Gus Malzahn weighs in on Bo Nix's performance, offensive struggles after loss at South Carolina
The Auburn Tigers got off to a fast start against South Carolina on Saturday. However, the Gamecocks turned the tide in the second half, holding on for a 30-22 victory over the visiting Tigers.
Many fans expressed frustration at coach Gus Malzahn, OC Chad Morris and QB Bo Nix after the loss.
Speaking in his postgame press conference, though, Malzahn kept things mostly positive, saying the offense did a good job outside of some red-zone struggles and turnovers.
Here’s what he had to say after the game:
On the heart his team showed:
Auburn's Gus Malzahn: "Proud of our guys fighting to the end. I thought we played pretty good football in the first half" but didn't handle "adversity" in the third quarter. South Carolina won it 30-22 Saturday
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) October 17, 2020
On offensive inconsistencies:
Gus Malzahn on the offense's inconsistency: "Could be just Game 4 after not going through spring. I don't know."
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) October 17, 2020
On a bad ending to the final drive:
Malzahn on Bo Nix leading the last drive: "We drove the field and gave a chance to try and score at the end. Our guys didn't give up … One play away from having a chance to go for two and tie the game"
— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) October 17, 2020
On 3 turnovers leading to 21 points for South Carolina:
Auburn's Gus Malzahn: "We wanted to be balanced. For the most part we were… I think the turnovers were big."
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) October 17, 2020
Auburn's Gus Malzahn: "The big thing were three turnovers leading to 21 points" in South Carolina's victory.
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) October 17, 2020
On RB Tank Bigsby, who ran for 111 yards:
Gus Malzahn on Tank Bigsby: "He ran extremely hard again this week. … He'll be a factor moving forward."
He probably needs to be more of one.
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) October 17, 2020
On continuing to believe in the offense moving forward:
Gus Malzahn on the receiver drops: "The offense, like I said, they're a work-in-progress. I think we've got a chance to be a good offense. I really do. I saw some good things."
Keyed in on drops and the turnovers as a major area where improvement was needed
— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) October 17, 2020
On Bo Nix’s performance:
Gus Malzahn on QB Bo Nix: "We've got to protect the football. We had done a really good job of that up to this point."
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) October 17, 2020
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn on Bo Nix's performance: "He's a competitor. We just need to go back and need to improve. And we need to protect the football."
— Josh Vitale (@JoshVitale) October 17, 2020
On tension between Nix and WR Seth Williams:
Malzahn on the disconnect between Bo Nix and Seth Williams: "That's a good question. We'll have to look on film … You probably have to give their DBs some credit, too"
— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) October 17, 2020
On red-zone struggles:
Malzahn on the red-zone struggles: "How you do that is you just keep working on it … I think we were really close on one of the fades and thought it was a touchdown. It's just a matter of you've got to keep working that inside that 10-yard line"
— Jordan D. Hill (@JordanDavisHill) October 17, 2020
Auburn travels to Oxford next weekend to take on Ole Miss. Will facing the Rebels’ depleted defense be just what the doctor ordered?
