Auburn Football: 3 Adjustments Gus Malzahn Must Make in 2015
Auburn was 13 seconds away from a national title two years ago but seemed more like 13 years away from one late last season.
The Tigers lost four of their last five games, including a 34-31 overtime loss to Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl, which left a sour taste in the mouths of Auburn's returning players and coaches.
What's more, head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee have the task of replacing quarterback Nick Marshall, running backs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, and wide receiver Sammie Coates off an offense that is accustomed to being one of the best in the conference.
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How will Malzhan and Lashlee transition to life after Marshall?
Faith in Jeremy Johnson
It was clear in the first half of the season opener vs. Arkansas that rising junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson has "superstar" written all over him. The Montgomery, Alabama, native threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns in the first half in place of Marshall, who was suspended due to an offseason marijuana possession citation.
The staff made a concerted effort to treat Johnson like the starter heading into the game and called the first half as if Johnson were a seasoned veteran. He responded with flying colors, and that experience will be invaluable as he enters the 2015 campaign as the unquestioned starter.
The confidence can't waiver.
If it doesn't, as my B/R colleague Adam Kramer noted in the video above, Johnson can vault himself squarely into the Heisman Trophy mix.
Does that seem crazy considering Malzahn has run a power rushing attack out of the spread that used a lot of zone-read principles during his first two years as Auburn's head coach? It shouldn't.
David Johnson threw for 4,059 yards in 2008, and Paul Smith threw for 5,065 yards when Malzahn was Tulsa's offensive coordinator, and those two seasons propelled Malzahn to the Plains, where he became the offensive coordinator of the Tigers in 2009.
Johnson can actually be an upgrade at quarterback for Auburn, as USA Today's Dan Wolken notes:
Malzahn must recapture the magic that got him to the SEC in the first place, put faith in Johnson to be the trigger-man of a more balanced offense and use the weapons around him.
One of those weapons will be leading returning receiver D'haquille "Duke" Williams, who passed up on the chance to jump to the NFL to come back for his senior season. With Williams, Ricardo Louis, Melvin Ray, Marcus Davis and plenty of talented prospects, Auburn will boast a tremendous passing attack if Malzahn lets Johnson sling it.
Adjustments Up Front
Auburn's offensive line was a power in 2013, but in 2014, it took a step back.
Left tackle Greg Robinson departed early for the NFL, left guard Alex Kozan suffered a season-ending back injury this summer, and the Tigers offensive line never really rounded into form.
What's more, the Tigers focused more on balance until they suffered their first loss of the season at Mississippi State, which was a departure from the norm for an offensive line that was so focused on getting downfield in the multi-dimensional power rushing attack.
Shon Coleman struggled in pass protection against speed rushers, the holes weren't as big for Artis-Payne, Grant and Marshall to run through, and Auburn's offensive line struggled for the most part—particularly in obvious passing downs.
Johnson's emergence at quarterback will be a blessing for the entire offensive line.
Coleman and Kozan should return, versatile right tackle Avery Young passed on the chance to jump to the NFL to come back, Patrick Miller has been in and out of the lineup for the last two seasons, and Ole Miss transfer Austin Golson—who played in 12 games for the Rebels in 2013—could join the mix after sitting out last year.
Auburn's offensive line is loaded with veterans, Malzahn has options, and the switch to a more balanced attack will allow Auburn's offensive line to excel in both running and passing situations.
More Ricardo Louis on the Ground
Louis became famous late during Auburn's magical 2013 run, as he caught Marshall's tipped pass and strolled into the end zone to beat Georgia in the game that became known as the "Miracle on the Plains."
As the 2014 season wore on, though, he became more of a multi-purpose weapon for Malzahn.
Grant's carries diminished, and Louis' carries increased on jet sweeps midway through the year, a change that began on Oct. 25 when South Carolina came calling. Louis rushed three times for 102 yards against the Gamecocks, including a 75-yard scamper to the end zone.
He finished the season with 18 carries, and only five (for seven yards) came before the South Carolina game.
Louis needs the ball more in 2015.
He has track-star speed and showed the ability to stick his foot in the ground and hit the hole quickly. That gets Auburn in desirable positions on second and third down, opens up the offense to pass and run and gives the receivers—including Louis himself—the chance to get deep in positions where taking a shot is warranted.
Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a co-host of the CFB Hangover on Bleacher Report Radio (Sundays, 9-11 a.m. ET) on Sirius 93, XM 208.
Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of cfbstats.com, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.
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