Popular Post StatTiger 3,188 Posted November 12, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted November 12, 2018 Can Gus Malzahn be successful on a consistent basis at Auburn? I believe he can, but it would require him to recognize the shortcomings of his current program and not just on the offensive side of the football. Going in a different direction on offense under an established or quality offensive coordinator would be a good start, but Auburn's issues go far beyond schematics. This year we have witnessed more than a struggling offense and now a struggling defense. It transcends the performance of the offensive line and lack of depth at RB. All the miscues we have witnessed this season are a reliable indicator a lack of accountability is present. Missed assignments, missed tackles, turnovers, and penalties have plagued this team. After every loss, we as fans focus on the little things that might have changed the outcome of each game. These constant miscues and errors are the mark of a poorly coached team. For the most part, Auburn plays like a bad team because they are indeed, a bad team. Yes, Alabama's Nick Saban is loaded with a boatload of talent, but his teams are well prepared and well coached. Rarely do you see them making mental errors and when they do, there is a coach on the sideline to remind the player they made a mistake. Good coaches, coach all the time. Their players are disciplined and coached up to know their responsibilities and assignments. Their situational awareness is impressive at times, allowing them to make the most of their individual talents. Situational awareness is another hallmark of great coaching and preparation. The defense is almost always in a position to make the play, and their offense limits their turnovers and executes soundly. It goes beyond giving effort. Auburn's players play hard and lay it on the line for the most part, but they make way too many mistakes. IMO, this falls back to poor coaching and the lack of understanding that every snap matters. Nick Saban speaks of "the process" when he discusses his team. The word process is defined as a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end. In a nutshell, Saban has a plan for everything when it comes to "team preparation," and he seldom veers away from the plan. Under Malzahn and staff, we see defenders racing to make a play but losing their gap responsibility or giving up the edge that turns a 3-yard run into a 30-yard play. On offense we see receivers lazy on run plays, tipping off the defense. Watch the receivers coming off the line on a run play. Unless they are assigned to make a block, they often muddle through the play. This season alone, we have seen senior players field punts inside their own five or miss blocking assignments. Auburn has veteran receivers dropping passes or veteran players missing tackles. When these minor mistakes occur, how often are they confronted or corrected when they come off the field? We have a coach on the sideline so focused on the offense, he forgets or doesn't realize he can call a timeout to help his defense. Malzahn could have called a timeout in the Georgia game just before halftime to allow Steele extra time to decide on his defensive call to counter UGA's pending 4th down play. It reminded me of Malzahn's failure to call a timeout against Florida State, just before they executed a fake punt. Again, it is the little things that begin with the coaches and works down to the players. Everyone must be accountable for every play. Again, Auburn has players that can win championships and give their all for the most part. Their effort should not be questioned, where is the accountability when the same mistakes are made over and over. Defenders jumping off-sides or lining up off-sides shows a lack of discipline and focus. It is a quarterback who licks his fingers multiple times before every pass play. It is about coaching on the sideline and being aware of the moment of the game to make sound adjustments. It is about correcting players when they make mistakes and giving them a plan to be successful moving forward. The best coaches I have been around or witnessed are usually great "teachers." All the mental errors and miscues we witness on television is likely the final product of how the players are practicing and prepared during the week. I am a firm believer that championship teams are built during the spring and summer and modified once the season begins. Good coaches continue to coach regardless of the score. Talent can sometimes overcome some mistakes or mask issues but not for long. Eventually, an inadequately prepared team will show its vulnerability on game day. On the flip side, a well-coached team lacking talent can perform consistently because they execute well and make fewer mistakes. Gus Malzahn could hire a staff of great coaches, but if there is no accountability directed towards the players, they will continue to make the same mistakes. After every loss, Malzahn is quick to reference mistakes or poor execution being the primary cause for the loss. Though there is some truth to poor execution at critical moments of the game, what are Gus and his staff doing to make sure the same mistakes are not made over and over? We all know it is up to any coaching staff to place their players in the best position to be successful, but that is not enough to build a championship program. The right play can be called at the right moment, but it only takes one player to ruin the execution of the play. Show me a championship team in any sport, and I will show you a team that executes well. Execution is developed through preparation and repetition. For all the mistakes we see on Saturday, think about how practice and camps are handled at Auburn. Gus Malzahn's staff places the players in position to be successful more often than not, but what are the coaches doing to eliminate the mental mistakes and poor execution? If a wide receiver is steadily dropping passes the response cannot be just continuing to throw to him in the hope he will improve. The coaches have to address why the drops occur and give the player the guidance to be more fundamentally sound. Does Malzahn recognize this and is he capable of making the changes to make Auburn better at executing? Football is a challenging sport and fans tend to focus on play-calling and schemes. Poor fundamentals and execution will destroy the best game plan. He has to understand that a good house is built on a strong foundation. If the foundation is weak, all the window dressing in the world will eventually be exposed when the house begins to fall apart or collapses. Malzahn's coaching history was always going to be a possible concern. He does not come from a strong coaching tree, where he worked under a great head coach. He has been tasked to learn on the job, and some of the results have been painful to watch. Gus Malzahn is driven and intelligent when it comes to X's and O's, but sometimes he cannot see the forest for the trees. The great coaches make sure the little things are always in order to meet the significant challenges. Good luck Coach and War Eagle! 