Auburn Looking at Arkansas What Has Been Revealed

This season started with most major sports analyst being of the opinion that Auburn was the least talented team in the SEC West and would be competing with Mississippi State for cellar honors this season. Most thought little of the Gene Chizik hire and many called for his demise before he was even given a chance. Gus Malzhan was just as disrespected. In most minds he was not thought well of by Houston Nutt and that said enough about him. Coach Roof was the only member of the staff that was well thought of. Even Trooper Taylor was ridiculed. That was only a few weeks ago. What has changed? 

Gene Chizik has been as solid a game coach as there is in college football. He has used the players he has wisely and sparingly. He has reduced exposure to fatigue and injury at every available opportunity even at the cost of style points. His team believes in him and his staff cooperates with him. He has shown himself willing to sacrifice a touchdown to keep from exposing rare starting talent to injury. This says a lot about the man. If this coach were ego driven like so many are these things would have crossed his mind. He is not interested in running up big numbers on offense or defense. He is just interested in registering a win and surviving with his best players to repeat the process in the next game. He has given the depth chart a full chance to contribute every game. This is a good Head Football Coach and he will make his mark on the SEC West. He has shown the ability to get the best out of what he has and recruit the best for the future. The players are lucky to have him and Auburn is better for having him.

Gus Malzhan is exactly as advertised. This man is a consummate perfectionist and has come up with the most innovative offensive scheme in college football in the last decade. It is not entirely new. It is not complex. It is a combination of many long understood concepts that he had the vision to put together. Gus Malzhan is not a media darling, he is not the life of the press conference. He is simply to the point and competent with every thing he chooses to concentrate on. He has improved every player in the Auburn Offense. He has Gene Chizik to deal with the press, he just chooses to do his job better than anyone else. It seems he can turn on or tone down this Auburn offense at will. This week against Tennessee  he showed that the Auburn offense can control time of possession. This is something I had called out as a weakness in this offense early on. Gus gets the last laugh there as well.

I do not know of a coaching staff in college football that has done more to earn their pay than Auburn's. I suspect most people in the country will agree with me come seasons end. It is funny how the opinions do change.

Auburn has come together as a team. Chris Todd and Cody Burns have both contributed to this chemistry. The senior players have stepped up and chose to tote the load. The team is upbeat and having fun. Auburn responded much better to their first road game than most SEC teams. Ole Miss was embarrassed at South Carolina, Georgia was whipped at Oklahoma State, Arkansas was beaten, Mississippi State was beaten, Alabama was dismal at Kentucky. Auburn was solid at Tennessee. They were solid in every respect but one. Special teams coverage is still an issue. This Auburn team is solid everywhere and spectacular no where. Every player is contributing on offense and defense. The advantage to this is would one rather have one super star or two or three good competent players at a position. One football player super star or not will not beat this Auburn Squad. To beat them will take another complete football team out playing them.

Auburn's team is not respected by the media and will not likely be by the BCS as they do not operate on style points and individual achievement. This should be to their advantage as most teams will underestimate them. Arkansas has already whipped Auburn in their minds and have their sights set on LSU. This is good for Auburn, they have been the under dog since the season began. I suspect the Auburn defense will be able to control the Arkansas offense. I know the Arkansas defense can not control the Auburn offense. Look for Arkansas to have its hands tied early with a gassed defense and an offense trying to figure out how to move the ball with pressure on the quarterback. Auburn will win this one going away.