Warning: I'm not posting a link because I don't want you guys to be tempted to click it....their site just brought my laptop to a screeching halt. Worse than Scout.
By Ned Colegrove
Foxsportssouth.com
June 7, 2010
It's hard to believe this is just Gus Malzahn's fifth season as an offensive coordinator in college football. Widely considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport, Malzahn is known for his lightning-quick tempo and no-huddle attack. He's credited with mastering the "Wildcat" offense, now one of the hottest gadgets in the game today- college or pro. Bursting onto the scene in 2006 with Arkansas, he guided the Razorbacks to the nation's fourth-best rushing total at 228.5 ypg (featuring Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden) and the SEC West crown. Malzahn was named the national Offensive Coordinator of the Year that season by Rivals.com- not a bad start in the SEC.
He took his act to Tulsa the following year and in 2007 & 2008 his offenses moved the ball better than anyone in the nation, averaging a whopping 556.9 ypg.
For Malzahn, it all goes back to a moment coaching high school football in Arkansas the mid-90's, when he realized that when you can keep defenses on their heels, you can usually keep them out of your backfield. His no-huddle tempo was born and thrived to the tune of seven state championship appearances and three titles.
And now Malzahn finds himself at Auburn, part of a coaching overhaul prior to the 2009 season. The Tiger faithful are giddy for an encore performance from their offensive oracle after breaking school records for points (433) and yards (5,613) in a season in '09 on their way to an Outback Bowl victory over Northwestern. Add a top-5 recruiting class to the mix this past spring and the future looks awfully bright at Auburn- a program that just two years ago was 5-7 and out of the bowl picture altogether.
So we asked Coach Malzahn about the origins of the Wildcat, his influences as a play-caller, and how far he can guide this Auburn attack in 2010 and beyond...
Q. First coach, tell us about what you're focused on as we hit these summer months.
A. I tell you what, we're about to start (high school) summer camps up. Then we'll take a couple weeks vacation and be back hitting it strong, getting ready for fall (team) camp and the start of the season.
Q. So as you wrap up this early summer recruiting process, do you find that your offensive style is able to sell itself? That kids want to be a part of your system?
A. We've been fortunate enough to have had a lot of success over the last four years. Kids like playing in successful systems where they can put up numbers, have fun and have a chance to win games. You couple that with the position coaches we have here on offense, our head coach and the history of Auburn- we really feel like we have a lot to offer the top players around the country.
Q Take us back a ways to when you were coaching high school ball in Arkansas. Who were some of your earliest influences- which philosophies shaped you as an offensive play-caller?
A. Well, I never really got a chance to learn from any one coach. I was a head coach the second year that I started. I didn't have a clue what I was doing, so I just went around to some successful head coaches in the state of Arkansas and just kind of stole bits and pieces from different coaches and their philosophies. I just took bits and pieces and made it my own. I kept with it and of course we started running a two-minute offense the entire game in 1996 and we just kind of put all that together and stuck with it. It's been a lot of fun going through the process.
Q. So once that started working, you just said, "The heck with the huddle, let's just keep the tempo up", right?
A. That's exactly right. In 1995, we'd have 3 or 4 no-huddle plays already lined up and we'd run them in succession. So we'd have great success and momentum and we'd go back to the huddle and we'd lose our momentum. So, that next year we decided we were going to put the hammer down the whole time and see what happens- it turned out to be a pretty good decision.
Q. The Wildcat formation is one everybody associates you with- did you ever expect it to take off like it has (after popularizing it with RB Darren McFadden at Arkansas)?
A. I tell you what, nowadays it's kind of funny for me to hear that when another player besides the quarterback takes the snap, they call it the Wildcat. Of course, what I call Wildcat is actually an unbalanced formation with a speed sweep of the tailback. But it is pretty neat to see a lot of different teams, especially in the NFL have success. It's a pretty simple idea- you just get the ball into your best player's hands and let him make plays.
Q. So that's how it originated for you at Arkansas- get the ball into Darren's hands however possible?
A. Yeah. When I first got to Arkansas, Darren was actually a QB in junior high and he could throw the football. So it was just a natural progression to get the ball in his hands and of course he took off. You know, anytime you've got a Wildcat guy like McFadden, it's going to work. The better guy you have at that position, the more successful you're going to be.
Q. Well, you've had a very successful career at multiple levels of football- how do you think you connect with these young men so well?
A. I really take the same approach- I'm an old high school coach. I've always looked at coaching as my ministry. I've always tried to develop relationships and I look at football as a lot more than on the field. As far as developing those relationships and building up young men to help them be men in life. I just have that same approach with all of the players.
