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The questions asked all offseason on the Plains was poised to Auburn head football coach Gus Malzahn Monday on ESPN during the SEC’s carwash event, how have the Tigers fixed the offense coming off a poor season and who will start under center in the season opener against Clemson?
After falling all the way down to No. 10 in total offense and No. 8 in scoring offense in 2015, Malzahn’s program has certainly lost some momentum after finishing dead last in the SEC West after being predicted by many to win the league heading into the year. During a segment on ESPN, Malzahn was asked what changes had been made this offseason to get the offense back on track.
“What really stands out to me is explosive plays,” Malzahn said. “We’ve always prided ourselves on explosive plays and being able to play fast and get first downs, last year we had the lowest production in that area. That’s really been our focal point. We have some explosive players, we have a good plan, I think we’ll be much improved on the offensive side of the football this year.”
Settling on one quarterback would be a good start. After a season of juggling quarterbacks Jeremy Johnson and Sean White in and out of the lineup, both players are currently competing with junior college signee John Franklin III.
“All three of those guys (QBs) can execute our offense, that’s the positive,” Malzahn said. “We got a good plan to put our quarterbacks in competitive situations early in fall camp and we are really hoping somebody stand out, prefer to name someone earlier rather than later in fall camp.”
With all the momentum that may have left the football program seemingly as quickly as it arrived, the Tigers can gain much of it back by upsetting Clemson in Week 1. Malzahn was eager to talk about the importance of the game and the challenges the defending ACC champs poise to the Tigers.
“It’s definitely important,” Malzahn said. “We are playing one of the best football teams in the country, with one of the best players – if not the best player in Deshaun Watson, so we are going to have to have our ducks in line early, so hopefully we can name that quarterback spot early. We are excited about that game. I think every time you play a team like that in the first game of the year, it has a way of motivating you in the summer and spring and everything that goes with that. We are going to have to be good against them.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
