Has Gus Malzahn painted himself in a corner with OC hire? Paul Finebaum thinks so
By Keith Farner
Published:
The reaction to Auburn’s hire of Memphis quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham has illustrated where coach Gus Malzahn stands with the state of the program on The Plains.
Dillingham will not call plays as offensive coordinator and it suggests, according to ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, that Malzahn doesn’t have any moves left. Finebaum explained his reaction during his regular visit with Birmingham-based 94.5 FM WJOX program “The Roundtable.”
“By doing this, he could have brought in anyone in America and it really wouldn’t make a difference because his record next year will dictate his future,” Finebaum said of the embattled coach. “If this is what he wants to do. I’ve always loved the argument, ‘Why won’t Gus let his coordinators do what he’s hired them to do?’ Well, he’s basically hired everyone down there to do what he wants to do, and is that working? It’s not. It’s the final roll of the dice that his offense will dictate whether he keeps his job or not. I would like him to answer, and maybe he knows something we don’t, is who’s going to lead this offense? There is a pretty big free agent out there, but short of that, I have no idea, and quite frankly, I don’t think anyone else does either.”
With the departure to the NFL of QB Jarrett Stidham, Auburn is at a crossroads at quarterback. It missed out on Clemson transfer Kelly Bryant, who chose Missouri, and there are some who have floated that Alabama QB Jalen Hurts could end up at Auburn.
More conventional names to fill the position are Malik Willis, Joey Gatewood, Cord Sandberg and Bo Nix — players on the roster, or who will be by next season. It appears likely that those players will get a shot, but the decision will likely come down to understanding the playbook, and any physical talents each player offers.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
