AU FOOTBALL: Malzahn's offense doesn't slow down

In his introduction to Auburn and in the months preceding spring practice, Gus Malzahn was poked, prodded and pried about the similarities between his and Tony Franklin’s offense.

Repeatedly, the predominantly calm, collected Malzahn would grow just a bit irritated and reiterate that there were none.

“You hear a lot about no huddle and a lot about ‘fast,’ but our goal is to play fast,” Malzahn said in February. “That’s who we are. That’s what we do.”

Less than a week into spring practice, Auburn’s players are sold. This is nothing like Franklin’s offense.

“The chaos is much more controlled,” senior offensive lineman Andrew McCain said.

“It’s fast. It’s really fast, but it’s very technique oriented. People like to throw around the term spread offense, and this is not a spread offense.”

Then what is it?

“I don’t know,” H-back Mario Fannin said. “It’s an offense.”

Fair enough. Leave it to the guy who wrote a book about the two-back, run-based, play-action offense to someday come up with a fancy title.

The players are still getting used to the go-go-go pace Malzahn demands, as they run and learn the intricacies of their third offense in as many years.

“I’m going to bet they’re in a little bit of shock,” said Malzahn, a wry smile across his face. “But here’s the great thing about it: We weren’t happy two days ago with their pace and we really challenged them. They came back strong, and we saw that aspect — at least early — where they know the pace that we want to run plays.”

The largest onus, of course, falls on Auburn’s quarterbacks — the conductors of this Red Bull-infused offense.

Neil Caudle and Kodi Burns both said Saturday that they have digested the playbook but haven’t worked out anywhere near the amount of kinks to be successful.

The offense relies on precise timing from the quarterbacks, leaving little wiggle room for the quarterback to create his own plays. Though it varies only slightly from what Franklin originally desired, it’s a major switch from what inevitably happened in 2008, as Burns was at his best in the off-the-cuff moments.

“The biggest difference is tempo. We’re really going to actually run that tempo,” Burns said. “There’s not much looking to the sidelines for plays. We just run play after play after play.

“We’ll have an advantage over defenses by wearing them down.”

Establishing that advantage has been a major focus in Auburn’s first three practices.

During a 25-minute viewing session open to the media Thursday, drills in all areas — offense, special teams and defense — focused not only on execution, but how fast they could be executed to perfection.

Only at moments of pure instruction, when Malzahn installs something Auburn has yet to practice, does the frantic pace hit the backburner.

“But usually it’s 90-to-nothing,” Caudle said. “Full speed all the time.”

Malzahn’s track record has made it easy for players to adjust their average heart rate.

Players such as Burns have had time to research what Malzahn did at Tulsa over the past two seasons, when the Golden Hurricane ranked first and second nationally in offense over the past two seasons. The formations can be funky at times, and players such as Mario Fannin and Onterio McCalebb may end up wearing more than a few hats, but the results sold themselves, Burns said.

“It’s excited me a lot,” Burns said. “Him coming to Auburn is like a dream come true. I just can’t wait. I’m looking forward to the future.”

And time flies when you don’t stop moving.

“A 21-period practice seemed like it went by in 30 minutes,” center Ryan Pugh said. “There’s a definite start and finish to everything.”

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