Malzahn = ‘smashmouth’ offensive coordinator

Good evening, I’m Mike Szvetitz. Andrew Gribble has the week off.

Here’s my story that will appear in tomorrow’s Opelika-Auburn News on what new Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn plans on bringing to the Plains next season.
If you haven’t heard, Malzahn was introduced, officially, as Auburn’s offensive coordinator Monday evening.

It’s not what you think.
Gus Malzahn doesn’t run the spread. Well, maybe a little. But, again, it’s not what you think.
He’s a “smash mouth” offensive coordinator, who likes to throw deep.
He also likes to score points, and, well, win.
And that’s why Gene Chizik hired him to run the offense at Auburn.
“I know a lot of people categorize me as a spread team, and if you really look back at my history, we’re going to play smash mouth football,” said Malzahn, who was officially introduced as Auburn’s OC on Monday evening at a press conference, making him just the second official assistant coach on Chizik’s staff, joining James Willis. “We’re going to set up the pass with the run, and I really think the difference is with most run/play-action teams from what we’re going to do is we’re going to throw the ball vertically down the field and we’re going to do that quite often. So that’s sort of what you’ll see from our offense …”
And Chizik likes it. Actually, he’s liked it for a long time. Even while at Iowa State, and while interviewing for the Auburn job.
“When we went to pursue this, it was really neat because when (Auburn athletics director) Jay (Jacobs) and I talked about this job a couple of weeks ago, I told him … ‘I have a plan,’” Chizik said. “And part of that plan was your hires. … And as we talked about it, one of the guys I was very adamant about was Gus.
“When you look at everything, and you look at a football coach, to me, a football coach really has three parts: How are they as an ‘X and O’ guy, how are they with their players and how are they when they go into a living room and have to convince a young man to come to their university? And at Auburn, I don’t feel like we’ve got to go for 2-for-3 or 1-for-3 with the guy we’re going to hire.
“I’m very pleased as I went to hire this particular position, Gus brings it all to the table. So that’s why I’m really excited about today.”
Malzahn’s numbers as an offensive coordinator are dazzling. In 2007, his first year at Tulsa, Malzahn’s offense led the nation in total offense with 543.9 yards per game. This past season, the Golden Hurricane was second in total offense, averaging 565.1 yards per game, while scoring 47.4 points, which is also good enough for second-best in the nation.
And Malzahn’s “power” offense has had success in the SEC, too. In 2006, while at Arkansas, the Razorbacks were fourth nationally in rushing yards per game with 228.5. Malzahn and Arkansas did have Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in the backfield that season.
But even at Tulsa, Malzahn’s running offense was able to put up top-10 numbers, ranking eighth overall with 254.9 yards per game on the ground this season.
“I think if you go back and you really do your homework on this, one of the things I found out – and it’s easy to look at the stats and be able to tell that – but, philosophically …we’ve got to start with the running game,” Chizik said. “As Gus and I talked through this process, it was very evident to me that I had the right guy in all of those ways. Now, obviously, it’s not just about running the football. It’s about moving the football. I wanted an offense that was going to be very productive in every way – an offense that moves the football and scores points. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.”
Malzahn, who has already started watching film on current Auburn players and potential and current recruits, knows his offense is going to hinge on who’s running it. And because of that, he’s not going to commit to what exactly it will all look like come spring practice.
But he does know two things – the Tigers will be balanced, and they will be physical.
“Well, you got to be balanced, and you’ve got to take what the defense gives you,” Malzahn said. “People tell me, ‘Hey, do you want to run more than throw?’ Really, it matters on what the defense is going to give you.
“Obviously, you’ve got to be able to run the football. We are a run-play action team. You won’t see a whole lot of straight drop-back pass. It’s just not who we’re going to be. We’re going to run downhill. We’re going to have a physical, hard-nosed approach. I’m not talking about just the offensive line and just the backs. I’m talking about the receivers and quarterbacks, and I think that’s very important to establish that early.”
In the meantime, Malzahn will continue to coach the offense at Tulsa, as the Golden Hurricane prepares for its GMAC Bowl game against Ball State on Jan. 6 in Mobile. After that, Malzahn will be on Auburn’s staff full-time.

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Malzahn presser

Sports editor Mike Szvetitz mercifully showed up from vacation to spare all of us from what would have certainly been a horrific story from me since I don’t have a tape recorder, but here are some of my terribly-transcribed, on the fly notes from Gus Malzahn’s introductory press conference, featuring head coach Gene Chizik.

(Don’t take these as direct quotes.)

Chizik:
“I said when I was hired I had a plan. Part of the plan was your hires. One of the guys that I was very adamant about was Gus.“

Said he was looking for someone strong in Xs and Os, a good working relationship with players and a strong recruiter. Also looking for the best fit for Auburn (just keeps popping up doesn’t it?)

Said it was important to be on the same page philosophically, stressed that their offense would start with the run.

Malzahn

“It’s a true honor for me to be here.“ Stressed how much respect he had gained for Auburn during his trip here in 2006 with Arkansas (certainly a bad memory for most Tiger fans).

ON looking at film of the current team:
“We started on that today. That’s the first step assessing that and building on your strengths. With my old high school background you have to work with what you’re given ... We’ve been recruiting to fit the voids we need.“

When everyone momentarily recoiled because this is a dark period:

“I meant watching film on our targets”

Went on to stress that his offense would be a run-oriented play-action attack, with most of the stuff coming through the air being of the vertical variety. sounds a bit like Auburn’s 2004 offense, which I’m sure fans can get behind.

