(Chris Landry is a veteran NFL scout who has worked for the Cleveland Browns and the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. Previously, he ran the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and served as an assistant coach at LSU. Landry is a consultant for multiple NFL teams and major college programs.)
Auburnâs loss was a gut-punch for Tiger fans. The coaches felt worse.
âThat coaching staff was distraught,â Landry said during his weekly podcast after having talked to Auburn assistant coaches both during the week prior to Auburnâs trip to LSU as well as the Sunday morning after the game. âYouâve got the defensive coaches who felt like they had a great game plan, youâve got the offensive staff who were frustrated about how things were done.
âWhat I can tell you, without pointing a finger â because I donât like that, I think you win and lose as a staff â thereâs no doubt that the run element and the vertical (passing) game, thatâs Gus (Malzahn)⊠I think thereâs plenty of blame to go around, but I think this is on Gus.â
Letâs rewind.
If you recall, Auburn raced out to a 20-0 lead. What happened?
âWhat did LSUâs defense do at half-time? Two things: they employed more run blitzes, but the most important thing, obviously, they moved the safety into the box,â Landry explains.
Landry expected Auburn to change its offensive focus to make the home-standing Tigers pay for their adjustments, but Auburn never did.
âI made the safe assumption that Auburn was now going to attack the middle of the field,â Landry said. âThe middle of the field was displaced as LSU was having to overplay the run. So now Auburnâs got LSU where they want them. They got âem on the run⊠so Auburnâs going to attack the middle of the field.
âWell, no, they didnât. Inexplicably, Auburn continued to run the football. With a 20 point lead there were 17 consecutive runs on first down by Auburn.â
After watching the coachâs tape, Landry says there was ample spacing to complete intermediate passing routes.
âThe biggest flaw for auburnâs offense was not, not getting away running the football, youâve got to run the footballâŠthe biggest flaw Auburn had offensively was the vertical throws,â Landry said. âThat was beyond an inane strategy. First of all, itâs a low percentage play. Second of all, itâs a lower percentage play against LSUâs corners. To attack their corners, man-to-man in 50-50 balls, theyâre going to win them.
âWhat youâve got to be able to do Auburn is work the intermediate routes. Youâve got to be able to make them adjust horizontally in coverage, that takes guys out of the box, that allows you to run the football more and then youâve got them adjusting to you and youâre dictating to them.â
The mood on the coaching staff following the game was beyond grim, bordering on grave.
âOne of the Auburn assistants told me, âthis game is likely going to cost us our job, we totally collapsed,ââ Landry said.
Auburn coaches 'distraught' following loss at LSU
Auburnâs loss was a gut-punch for Tiger fans. The coaches felt worse.
âThat coaching staff was distraught,â Landry said during his weekly podcast after having talked to Auburn assistant coaches both during the week prior to Auburnâs trip to LSU as well as the Sunday morning after the game. âYouâve got the defensive coaches who felt like they had a great game plan, youâve got the offensive staff who were frustrated about how things were done.
âWhat I can tell you, without pointing a finger â because I donât like that, I think you win and lose as a staff â thereâs no doubt that the run element and the vertical (passing) game, thatâs Gus (Malzahn)⊠I think thereâs plenty of blame to go around, but I think this is on Gus.â
Letâs rewind.
If you recall, Auburn raced out to a 20-0 lead. What happened?
âWhat did LSUâs defense do at half-time? Two things: they employed more run blitzes, but the most important thing, obviously, they moved the safety into the box,â Landry explains.
Landry expected Auburn to change its offensive focus to make the home-standing Tigers pay for their adjustments, but Auburn never did.
âI made the safe assumption that Auburn was now going to attack the middle of the field,â Landry said. âThe middle of the field was displaced as LSU was having to overplay the run. So now Auburnâs got LSU where they want them. They got âem on the run⊠so Auburnâs going to attack the middle of the field.
âWell, no, they didnât. Inexplicably, Auburn continued to run the football. With a 20 point lead there were 17 consecutive runs on first down by Auburn.â
After watching the coachâs tape, Landry says there was ample spacing to complete intermediate passing routes.
âThe biggest flaw for auburnâs offense was not, not getting away running the football, youâve got to run the footballâŠthe biggest flaw Auburn had offensively was the vertical throws,â Landry said. âThat was beyond an inane strategy. First of all, itâs a low percentage play. Second of all, itâs a lower percentage play against LSUâs corners. To attack their corners, man-to-man in 50-50 balls, theyâre going to win them.
âWhat youâve got to be able to do Auburn is work the intermediate routes. Youâve got to be able to make them adjust horizontally in coverage, that takes guys out of the box, that allows you to run the football more and then youâve got them adjusting to you and youâre dictating to them.â
The mood on the coaching staff following the game was beyond grim, bordering on grave.
âOne of the Auburn assistants told me, âthis game is likely going to cost us our job, we totally collapsed,ââ Landry said.
Auburn coaches 'distraught' following loss at LSU