10 7 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CR 2,407 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Great write-up Stat. After 6 years it's hard to believe there are big changes that Gus is willing to make. He is what he is and the decision makers will have to determine if they can live with that or make a change. I think the majority of the fanbase has seen enough. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChltteTiger 649 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Gus isn't going to fundamentally change which sounds like what is needed. Its time for the PTB to make a change. Delaying another year will make it even harder to get back to being relevant and having even a chance against our biggest rivals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoetTiger 1,895 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 (edited) Best I’ve seen on here in some time....thanks! I agree 100% with this assessment. Maybe the light comes on for him or not, I am hoping it does. Edited November 12, 2018 by PoetTiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steeleagle 2,945 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Good comments Stat... Another major issue to me to add to your is how we recruit and coach those players in the trenches. It is always said that it starts with those players on each side of the ball. We cannot meet our goals of championships or competing for them, if we do not recruit and develop those players on the OL and the DL. While we have done an excellent job on the defensive side, there are holes, especially this year that have made us weaker on D. As you said, and I have seen this more often than not, is disciplined ends that know to protect the outside and not be suckered always into crashing inside or speed rushing without taking care of his area on running plays. On offensive line, I have noticed over the years since Gus took over, that we constantly seem to have to bring in transfers or JUCOS to solidify the OL. I can remember a few names, and maybe there are others I forgot about (Gholson, Dunn, DRiscoll, James, DAmpeer, Danzey). And next year we HAVE to do the same, bc this group, besides being inexperienced in some areas, is just not as talented as is needed to compete against the DLs to Alabama, GA, MSU, etc). Our recruiting the last couple of years has been abysmal. In those 2 areas alone, along with what Stat has said about our coaching is adding up to inconsistent seasons, and in the near future, loses to the best in the SEC ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Howell 80 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 The whole scheme is wrong. Sec dcs are have caught and now scheme successfully. It used to be the zone read had one read. The defensive was unblocked and option of him. He went for rb quarterback kept the ball if end went for quarterback hand off to running back. However dcs today flip linebackers, run a safety down, blitz or attack the mesh point. They are making the quarterback make more than one read and thus the effectiveness of the zone read is gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gr82b4au 5,568 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Great read. The good news is that all we need to do is get the head coach to completely change how he thinks, runs practices, installs game plans, coaches on the field during the games, hires other coaches, and recruits. 2019 SEC Championship here we come. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChltteTiger 649 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 1 hour ago, PoetTiger said: Best I’ve seen on here in some time....thanks! I agree 100% with this assessment. Maybe the light comes on for him or not, I am hoping it does. Yea lets give Gus a few more years for the light to come on. Meanwhile losing seasons become the norm. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunInRed 16,162 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Very well articulated. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barnacle 9,064 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 3 minutes ago, RunInRed said: Very well articulated. Agreed. This is been my primary concern about Malzahn since he has arrived at Auburn. I've always wondered what his over-arching philosophy/approach is to coaching a football team. I'm not talking about Xs and Os, I'm talking about the philosophy players have to buy into before they ever practice tackling, or blocking, or throwing. There is a difference between drawing up football plays, and coaching. Coaching means doing the things that @StatTiger explained above, and they transcend the sport itself. People like to talk about great coaches, and whether they would still be successful if suddenly thrown into another sport. In my opinion, the truly great coaches are the ones whose core coaching philosophies are adaptable to any form of competition. Malzahn may (or may have been) a great "football mind", but I've never been convinced that he's a great coach. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredst 9,064 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Excellent points all. As painful as it is to acknowledge, Saban and his “process” clearly produces a superior on-field product made completely dominant by the level of talent he brings in(above board or not). If AU aspires to consistent success we need to find someone that has a similar plan and the drive to execute it. If we can’t recognize that Gus isn’t that guy now 6 years in, well..... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eagle-1 3,821 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Great post Stat. You said many things I have been thinking, but was not able to articulate in such a concise manner. Undisciplined football has long been my major concern when it comes to Gus. His entire coaching philosophy, at least on the offensive side is predicated more on smoke, and mirrors, and less on sound fundamental football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnyAU 3,604 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 He is just an average HC, and that's all he'll ever be at this level. That's not good enough for Auburn, and it shouldn't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuMarine 1,371 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 If CGM hasn’t changed his ways in 6 years is it realistic to think he will change now? Year after year I have hoped he has learned from the previous years only to see the product on the field hasn’t changed much.. need I bring up the Clemson game where he trotted out all the different QBs .. after that game I thought someone should have met him on the field and relieved him of his job. It will not get better. @StatTiger as always, is spot on. Does anyone truly believe that Gus will make the changes needed to take this program to another level? I don’t believe it is about the players.. we have good solid players who are missing the coaching that stat mentioned.. the pieces are there.. we need a head coach to bring it all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaubie 1 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 Really good read and comments here. I wish Gus could course correct, because as a fan, I want to pull for our coaches. Doesn’t feel good. I fear it gets worse before it gets better. At the beginning of the season, I had the feeling we had a team, coaching staff, and even recruits that were all on the same page. Things that contribute to a great team. Concerned for the future. