Reload or Rebuild on Offense

[StatTiger 1,537]

Each season Auburn like every other program must replace personnel to reload or rebuild from the season before. There is a mixture of returning starters and the arrival of new faces ready to make their contribution to the team. Then there are the returning players, who saw limited action the season before but are moving up to become starters or significant contributors. The 2019 Auburn offense will be a mixture of all three elements and the returning numbers hint to a potentially dangerous and explosive offense.

The Numbers:

From 2004-2018, Auburn has averaged 94.5 career “impact plays” compiled by returning talent from the season before, returning the following season. (Impact plays being plays of at least 15-yards.) Just the loss of Darius Slayton and Ryan Davis meant the loss of 63-career impact plays combined. How will Auburn reload their offense in 2019 and who will step up to be the future playmakers?

The 2004 Auburn Offense:

Coming into the 2004 season, Auburn returned personnel responsible for 146 career impact plays. The return of Carnell Williams, Ronnie Brown and Jason Campbell made for an outstanding backfield. The Tigers receiving corps of Devin Aromashodu, Ben Obomanu, Courtney Taylor and Anthony Mix gave Auburn a diverse passing offense. Added to the mix was a solid offensive line and the offense was prepped for success under new offensive coordinator, Al Borges. Auburn’s offense generated 112 impact plays that season, a significant increase from the 88 compiled during 2003. It was one of the most efficient offenses in the country and a primary reason why Auburn went 13-0 during 2004.

The 2005 Auburn Offense:

Despite the loss of an All-Conference backfield, the 2005 Auburn offense returned their entire receiving corps from 2004, which was the catalyst for a combined 125 returning impact plays. Auburn had to break in a new starting quarterback (Brandon Cox) and running back (Kenny Irons) that season but they still managed to finish the season ranked as the No. 25 offense in total offense and the No. 18 scoring offense in 2005. Auburn managed to combine their returning starters with new contributors for a very efficient offense.

2006 and 2007 Auburn Offenses:

During these two seasons, we witnessed a drop off in offensive production. The 2006 Auburn roster returned only 88 career impact plays, and the 2007 team had only 76. Auburn was unable to match the talent level at the “skill positions” as they accomplished during 2004 and 2005. The reduction in offensive talent resulted in a decrease in offensive production.

2008 Auburn offense:

The 2008 Auburn offense was a prime example of coaching and not having a proven commodity at quarterback affecting the production of the offense. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin was never given the opportunity to mess with his assistants and his offense never honestly got off the ground. He did not make it through the season as Auburn struggled offensively, playing two different quarterbacks. Franklin was never a good fit under Tommy Tuberville and the talent available that season suffered from it. The 2008 Auburn Tigers had 111 combined career impact plays from personnel returning from the previous season.

2009 Auburn offense:

The 2009 Auburn offense returned only 70 career impact plays, but Gus Malzahn obtained the most of it, installing his offense as Auburn’s latest offensive coordinator. Chris Todd and Ben Tate produced strong senior campaigns and the emergence of Terrell Zachery, and Darvin Adams was a pleasant surprise for the offense that season. When healthy, Onterio McCalebb proved to be a good change of pace in the backfield. The 2009 Auburn offense finished the season with 120 impact plays, breaking the record of the 2004 Auburn offense.

2010 Auburn offense:

The 2010 Auburn offense was a combination of great returning talent combined with a once in a lifetime talent in Cam Newton. Auburn returned 180 career impact plays from their returning personnel and added a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback to produce one of the greatest college football offenses. The 2010 Auburn offense had a veteran offensive line that would pave the way for a record-setting 144 impact plays generated that season. Auburn went undefeated and won the BCS National Championship behind a stellar offense.

2013 Auburn offense:

Amazingly, the 2013 Auburn offense returned only 38 career impact plays from the season before. Gus Malzahn in his first season as head coach at Auburn managed to build one of the greatest rushing attacks in Southeastern Conference History. Behind a great offensive line, quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Tre Mason was brilliant in Auburn’s read-option scheme that flowed in a HUNH philosophy. Auburn produced 136 impact plays that season and were virtually unstoppable after the LSU loss.

