SZVETITZ COLUMN: Malzahn’s offense putting on a show

It was just another day at the office for Gus Malzahn.

Racking up 390 yards rushing … yawn.

Coming within 11 yards of 600 in total offense … yeah?

Scoring 49 points … umm, so?

It’s nothing new to the Auburn offensive coordinator. And it’s no surprise, either.

Those numbers are supposed to be there. Winning, 49-24, like the Tigers did Saturday night against Mississippi State, is supposed to happen.

That’s by design. It’s what the offense is geared to do.

And, in case you haven’t heard, Auburn’s all about doing what they do.

Even when it looked like the Tigers broke out the 2008 “3-2” offense for most of the second quarter. Even when that voice in the back of your mind started saying “Here we go again. New offense? Yeah, we’ve heard that before.”

Even when the Tigers had just 20 yards and one first down in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter, trailing 17-14.

Yes, even then.

Have no fear, Malzahn’s offense is here.

Onterio McCalebb, with jet pack sufficiently strapped to his back, went 48 yards on an option (wait, option?) with three minutes to play in the half. And with him went Mississippi State’s chances.

Kodi Burns sprung McCalebb’s run with a key block. Not bad for a quarterback turned, well, whatever position you want to call it. Oh, he also rushed for three scores and threw for another one. That’s just wild. And part of it, as the Gus Malzahn Offense swooped in to save the day.

“He just gives us hope.” Burns said. “He’s somebody that really inspires us. He’s somebody who uses his influence in a positive way. I think the offense, as well as the whole team, really feeds off that.”

A far cry from the previous offensive coordinator.

And more innovative.

Malzahn, who has to have some plays in his book drawn up in crayon, got even more creative Saturday.

Left tackle Lee Ziemba lined up at wideout? Wait. What!?!

Hey, at 6-foot-8, he’s a matchup problem, I guess. The 200-pound weight advantage doesn’t hurt, either. Except if he lands on a defensive back.

Want to know what’s even more out-of-the-box than a massive offensive lineman splitting out at wide receiver?

It’s not the last time you’re going to see it.

Get used to seeing that, along with reverses, options, fake end-around to inside handoffs, slants, screens, draws, the Statue of Liberty … heck, I wouldn’t be surprised if Auburn runs the Annexation of Puerto Rico against West Virginia next week.

You’re going to continue to see all of those formations and playcalls, because that’s what Malzahn’s offense is. It’s one big box of Crayolas.

“We practice this stuff every day,” Ziemba said. “We have a certain place and a certain time we run things and we practice them and we go through them every day. It’s just the same as a simple zone play.”

It’s just what they do.

That, and score points.

Three-to-2? Don’t cuss. Malzahn can’t even count that low. Forty-nine is more like it. So is 589 yards of offense.

For the first time in Auburn history, the Tigers have had back-to-back games with two 100-yard rushers. It’s also the first time they’ve had two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver in a single game. (Take your time and read that again.)

Just another day at the office for Malzahn.

“Yeah, we try to tell our guys, that’s part of our offense,” Malzahn said. “Not a lot of people think of trick plays and all that, but work on them every day. That’s part of what we do, and our guys are starting to get a little used to that.”

So should everyone else.

MIKE SZVETITZ is sports editor of the Opelika-Auburn News. He may be reached at or 737-2513.