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?
Not really what I wanted to hear, but then again, anything but a Spurrier-type resignation is disappointing at this point.
Why do we bother with post game Q & A when we get answers like this. We ALL know what the problems are.
Gus has always been able to save his job with a big win or two…but I don’t see that coming this year… hiring Morris will be the final straw…can’t believe how much better Arkansas looks without that clown on the sideline…I don’t know what Gus was thinking but he’ll have plenty of time off to think it over after this season..
It’s Georgia’s turn to take the L to save Gus’ job this year. Bama did it last year, fair is fair.
Oh wait, this year is weird and you already played them. Okay, we’ll do it this year but the next two are on you.
Throw in two wins against Bama this year and you may have a deal.
Dawgs already blew their chance they kicked our tails couple of weeks back…..Bad Doggies…..
G fan of 43 it is called Cronyism.
Gus just being Gus,,spread the manure thick instead of taking responsibility for the lack of play by his team. I hear him talking but he says nothing. Worse he does nothing to bring discipline and intensity at game time…When things go wrong, they stay wrong,,,he scowls and cusses the players and/or officials instead of coaching…I have seen him scream at officials for 10 minutes over a “call” instead of focusing on the next play. Take your buyout and go to Arkansas…they maybe too smart for that now though….
Arkansas doesn’t need or want him. They’re playing lights-out football right now.
Agreed….Dem Hawgs are building a Program…I look forward to watching them to see if they can find some longer term success…..
Yeah look what the Hawgs defense is doing to ole Miss… The Hawgs should be 2-1 and a half away from being 3-1..to bad they got robbed last week..
You wont believe how unwelcome Gus would be in Arkansas, even if he wanted to return to Arkansas State. He not only burned his bridges in that state, he salted the ground after he left.
Bo Nix please find the transfer portal. You have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory one too many times. Well today it was three times.
I truly feel bad for the kid, but he’s obviously not being coach the right way or the game is just too much for him. Either way, someone else needs to come off the bench.
Sorry,,,our best QB now plays for Kentucky…But you are right,,,you have to bring someone in. Bo doesn’t have it,,so move on.
I honestly don’t think Gatewood would be any better. Gatewood can’t even beat out Terry Wilson.
Last week Bo literally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
I think the Ref’s blew the call…..Today they said that Bo made same kind of Backward Pass (just like Arkansas Game) to stop the clock when he played Pee-Wee Football and the right call was made then,,,backward pass, live ball, the other team returned it for a TD…So I guess neither Bo nor the SEC Ref’s understand basic passing rules regarding laterals and backward passing. Sad for Arkansas to lose,,but they had other chances to put AU away…just a bad way to decide a ball game.
Same here. Arkansas was robbed by the officials. But, all those missed point-after attempts would have won the game. Even just one of the two point tries and its OT.
Same ole Gus after a loss and next week will be the same ole Bo Nix:
– Locking in on Seth and not throwing good balls (= 3 picks today)
– Running out of pocket with no pressure and throwing bad balls on the run
– throwing passes behind his WR instead of infront of them
– throwing those idiotic balls while six inches from the ground
Also, what was Bo told on the last play with 9 seconds left? Was he not told to throw for the endzone?
Also on the last FG drive, why was the offense going in slow motion calling plays and wasting even more time, down by two scores? We wasted another great 1st quarter performance and gave the game away. Congrats to SC who did what they had to win.
You are correct. Nix wasn’t good today, but the playcalling and decision making was all around terrible. One of the most head-scratching games I have ever watched.
That’s what happens when you have Genies-azzzz coaches. They are always smarter than everyone else. As a former coach I can tell ya,,,if you think you are just gonna outsmart the other guy,,,you ain’t. Team discipline, fundamentals, out block, tackle and hit and always remember you are usually just “one play away”,,You can’t fix the last play,,just the next one. Play what you know and if the other guy wins he was just better today….I can say too that my players never lost a game….but as a coach I did, because I failed to prepare them….
Missed his press conference. Did Gus mention “the future is bright” at Auburn and we will turn this around?