When asked if he had purchased the Tony Franklin System:

I’m not familiar with him.

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Much more will be coming from Szvetitz within hours I’m sure. Just figured I’d give you a little heads up. I will now take my complimentary Chick-fil-A and prepare for the AU-A&M game.

Monday, what a day

I’m supposed to be off on Mondays. since I’m covering a basketball game and maybe a press conference tonight, I’m trying to make up for it in the afternoon. So no previews for tonight’s bowls. here are my picks:

Papajohns.com Bowl: Rutgers 31, N.C. State 21
Alamo Bowl: Missouri 45, Northwestern 28

Back tonight with various thoughts on the happenings of today.

Blah ...

Circumstances and people being off have prevented me from doing an Indpendence Bowl Preview. I know you’re crestfallen. But take heart, my column returns Tuesday!

Here’s my pick: Louisiana Tech 30, Northern Illinois 16

In other news, I was hoping I could find a YouTube of Miami’s last drive last night but couldn’t. If you didn’t see it, let me just say you missed McNabb/Reid-level incompetence at the two-minute drill. If Auburn was planning on hiring Patrick Nix, maybe that’s what led them to pull the trigger on Gus Malzahn today.

I also will have the rare opportunity to cover an AU revenue sport tomorrow as I cover Auburn’s game against Alabama A&M. The possibility exists that I might also cover the Malzahn press conference, but we’ll just see.

Until later ...

Get on the bus, Gus: Malzahn named offensive coordinator

OK, so I’m on vacation and somewhat under the weather, but the news at Auburn never rests.

Tulsa’s Gus Malzahn is your new offensive coordinator. Here’s the official release.

AUBURN NAMES GUS MALZAHN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR

AUBURN—Gus Malzahn, who has served as the assistant head coach and co-offensive coordinator as well as quarterbacks coach at the University of Tulsa the previous two seasons, has been named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn, announced head coach Gene Chizik Sunday.

During his two seasons at Tulsa, Malzahn’s offenses have been among the nation’s finest, ranking first nationally in total offense in 2007 and second in 2008.  Prior to his arrival at Tulsa, Malzahn was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Arkansas in 2006.

“This is an exciting opportunity to coach at Auburn, get involved with the Auburn family and work for Coach Chizik,” Malzahn said. “I can’t wait to get to Auburn and get started.”

Two of Malzahn’s three offenses have ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, including the 2008 Tulsa team that is eighth averaging 254.9 yards per game, and his 2006 Arkansas offense that was fourth nationally (228.5 ypg) behind Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden and fellow All-American Felix Jones.

Under his direction, the 2008 Tulsa offense is averaging 565.1 yards per game and 47.4 points per games, both second nationally. Entering their bowl game, the Hurricane offense is first in the country in third down conversion percentage (57.7 pct.) and yards per play (7.29 ypp) and is also seventh nationally in passing offense (310.2 ypg).

In 2007, Malzahn’s first Tulsa offense ranked as the nation’s top offense, gaining 543.9 yards per game. The Hurricane also led Conference USA in passing, scoring, touchdown passes and passing efficiency, while ranking third nationally for passing, fifth for pass efficiency and 10th for scoring offense.

“Gus is one of the great offensive minds in college football and we are very excited to having him join the Auburn staff,” Chizik said. “His track record at all levels of coaching is remarkable and his
offenses have been extremely successful both running and passing the ball.  It’s truly impressive that he oversees an offense that is in the top 10 nationally in all five major offensive statistical categories. We’re looking forward to having Gus on board.”

Tulsa’s offense in 2007 established nine team school records and 12 individual records. The Hurricane also set nine Conference USA team records, while Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith established new C-USA single-season marks for total yards, TDs responsible for, passing yards and TD passes.

A Fort Smith, Ark., native, Malzahn will join the Auburn staff after Tulsa’s GMAC Bowl game versus Ball State on Jan. 6 in Mobile.

Malzahn spent the 2006 season as offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Arkansas. During his tenure, the Razorbacks finished with a 10-4 record, were SEC West Division Champions and were ranked 15th nationally.

Under Malzahn’s direction, Arkansas not only had the nation’s fourth-ranked rushing offense, but also ranked among the top-35 nationally in total offense and scoring offense. He was named the Rivals.com National Offensive Coordinator of the Year in 2006.

Malzahn spent 14 seasons as a successful Arkansas High School head coach, from 1991-2005, where he led five teams to the state championship game and won three titles.

Before becoming a college coach at Arkansas in 2006, Malzahn was the head coach at Springdale High School for five years (2001-05). He led the Bulldogs to two state championship game appearances, 2002 and 2005. Malzahn’s 2005 team posted a 14-0 record, won the state’s Class 5A championship, outscored its opponents 664-118 and was ranked among the top-10 teams in the country.

Prior to his stint at Springdale, Malzahn coached five years at Shiloh Christian High School where he transformed that program into one of the most dynamic offensive prep squads in the nation. He led the Saints to back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999.

On the prep level, Malzahn coached two quarterbacks, Josh Floyd and Rhett Lashley at Shiloh Christian High School, both of whom set national passing records. Malzahn also tutored 2005 Gatorade, Parade Magazine and Rivals.com National Player of the Year Mitch Mustain at Springdale High School.

Malzahn began his coaching career in 1991 at Hughes High School, where he stayed for five seasons including the final four years as the head coach. In 1992, Malzahn became the head coach and in 1994 his team reached the state championship game.

Malzahn, 43, earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Henderson State (Ark.) in 1990. He and his wife, Kristi, have two daughters, Kylie and Kenzie.