Q. So now at Auburn- all these school records you set on offense in just your first year, but I'm guessing the Auburn faithful is expecting you to top all of that in 2010, right?
A. (Laughs) Yeah, that's the expectation, I'm sure. I was really happy with our players last year. We're getting a little more depth, recruiting specific players for certain positions. We're not there yet as far as having all the pieces to the puzzle, but our guys do have a better understanding of our offense. We're starting a new QB (Cameron Newton, Jr.), a new tailback (Onterio McCalebb, So./Mario Fannin, Sr.) but if we can replace those guys, we'll have a chance to be solid on offense.
Q. To that point, you have someone under center in 2010 like a lot of SEC teams- talk about how that race shook out and how Cameron won the job for you.
A. We have three really talented quarterbacks (Newton/ Neil Caudle, Sr./ Barrett Trotter, So.), we feel. It was a battle. We opened it up, we charted every throw and every series. It was a lot closer than what people think, but Cameron is obviously very athletic and has the ability to keep a play alive once it breaks down. What stood out to me was his decision-making ability, throwing the ball downfield on time and just really wanting the job. Of course, Barrett Trotter and Neil Caudle, both those guys could run our offense. So, if something happens to Cam, they could step right in and we wouldn't have to change anything- both those guys are very talented.
Q. Thinking about the way your offensive mind works, Cameron must really excite you then with the kinds of things you can incorporate into the offense.
A. There's no doubt. Last year, Chris Todd was extremely talented on throwing the ball on time and we tried to build our offense around his strength. He wasn't so much of a runner. But this year, our quarterback run game will be more into play this coming year. Any time you can run your quarterback, even four to five times a game, it really changes (the defense's) approach. So we're looking forward to getting the ball in our quarterback's hands and running the football.
Q. Another guy whose versatility you must admire is Mario Fannin- how do you expect to utilize him this fall?
A. Mario's best when he has the ball in his hands. He's a big guy that has great balance, that can really run. He had a very good spring- his whole thing is if he can stay healthy, he'll have a great year.
Q. You were at Tulsa in between stops in the SEC- when you were coming to Auburn, was there ever a feeling of, "Why did I get back into this conference with all these great defenses?"
A. (Laughs) I tell you what, these are the best defenses in America. (Coming back to the SEC) was great, this is the best league to coach in and it was a blessing for me to get another chance. Auburn's a great place. It's a lot of fun. If you're competitive at all, every week you're going to get a great defense. So you just have to earn it- there's no cheapies in this conference, you have to earn everything you get.
Q. Be honest, you must spend a little bit more time in the offseason thinking of ways to get through Nick Saban's defense than any other team's right?
A. Yeah, I tell you what, not only are they well-coached but they've got great players at just about every position. They're very deep. You definitely have to earn everything. We kind of had some deficiencies on offense last year, but we had them on the ropes there for awhile there (Auburn held leads of 14-0 and 21-20). They found a way to win the game at the end (Alabama won 26-21).
Q. How well do you know coach Saban as a guy or as a coach?
A. I really don't know him that well from the outside. He's done a great job and of course they're our rival. We've just got to find a way to finish it next year.
Q. So what about when your guys have to go everywhere and see headlines about how good their in-state rival is?
A. You really don't need all that (to get excited) for the rivalry, it's already built in. I think you can be here a short period of time and you already know it's a great rivalry. I think these kids are brought up at a young age to be one or the other, which makes that rivalry real special. It's fun to be a part of it, we just need to find out a way to come out on the other end of it next year.
Q. With Mississippi State and Arkansas considered teams on the rise, how do you see the SEC West landscape heading into 2010?
A. All the teams (we play) are good teams. Of course, I get focused on the defense of each one of those teams. Just watching this summer, they're all very solid defenses. The SEC West is getting to where everybody has a chance and there's no easy ones.
Q. So who's the guy that you really like coming out of spring ball that people might not know about yet?
A. I tell you what, Emory Blake is one of our true freshman receivers that played some. He got our MVP ball for offensive skill for the spring. He's a guy who, when we recruited him, we felt like he had a chance to be a great player and the lights kind of clicked on for him (this spring). So, our expectations for him will be extremely high next year.
Q. Finally then, what's the feeling like heading into 2010? Can Auburn fans expect their boys to be competing for that spot in the Georgia Dome?
A. That's the plan! Like I said, we were very thin on a lot of positions last year, and we had a good recruiting class, so we will be in better shape. We're still not where we need to be depth-wise. At the same time, with a little luck, staying healthy and all that, we really feel like we're going to give people a run for their money.
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