up their asses not knowing what to do when things go awry. The entire staff simply does not have enough of a varied background to have any fresh ideas or any base of knowledge in past similar situations.
I've made my point about Gus having zero personal mentors and having never worked outside his own narrow base. That's a poisonous situation in and of itself. He has never had to thrive outside his own bubble.
But what about the rest of the staff?
Kevin Steele has been around. He's got a decent amount of experience and has seen other programs and coaches from the inside. So has Greg Brown.
Rodney Garner has been at Auburn under Dye and Bowden, Tennessee for a year under Fulmer and a bunch of years at Georgia under Donnan and Richt. Experience yes, but not really a vast amount.
With Steele, Brown, Garner in the mix that allows room for Travis Williams to grow into his role. Travis can rap. But his entire coaching resume is a year in high school and a year at Northern Iowa.
You can't argue that the defense is SEC quality with those four handing that side of the ball. They've been in the game long enough and been around enough successful coaches to know how to make things work.
Now the offense...
Chip Lindsey hasn't really been around the block. In and out at Southern Miss under Fedora, a year at Arizona State and a long-ago stint under Larry Blakeney at Troy. He's at Auburn because of his prior relationship with Gus. He's not a Top 10 coordinator in the SEC.
Kodi Burns. I like him as a person, but......Green as hell. Worked at Samford. Was at AZ State with Lindsey for a year. Gus' pet. He's not a SEC-level coach.
Herb Hand. Pfffttt. Co-offensive coordinator with Gus at Tulsa. The only place he coached offensive line before Auburn was Vandy for three years and then a year or so at Penn State. He was a tight ends coach at WVU. he might be okay, but he's not upper shelf.
Tim Horton. Arkansas and Auburn. The fuck.
Larry Porter. He's been around some, but I've never heard of him.
It just looks to me like Malzahn's offensive staff is made up of his buddies and pets and really doesn't have the gravitas an SEC staff should have. So when he's bumbling and fumbling around, there's nobody to tell him "Hey, when I was working for Tom Osborne at Nebraska, we tried....." All he has are people who kiss his ass.
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