2019 Auburn offense:

The Tigers return 125 career impact plays from returning personnel, tied for the third most by an Auburn team over the past 16 seasons. The three other Auburn teams with as many returning impact plays combined for a record of 35-3. The key to success for those three teams was the consistent performance from the OL and QB positions. The current word coming out of spring camp is that the starting OL appears to be gelling as a unit, which is good news for the offense. There is a serious competition at the quarterback position between Bo Nix and Joey Gatewood to decide which signal caller will mesh with Auburn’s returning talent. The 2019 Auburn offense will also add the third element of new players and personnel who saw limited action during 2018. The numbers indicate Auburn will reload on offense this season rather than rebuilding.

Totals for combined impact plays returning:

2004: 146
2005: 125
2006: 88
2007: 76
2008: 111
2009: 70
2010: 180
2011: 82
2012: 109 (Emory Blake and Onterio McCalebb accounted for 76.)
2013: 38
2014: 119
2015: 64
2016: 34
2017: 75
2018: 75
2019: 125

War Eagle!

[AUpreacherman22 1,627]

Thank you @StatTiger!!!

I always love reading your informative posts!!!

[3rdgeneration 1,531]

Very interesting stuff! I hope it bodes well for us this season. 😁

 

[doc4aday 1,379]

excellent work my friend! Kudos indeed!

[Beaker 913]

Dang that looks promising.   Now if we can use LESS PACKAGES  because we have more versatile players, which would lead to less substitutions, which will lead to MORE HUNH and not give the D a chance to adjust - we will be LESS PREDICTABLE. 

 

If we stay with the same old, package driven O,  we may win 7 or 8, maybe.  The SEC has figured Gus' tendencies out and written a book on how to beat him.  

Packages absolutely work in HS, but the SEC has caught up.   

Edited Tuesday at 06:38 AM by Beaker

[WFE12 4,281]

11 hours ago, Beaker said:

Dang that looks promising.   Now if we can use LESS PACKAGES  because we have more versatile players, which would lead to less substitutions, which will lead to MORE HUNH and not give the D a chance to adjust - we will be LESS PREDICTABLE. 

 

If we stay with the same old, package driven O,  we may win 7 or 8, maybe.  The SEC has figured Gus' tendencies out and written a book on how to beat him.  

Packages absolutely work in HS, but the SEC has caught up.   

And not run HB dive fifty-leven times...

[bigbird 16,786]

12 hours ago, Beaker said:

Dang that looks promising.   Now if we can use LESS PACKAGES  because we have more versatile players, which would lead to less substitutions, which will lead to MORE HUNH and not give the D a chance to adjust - we will be LESS PREDICTABLE. 

 

Ed Zachary

[Zeek 2,545]

On 4/13/2019 at 5:44 PM, StatTiger said:

2012: 109 (Emory Blake and Onterio McCalebb accounted for 76.)

BAH GAWD
- WWE commentator voice

I really like our group of WR's and RB's. If managed properly our offense could be fun again.

[bigbird 16,786]

58 minutes ago, Zeek said:

BAH GAWD
- WWE commentator voice

I really like our group of WR's and RB's. If managed properly our offense could be fun again.

IMO, It's gonna have to start with limiting substitutions, letting our skill players have multiple roles, and utilizing the entire playbook no matter who is on the field.

[toddc 1,268]

2 minutes ago, bigbird said:

IMO, It's gonna have to start with limiting substitutions, letting our skill players have multiple roles, and utilizing the entire playbook no matter who is on the field.

I think that’s what CGM wants to do—Shenker(sp) playing fb/te and Joiner playing rb/receiver etc. I totally agree that substitutions ruins the hunh.