I haven’t seen it yet but I am sure he pulled out the usual “really Proud of Our Guys”….”They Fought Their Guts Out”….”We’ll Look at the Film”….”We Need to Get Better at “you name it””….We’ll Improve on That”… “It Thought Bo had a Really Good Game, except for….”, We’ll keep Working with Him on That”…”Bo is Going to Win Lot’s of Championships for Us”…etc.etc.etc….Yeah and there is an Easter Bunny Too.
Sounds like you were just a good coach. There is a lot more pressure when you are a genius. That seems to be particularly true with offensive geniuses. Running the ball and winning isn’t enough. BTW, my first comment was meant as a compliment.
Bo is seldom good,,,he makes extremely poor decisions, his footwork, ball placement and basic fundamentals are “terrible” (with apologies to “Chuck”). He plays with fear and panic. Many of his completions are literally “chunk & duck”. His receivers run under and catch balls he throws up for grabs. Worse starting QB in FCS.
Hey Malzahn, you should take the $23M and come take over the 0-5 Choctawhatchee High School in Fort Walton Beach. You could live out on Turdy-A with Tuberville and Clay Travis and resurrect that High School magic you love. It ain’t working in the SEC anymore.
I feel really sorry for Nix. Under Morris, he will never get better. Just look at the mess at QB at Arkansas under him. Nix should transfer if Morris isnt fired to save his future.
I think we’ve seen enough of Bo Nix. Bigsby is the best player on that team hands down.
I agree, Tank can be that next level guy,,but there are some really good players on the team beyond Tank ( like Shivers alot, DJ is also stong, Joiner now in the transfer portal has the skillset to be a factor but only average 5-6 plays per season. Gotta get them on the field. Gus can not evaluate or develop player talent. Bo Nix is a “slinger” and not in a good way. He finds a way to ‘snatch defeat from the jaws of victory” when it really counts.
Same song different day. Excuses,,excuses, excuses. Tell the truth coach, we are who we are, we ain’t getting better as long as you coach at AU. So “It is what it is” get over it.
Don’t resign, take the money and run Coach….you are truly the greatest since Barnum & Bailey….you should run for Governor.
Every single week Gus says I think we have a chance to be a good offense. When the heck is that chance coming? After the season is over?
Curious what Auburn fans truly feel the administration will do if the season doesn’t turn around. I don’t know much about Greene, but this movie has been seen before. Think he/they will pull the buyout trigger?
Greene hasn’t ever had to make a coaching decision so we’ll see. The pressure is heating up for sure. If auburn goes 2-8 or 3-7 he’s out and those are definitely not out the question.
Lmao, three turnovers were big. Uh….ya think? Plus, don’t forget the touchdown called back on a holding, Gus.
Typical Gus presser. We are used to it.
He uses more coachspeak to say nothing than anyone known to man
We are lucky we aren’t 0-4 at this point.
No OL blocking whatsoever.
And for all this talk and emphasis on throwing to the TE; to date they have caught 3 passes for less than 15 combined.
Chad Morris as a QB guru?? At Arkansas , they used 7 QB in 19 games. Passing offense was 117th in the nation. This guy is an upgrade???
Gus not only cannot develop players, he is an extremely poor game manager, as well as a micromanager. They guy is the Peter Principle personified. He is in way over his head, as has been evident since 2015.
Time to go. How much we spending?? Can we raise it?? And who do we get??
In my mind, Mark Stoops or Barry Odum should get a call. Along with Bill Clark at UAB. Among others. They way we throw money around…
Odom is a good coordinator, and that’s it, in my opinion. Hugh Freeze would be at the top of my list–scandals be darned. I don’t know if it’s realistic, though. Freeze plus Steele wouldn’t be a bad deal.
You don’t want that. NCAA will be on your doorstep.
Gus needing to see the tape about the dust up is hilarious. I was waiting for him to say he was waiting on the refs to figure out how to give them a bonus down.
Nobody had a Spring Gus and yet some teams are actually playing well? could it be coaching?
For all the Hugh Freeze talk. I’m betting if and when he gets a call back to the P5 it will be in the ACC somewhere. More than likely as an OC to finish up his rehab. I will not be surprised to see Petrino back somewhere in FBS, maybe the AAC.