Auburn Offense: Preview, Perceptions and Predictions

Classes have started signifying the end of fall practices and the beginning of preparations for the upcoming 2011 football season for the Auburn Tigers. To say this team is young would be an understatement. The Tigers return the fewest starters of any FBS team in the nation. More than half of the roster is composed of true and redshirt freshman. Much of the media has written them off for the 2011 season, including them in the rankings mostly in acknowledgement of being the reigning BCS National Champs. Those rankings are some of the lowest for a returning champion ever.

Ever the optimists, the Auburn fan base does have hope. Those freshman that compose 54 percent of the roster aren't your ordinary freshman. They came from highly touted recruiting classes that were ranked No. 1 in 2010 by Scout and No. 4 in 2009 by Rivals and ESPN. Of those signing classes, the coaches had an unprecedented 100 percent qualify. That is one of the most important stats of the last two years as it pertains to the 2011 Auburn Tigers either rebuilding or reloading.

As the opening game with Utah State looms in just over a week, we should know what the starting lineups will be as the coaches begin to install the game plan for September 3. Here's a quick look at what the offense should look like and predictions of what the young Tigers can accomplish this season.

Perceptions

Important Returners: Phillip Lutzenkirchen (TE, H-back), Mike Dyer (RB), Brandon Moseley (OT), AJ Greene (OT), Emory Blake (WR)

Impact Freshman: Trovon Reed (WR), Christian Westerman (OL), Reese Dismukes (C), Greg Robinson (OL),  Quan Bray (WR)

How potent the offense will be relies solely on how fast the offensive line comes together. The Tigers truly need Christian Westerman, Reese Dismukes and Greg Robinson to be impact freshman. Offensive Line Coach Jeff Grimes said this summer that they are some of the best freshman he's ever coached. And he's not one to dole out undue praise. The line will be anchored by veterans Brandon Moseley and AJ Greene, who should be the starting tackles. Greene originally beat out Moseley for the starting right tackle spot last year but suffered an ankle injury in the Clemson game and Moseley took over from there.

If the line comes together, the Tigers should be in good shape as they have talent everywhere in the skill positions. This team is full of play makers and incredibly FAST. Mike Dyer returns after being named Offensive MVP of the BCS National Championship Game and is complemented by Onterio McCalebb, who led the country in YPC average with 8.53. Wide Receiver Emory Blake finished last season strong and led the team with eight TD catches and should be the go-to receiver this year. RB Tre Mason has really stepped up after being the last freshman to arrive on campus. He has made the most of fall practice and turned heads at every scrimmage with his quickness and speed. Running Backs Coach Curtis Luper has said he has the speed of Ontario McCalebb on his slightly larger frame.

After the offensive line, the other concern is the H-Back position vacated by the dismissal of the solid play of Eric Smith. Big Ladarious "Dada" Phillips excited many fans with the athleticism of a power back in the body of a defensive tackle. He does a standing back-flip and hurdled a defender in the A-Day game. He hasn't yet picked up the blocking needed for position so we may not get to see him on the field. You have to still imagine there's a spot for him in a goal line set. It seems like if we needed a tough yard, he would be the one to get it. I would hate to be under that pile if he decided to go over the top, though. TE Phillip Lutzenkirchen has practiced in the H-Back spot, which would be very solid, though this spring and summer coaches had plans to use his receiving ability out wide, as he would be a severe mismatch on a corner. He proved to be a mismatch on defensive ends and linebackers last season so it would be beneficial to be able to move him around to take advantage of how the defense lines up.

Probably the most important returner for the offensive is Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn. He is the highest paid assistant coach in football for a public university in the entire country. He's also considered one of the brightest offensive minds in the game. This year, we may see something we haven't seen before: the uninhibited Gus Malzahn offensive scheme. He has yet to have a quarterback start for him for a second year and has often been working with unheralded recruits. Being in the system for three years now, Trotter is the closest thing to a returning quarterback Malzahn has had to work with.

This year, though they're young, he will have the most talent at his disposal that he's ever had. He has versatile play makers at every position with receivers like Travon Reed and Quan Bray that will carry the ball out of the backfield and run the Wildcat formation as well as running backs that can receive a pass. Dyer will be the focus of Malzahn's run-first scheme, but Phillip Lutzenkirchen could be the co-MVP on offense, though his job as a blocker and protector won't get as much attention as Dyer running with the ball. Look for the exhausting pace, misdirection and confusion to be taken up a notch this year... if the offensive line can come together.

Here is a well written primer on the Malzahn playbook from a Clemson blogger from last year.

Also, there was an exceptional Youtube video entitled "Gus Malzahn's Offense: Cloudy minds equal slow feet" that showed the effects of Malzahn's face-paced plays on defenses from 2009. The account associated with it has been deleted so I can't find a link, but anyone who's seen it can attest to the "America's Funniest Videos" look of some of the better defensive players around the SEC running away from the action and blocking their own players in the confusion. 

Predictions

There's many articles written and more coming in the following days before the start of the season. Some will be informative, some will be skeptical and some will be obviously written after they have imbibed the Kool Aid (or probably something much harder). Mine will run the gamut. I have half a brain, so I'm shooting for 50/50.

Our QB will not lead the SEC in rushing again.

Or the team.

The defense will not be a liability and the offense won't slow down for them.

No matter how far we go or how much we accomplish, the loss of Cam Newton and Nick Fairly will be how the media begins the conversation.

Ladarious Phillips will bust a long run and/or hurdle a defender that makes the ESPN Top 10 for the week and will be a highlight played throughout the season.

Auburn will lead the SEC in rushing yards.

Mike Dyer (he asked last year that everyone call him "Mike" but no one does) will top 1,300 yards.

Ontario McCalebb will lead the nation in YPC again.

Barrett Trotter will be Malzahn's third quarterback in a row to break the Auburn single season passing touchdown record broken by Chris Todd and then again by Cam Newton.

Emory Blake will lead the team in receiving yards.

Phillip Lutzenkirchen will lead the team in touchdown receptions.

After we beat Clemson, analysts will stop saying that Trotter has the starting spot "for now."

He'll still be the starting quarterback when we play in January.

Ontario McCalebb will run really, really fast.

Tre Mason will steal the limelight from Dyer and McCalebb for a couple moments.

The offensive line group will have a nickname because of their physical style of play. My vote will be "The Brute Squad."

ESPN analyst Rece Davis will at one point go on about how Malzahn's triple option in slow-motion is like watching an intricate ballet.

Trovon Reed will be worth the wait.

Let me know some of your predictions in the comment section below. 

War Eagle!