[jAUSon 1,145]

4 hours ago, bigbird said:

IMO, It's gonna have to start with limiting substitutions, letting our skill players have multiple roles, and utilizing the entire playbook no matter who is on the field.

This right here. 

[Beaker 913]

On 4/16/2019 at 3:19 PM, bigbird said:

IMO, It's gonna have to start with limiting substitutions, letting our skill players have multiple roles, and utilizing the entire playbook no matter who is on the field.

your wisdom makes me feel halfway smart -

" Now if we can use LESS PACKAGES  because we have more versatile players, which would lead to less substitutions, which will lead to MORE HUNH and not give the D a chance to adjust - we will be LESS PREDICTABLE.  "

 

I must be learning....

[bigbird 16,786]

2 hours ago, Beaker said:

your wisdom makes me feel halfway smart -

" Now if we can use LESS PACKAGES  because we have more versatile players, which would lead to less substitutions, which will lead to MORE HUNH and not give the D a chance to adjust - we will be LESS PREDICTABLE.  "

 

I must be learning....

[StatTiger 1,537]

On 4/16/2019 at 4:24 PM, toddc said:

I think that’s what CGM wants to do—Shenker(sp) playing fb/te and Joiner playing rb/receiver etc. I totally agree that substitutions ruins the hunh.

It’s the subbing during the series that kills the pace. Nothing wrong with subbing between the series, which is what I am hoping for. Have a menu of plays for each skill groupings sent onto the field for the given series. This would allow Gus to expand his overall playbook and would force him to utilize all of his skill players.

[Eagle Eye 7 1,209]

After watching and rewatching Aday ( and I know this was just a show game) and from all the on hand practice viewers, I come away from the spring practice greatly impressed with the quality depth that I’ve seen on both sides of the ball. I really feel that our two deep throughout the team looks very good. The reason that’s important is in order to make a championship run you have to have that. Playing our schedule their is just no way we don’t have some folks miss some games. My only concern at this point is coaching and play calling. If the coaches can put these kids in a position to win, I truely believe AU has the talent to win it all. Just hope summer and fall practice continues to produce positive results.

[AuburnNTexas 1,923]

I do believe we will have one of  the most talented teams we have put on the field in years. The key to if we will be bad, adequate, good, or great will be three areas.

1. And by far most important is O-Line - this was our Achilles heal last year and while we are returning 5 seniors it is the same seniors who started last year but did show signs at end of year that they were improving. They suck again we suck, they are adequate we are adequate, they are good or better we are great because I think we have all the skill positions covered. How the backups develop is crucial even if the ones are great because during an SEC season there are usually some games where a starter is out for a while or longer and we need to be able to handle that. 

2. QB - most years this is always number 1 and you would think that we will have a starting QB who has never started a game that this would be number 1 but because of their lack of experience coupled with I think both Gatewood and Nix are very talented which will help with the lack of experience if they have enough time which falls on the O-line..

3. All new starting LB group. Talented and most played a good bit but this is least experienced part of D.

[WFE12 4,281]

4 hours ago, AuburnNTexas said:

I do believe we will have one of  the most talented teams we have put on the field in years. The key to if we will be bad, adequate, good, or great will be three areas.

1. And by far most important is O-Line - this was our Achilles heal last year and while we are returning 5 seniors it is the same seniors who started last year but did show signs at end of year that they were improving. They suck again we suck, they are adequate we are adequate, they are good or better we are great because I think we have all the skill positions covered. How the backups develop is crucial even if the ones are great because during an SEC season there are usually some games where a starter is out for a while or longer and we need to be able to handle that. 

2. QB - most years this is always number 1 and you would think that we will have a starting QB who has never started a game that this would be number 1 but because of their lack of experience coupled with I think both Gatewood and Nix are very talented which will help with the lack of experience if they have enough time which falls on the O-line..

3. All new starting LB group. Talented and most played a good bit but this is least experienced part of D.

1A. Coaching 1B. O-line