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShocksMyBrain 9,317 Posted November 12, 2018 Share Posted November 12, 2018 This doesn’t apply to only Auburn. You could probably plug in any number of coaches or teams and the advice would still stand true. Good read. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUsince72 11,084 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 So, from what I'm reading, after players make major mistakes they simply practice "to correct it". There's no Bull in the Ring or Up & Downs or Stadium Steps. ...in other words there's no Fear. No wonder Stids smiles like a Cheshire Cat all the time. Consequences help ensure future improvement. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aucater 150 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 7 minutes ago, AUsince72 said: So, from what I'm reading, after players make major mistakes they simply practice "to correct it". There's no Bull in the Ring or Up & Downs or Stadium Steps. ...in other words there's no Fear. No wonder Stids smiles like a Cheshire Cat all the time. Consequences help ensure future improvement. No kidding, I think players have to respect the head coach and know there are consequences to failure to "Do Your Job". It takes a little bit of an SOB'ness to be a winner as a head coach. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigeraddikt 1,519 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 2 hours ago, Barnacle said: Agreed. This is been my primary concern about Malzahn since he has arrived at Auburn. I've always wondered what his over-arching philosophy/approach is to coaching a football team. I'm not talking about Xs and Os, I'm talking about the philosophy players have to buy into before they ever practice tackling, or blocking, or throwing. There is a difference between drawing up football plays, and coaching. Coaching means doing the things that @StatTiger explained above, and they transcend the sport itself. People like to talk about great coaches, and whether they would still be successful if suddenly thrown into another sport. In my opinion, the truly great coaches are the ones whose core coaching philosophies are adaptable to any form of competition. Malzahn may (or may have been) a great "football mind", but I've never been convinced that he's a great coach. Which is exactly why, after the LSU meltdown 2017, I said that he was a football scientist and not a coach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoetTiger 1,895 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 6 hours ago, ChltteTiger said: Yea lets give Gus a few more years for the light to come on. Meanwhile losing seasons become the norm. I say that cause I highly doubt he goes anywhere after this season - I don’t think that implied years at all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aubaseball 2,522 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 4 hours ago, AUsince72 said: So, from what I'm reading, after players make major mistakes they simply practice "to correct it". There's no Bull in the Ring or Up & Downs or Stadium Steps. ...in other words there's no Fear. No wonder Stids smiles like a Cheshire Cat all the time. Consequences help ensure future improvement. Yes and the really good coaches take the so called starting qb off the field and put in the backup to finish the game. Yep 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sully to Beasley 643 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Stat you are spot on correct. Thanks for posting here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slammer1 409 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 12 hours ago, AUsince72 said: So, from what I'm reading, after players make major mistakes they simply practice "to correct it". There's no Bull in the Ring or Up & Downs or Stadium Steps. ...in other words there's no Fear. No wonder Stids smiles like a Cheshire Cat all the time. Consequences help ensure future improvement. I saw the same thing 72, Stidham was yucking it up like WE were ahead 27-10. That told me he did not have his head in the game. I saw absolutely nothing to smile about. It was like he didn't care about being behind 17 points. His attitude sort of shocked me to be honest. I think all NFL and Heisman talk along with the praise he got from his first year went to his head. He is definitely not the same QB now that he was his first year at AU. I recall my watching our 1957 team practice. We had coaches that would not put up with anything less than total effort. Coaches Shot Senn and Gene Lorendo come to mind. If they caught him laughing and cutting up with what the situation was, Stidham would still be running the stadium steps. with maybe a bull in the ring session for good measure. Times have changed. JMO WDE 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abw0004 10,075 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 As always, thank you for your well-constructed posts. The only thing I will say is I believe we are developing our talent well on the defensive side of the ball. The mistakes we are seeing is just to a run down defensive that is always on the field. Being tired leads to mental mistakes. The development is showing in our ability to throw true freshmen out there and have them play like veterans. And when they are not, the staff pulls them out of the game instead of being stubborn about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1auburn1 1,101 Posted November 13, 2018 Share Posted November 13, 2018 Best (and most honest) writeup I've seen to describe what's happening. It's goes way beyond X's and O's and who gets to do this or that on the field. It's a fundamental lack of understanding of how to drive men to excellence and that applies to the players and coaches. It's not Gus' fault that he got promoted WAY above his abilites but he is at fault for not recognizing his shortcomings, finding peers to learn from, and evolve as a coach. Now, either this year or next, he is going to be asked to move on, and he will be one of the most financialy fortunate people around. Let's hope that AU looks hard and the coaching tree of the next prospect and that there is plenty of branches and fruit on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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