🏈 Malzahn insists future is bright

[Alabama17Tide]

Offense tanks again but Malzahn insists future is bright
Bryan Matthews | Senior Editor
TUSCALOOSA | Once again, Gus Malzahn’s offense crashed and burned in a big game.

The 13th-ranked Tigers managed just 182 total yards, seven first downs and were 2-of-12 on third downs in a 30-12 loss at No. 1 Alabama. The Tide held a 40:29 to 19:31 advantage in time of possession.

“Our defense played extremely well until they got worn down,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “It really stands out to me that the time of possession is doubled. They just got worn down. Offensively, just didn’t get first downs. Really just didn’t get it done. You know, two-of-12 on third downs, I really think that caused the problem.”

Auburn had just 31 yards in the first half and didn’t get a first down until its sixth possession of the game, which came with six minutes left in the second quarter.

“We were just trying to get that first first down the first half and we couldn't do it. That was really aggravating,” senior offensive guard Alex Kozan said. “ I don't know what more the defense could have done the first half. Offense dropped the ball and didn't get it done. This loss is on us.”

Malzahn is 1-3 in Iron Bowls and 2-6 against Auburn's top two rivals -- Alabama and Georgia.
Robin Conn/AuburnSports.com
Despite the offensive issues, Auburn went into halftime trailing just 13-9 and receiving the second-half kickoff. The opportunity to step up on offense and give the team a chance for a huge upset win was there.

But once again, the offense couldn’t get it done with another three-and-out on the opening possession of the third quarter. Alabama responded with a touchdown, which put the Tigers hole they couldn’t climb out of.

“I mean we were right there in the game, but we went three-and-out, I think they scored, and then it was kind of an uphill battle from there on,” Malzahn said.

Auburn finished with 182 yards against the Tide just two weeks after managing just 164 yards in a 13-7 loss at Georgia. That’s two of the three worst performances ever for a Malzahn-led offense.

Malzahn is now 2-6 against Auburn’s top two rivals, Georgia and Alabama, with six-straight losses. Malzahn, however, insisted that better days are ahead.

“There's been some ups and downs, obviously,” he said. “The first of the season was really tough and our guys really rebounded. I'm proud of our guys for doing that. We got banged up a couple of weeks ago. We had some of our key guys that weren't there or weren't 100 percent. We didn't do a very good job two weeks ago and we didn't do a very good job today.

“But I will say this, we've got a really young team We've got a lot of talented young guys. We're going to be really good in the future so this is just one of those growing years of some ups and downs.”

Auburn finishes the regular season 8-4 and will learn of its bowl destination on Sunday, Dec. 4.
AuburnSports.com - Offense tanks again but Malzahn insists future is bright

 

[bamaledge]

Sunshine pumper! I hope he stays.

 

[rick4bama]

Well he does has a bright spot his kicker score the most points against Bama. 12 the other school Bama played in Nov. only score 6.

 

['65 Cobra]

Sunshine pumper! I hope he stays.

Absolutely! I hope he stays too! And I hope Steele stays as well!

 

[UAgrad93]

We got behind some Barners on the way out of the stadium last night and they were chanting, "Gus has got to go!"
I replied, "Hell no! Keep him! With LsWho hiring Cookie Monster, Butch at UT, and you guys with Gus, BAMA has it made!"

 

[AFF]

We got behind some Barners on the way out of the stadium last night and they were chanting, "Gus has got to go!"
I replied, "Hell no! Keep him! With LsWho hiring Cookie Monster, Butch at UT, and you guys with Gus, BAMA has it made!"

Yep. I'd say the coaching disparity in the SEC is the widest its been in quite some time...

 

[TUSKtimes]

Gus knows where he lives. As soon as his state of the tiger's address starts sounding like whistling through the graveyard the barners will be trading the Gus bus for an extra large moving van.

 

[JoshB]

Auburn's offense would be awesome... if they were playing Hoover and McGill-Toolen.

 

[bradenob]

well, you have to think about this......

they WERE third, now 6th, in rushing offense, in the NCAA. 41st, after yesterday, in total Offense. They lose their right tackle, and their left guard, off their offense. THAT IS ALL. Now, I am not sure that Sean White is a great QB, but Franklin is a good Hurts-type change of pace guy, so rushing offense should be EXCELLENT for them next year.

