Auburn Football: Meet Scot Loeffler, Offensive Coordinator of the Tigers

Every Monday, The SEC Blog will feature an assistant coach in the SEC. This week, we take a look at Auburn offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.

A rebuilt offensive line, the loss of three top receivers, the departure of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton and a predictable offense under third-year offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn resulted in a down year offensively for the Auburn Tigers in 2011.

The Tigers sputtered to finish ranked No. 100 out of 120 teams in total offense, with an average of just 337.85 total yards per game.

Several of those holes on offense remain unfilled, but the Tigers feel they have their man to replace the recently departed Malzahn—first-year offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler.

Loeffler comes to Auburn from Temple, where his Owls offense finished seventh in the country with 256.5 yards per game on the ground last season. Prior to his time at Temple, Loeffler served as a quarterbacks coach at Florida, the Detroit Lions, Michigan and Central Michigan.

His one year as an offensive coordinator was wildly successful on the ground, but with a background as a quarterbacks coach, Loeffler's passing offense wasn't up to par. The Owls finished 116th out of 120 teams in passing offense in 2011, averaging just 126.77 yards per game through the air.

But Loeffler's experience suggests that last season was the exception, not the rule.

Under the guidance of Loeffler, who was quarterback coach at the time, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and the Gators quarterbacks led the nation in passing efficiency with a 167.3 rating and finished second in the SEC in passing (236.1 YPG).

Prior to his experience in the SEC, Loeffler was the quarterback coach for successful college signal-callers Tom Brady, Brian Griese, John Navarre and Chad Henne at Michigan—his alma mater.

At Auburn, Loeffler will look to guide the Tiger passing game back to prominence. It appears that passing game will be led by true sophomore Kiehl Frazier, who has been impressing teammates this summer after an impressive spring.

Loeffler's offense at Auburn will be as multiple as it can be. There will be pro-style elements, but the spread formations will be used as well—especially if Frazier does win the battle for the starting quarterback spot. 

Auburn thinks that its defense will be vastly improved under fellow first-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, and if the offense follows suit, the Tigers may be back in the national conversation in short order.

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