EYE ON THE TIGERS: Todd's solid numbers will look better with time

Gus Malzahn doesn’t typically offer more than 30-40 words — about two to three sentences — per answer when he meets with reporters.

It’s nothing personal; it’s just the way he’s programmed.

Over the past couple weeks, though, a certain topic has triggered the Auburn offensive coordinator to become atypically verbose. It’s a bit odd when you think of it, considering that he’s fielded at least two to three questions about it every single time since camp broke in August.

Only now, though, it hasn’t been the time to nitpick the decisions, confidence and arm strength of his quarterback, Chris Todd. It’s been a time of reflection, and Malzahn, a firm supporter of Todd through the good and bad of 2009, has unsurprisingly given the oft-embattled Auburn quarterback glowing reviews.

“He’s done some very good things. He’s had a real solid year,” Malzahn said. “We’ll be able to look back at the end of the year and I think people will see if they put the whole year in, he had a solid year.”

That’s the thing. Fans, even the most understanding, can’t avoid being reactionary in the midst of a season.

Perhaps that’s why the glut of this year’s Iron Bowl story angles hasn’t paid much attention to the teams’ two quarterbacks, who each, at one point in this season, were considered extreme sleeper picks for the Heisman when they raced out to hot starts.

Sure, the back-and-forth between Ben Tate and Mark Ingram has had something to do with that, but maybe it’s because Todd didn’t do anything last Saturday to arouse endless nitpicking, constant second-guessing or unnecessarily gushing praise.

That’s because he had the weekend off.

Yes, Todd hasn’t done himself any favors for having to ride this roller coaster of support throughout the season.

During his mid-October swoon, Todd was gunshy. Auburn’s receivers weren’t getting open like they had been in September, and Todd didn’t appear confident enough to zing the ball into tight coverage or take his cracks downfield to stretch the defense.

Instead, he dinked and dunked his way into a whirlwind of speculation about the strength of his surgically repaired shoulder.

But when he’s been on, he’s been as efficient and productive as any quarterback in the history of the program. And really, that’s largely resulted not because of something he’s doing, but the effectiveness of everything around him.

Seriously, how unstoppable has Auburn’s offense looked at times, especially early in the season?

That’s not the act of one man.

“It may look like he didn’t do a good job on a particular play,” Malzahn said. “But this is a new offense and you’re breaking in 11 new guys.”

Todd has 19 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. It’s been drilled home since September, when Todd threw an Auburn-record five touchdowns against Ball State, but it’s worth repeating that the Tigers had just seven touchdown passes all last season.

If he’s able to throw for a touchdown against Alabama or whomever Auburn draws in its yet-to-be-determined bowl game, Todd will have more touchdown passes in one season than the Tigers, as a whole, had in the past two combined.

That touchdown pass, if it happens, will more importantly tie him with Pat Sullivan (1971) and Jason Campbell (2004) for Auburn’s single-season record.

It’s not every day you get your name thrown around with a Heisman Trophy winner and a current starting quarterback in the NFL.

That’s what makes the lack of love for Todd all the more puzzling.

Quarterbacks able to put up the numbers Todd has have been a rarity at Running Back U, yet it appears a number of fans can’t wait to see him out the door so they can welcome in the next Auburn quarterback, whomever it may be.

The future, though, isn’t always better. Especially in the short-term if you plan on handing the keys over to a redshirt freshman like Tyrik Rollison, Clint Moseley or Barrett Trotter.

Growing pains won’t be happening on the Auburn practice field, but under the lights of Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Hindsight, apparently, is always 20-20.

When it comes to looking back on what Todd has meant to Auburn this season, it’s 19-5.

agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561