They lose Holsey, Adams, and Ford on defense, and Roberts is as good as Ford - he's a freshman. So if Lawson goes, they lose 4, but only 2-3 that hurt them.

They have to find a new punter, but I bet Carlson comes back for another year.

So NEXT year is HUGE for Auburn. They should do VERY well if they can solve their QB problem, and if White comes back their running game should be great, and Steele will have little to replace on a total defense that is currently ranked 21st. For once in his delusional life, I'd say Malzahn is correct when he says the [immediate] future is bright.

We'll see.

 

[UAgrad93]

Barn message boards have NO CONFIDENCE in the Gus Bus!!! NONE!! Threads either want him gone, want an OC to be hired and given total control, and a QB coach that can develop a QB.

 

[bradenob]

Barn message boards have NO CONFIDENCE in the Gus Bus!!! NONE!! Threads either want him gone, want an OC to be hired and given total control, and a QB coach that can develop a QB.

Yep! Loving ALL that! IF you have ever watched a post-game press conference of his ( I have, and it's PATHETIC ) then you wouldn't either if you were a barn fan. And just because he has all that coming back doesn't mean anything. BUT, I was super skeptical about their D being good this year, and yet they were....

I'll say this - I was SO pumped that they beat LSU. Why? Because if not, they would have fired Gus this year. Now, that would have caused temporary disarray, but they MIGHT have gotten someone better... so in a perfect world, this record was perfect. Not good, and making all the barners mad and sad, which I love, but not SO BAD that aubie can fire him. So, they keep him and keep being miserable - GREAT!!!

RTR!!!

 

[alabamajack]

Barn message boards have NO CONFIDENCE in the Gus Bus!!! NONE!! Threads either want him gone, want an OC to be hired and given total control, and a QB coach that can develop a QB.

They (the aubie bunch) are pretty miffed on the message boards, but the funniest thing is that they have resigned to the fact that they are Alabama's B#### as long as Nick is here. It's also pretty sad that they will "settle' for having a 9-10 win a year program with a good bowl. Maybe we as Alabama fans are spoiled right now, but it has been a long time since we have settled for anything else other than being in the national championship picture year in and year out.

 

[JoshB]

Barn message boards have NO CONFIDENCE in the Gus Bus!!! NONE!! Threads either want him gone, want an OC to be hired and given total control, and a QB coach that can develop a QB.

One of the funnier things last night was on a third down when Franklin threw the ball away (I think thats what happened) and Gus got all over him and the OC... and the OC was like "But that was the right read..." and Gus just looked bewildered and walked away. That place is going to be a dumpster fire.

 

[ComeOnSon]

He also whined about the officiating and gave no credit to Bama's D at halftime. Super heated garbage.

 

[alabamajack]

Can you even comprehend what Nick would do to Lane if he was to call a halfback pass on 4th down at the end of a game where it was tight or we were trailing.

 

[JoshB]

Can you even comprehend what Nick would do to Lane if he was to call a halfback pass on 4th down at the end of a game where it was tight or we were trailing.

Well to be fair to them all of their QBs are pretty much running backs anyway.

 

[sean]

Auburn's offense would be awesome... if they were playing Hoover and McGill-Toolen.

 

[rueben]

And it appears they are going to the Sugar Bowl...let that sink in...

 

[Destiny's Child]

Barn message boards have NO CONFIDENCE in the Gus Bus!!! NONE!! Threads either want him gone, want an OC to be hired and given total control, and a QB coach that can develop a QB.

Funny.. this is the coach that just a few years ago they were saying was the Nick Saban Cryptonite. He was an innovator and was using these Big cat weekends and other gimmicks to out smart us and gonna knock us of our perch..lol I have several delusional Auburn fans and that is all I heard for a while.. the turd polish is just starting to wear off and you can finally see the turd that they are overpaying.

I was with one for Thanksgiving weekend and all I hear was remember that one second Saban asked for..hehehe. Reliving that moment in their mind over and over again seems to be all that gives them hope. They forget that the fluke play, the horrible missed player down field is the only reason they have to brag about that one and with out that they have lost 6 in a row and 7 of the last 8 if my math is right.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

And it appears they are going to the Sugar Bowl...let that sink in...

Good. I hope they go AND win.

And then they extend Ole Gus thru 2025, making it even more financially difficult to cut him loose in 3 or 4 years. I'll give them sugar bowl wins every year to be our little bitch, while we're winning conference titles, for the foreseeable future.