Vicious V

[StatTiger 3,188]

“I know a lot of people categorize me as a spread guy. If you look back at my history we’re going to play smash-mouth football. We’re going to set up the pass with the run. I really think the difference with most run, play-action teams is we’re going to throw the ball vertically down the field and we’re going to do that quite often.”

-Coach Gus Malzahn

In the last ten seasons how often did you hear an Auburn coach using the word “vertical”, when speaking of Auburn’s passing game? It was refreshing to hear it from Coach Malzahn and the numbers clearly backup what he said in his first Auburn press conference.

·In the past two seasons at Tulsa, Coach Malzahn’s offense has produced (21) 100-yard receiving performances. During the Tommy Tuberville era, Auburn had (20) 100-yard receiving performances.

·During the past two seasons at Tulsa, Malzahn’s passing game has generated 65 plays of 30-yards or more. In comparison, Auburn totaled 46 pass plays of 30-yards or more in the last four years.

·During the Tommy Tuberville era, Auburn’s wide receivers have averaged 13.6 yards per reception, which dropped to 12.1 yards during the last two years.

Other than the 2004 season, Auburn’s passing game was rarely a threat to go vertical, relying on a short passing game, which often became easy to defend. Not only was the passing game non-lethal, opposing safeties could cheat up to provide run support, making it difficult for Auburn to accomplish their primary goal of establishing the run. Coach Malzahn’s comments of having a power running game supported by a vertical passing game were like music to the ears.

Coach Malzahn will obviously face better defensive competition in the SEC but it’s good to know the direction he wants to take the Auburn offense. Because the competition will be far more challenging in the SEC, we should not expect the same kind of numbers Malzahn’s offenses produced at Tulsa but his previous results supports his future plans for the Auburn offense. Sorting through all the pass offenses in the nation during this current decade, the 2008 Tulsa pass-offense is No. 2 in yards per pass attempt. The 2007 Tulsa passing game was No. 16 out of 1054 teams. Of all the teams this current decade that attempted at least 250 passes during a season, the 2007 Tulsa offense was No. 11 in yards per completion and their 2008 offense was No. 14.

Though Tony Franklin’s offense never got off the ground, he schemed to stretch the opposing defenses horizontally, hoping for the receivers to turn a short pass into a big gain. It will be nice to see the Auburn passing game stretching the field vertically once again. It’s not like it hasn’t been done at Auburn but it’s been a long time coming. From 1987-2008, Auburn’s receivers have combined for an average of 16-yards or more per reception during the course of an entire season, 5 times. Those five teams (1988, 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2004) combined for a record of 54-7, three SEC titles and 2 undefeated seasons. The 1997 team played for a SEC title and the 1993 would have if not for NCAA sanctions.

During those five seasons, the Auburn passing game generated 94 pass plays of 30-yards or more, which was an average of 19 per season. Auburn had 11 pass plays of 30-yards or more this past season. Not only would those 5 teams challenge the opponent deep down field, 4 of the teams had a solid running game. The 1988 offense averaged 215 yards per game on the ground and the 1989 team averaged 178 yards rushing. The 1993 team averaged 221 yards rushing and the 2004 team averaged 183 yards on the ground.

It’s about time for the Auburn offense to make the opponent pay the price for putting 8-9 bodies in the box and it appears Auburn just hired the OC to do it.

[ATLauburnfan 0]

Stat, your posts are always awesome and i cant believe how much work you probably do to be as well imformed as you are. This post is no different, and i like you cant wait to see some vertical passing and i especially liked the part about using a hard-nosed running attack to set up that vertical passing game. That's AUsome!

War Eagle!

[WarTim 3,565]

Stat, GREAT work as usual. GREAT info.

Can't wait to see the rest of the staff ......CGC hit a homerun with the OC hire...NO doubt about it!

[AUdrew1 3]

stat as usual you have me pumped up! Damn tell me again when football season starts!

[DKW 86 8,220]

Thank you very much Stat.

[OldNewby 27]

Great post, StatTiger!

Coach Malzahn’s comments of having a power running game supported by a vertical passing game were like music to the ears.

WDE!!!

[PigskinPat 3,085]

Stat, your posts are always awesome and i cant believe how much work you probably do to be as well imformed as you are. This post is no different, and i like you cant wait to see some vertical passing and i especially liked the part about using a hard-nosed running attack to set up that vertical passing game. That's AUsome!

War Eagle!

I agree 100%!

[rexbo 104]

It's obvious we need to find some Crabtree caliber receivers; I think that's all that's really missing from the current roster to make this work as planned...

[Ryan Sanders 123]

I want to see Gus bring back the counter running plays. It seems like we have missed them for a while now. I saw other teams burn us on defense with the counter plays, but it seemed like we would never use them.

[BoJtrueAUman 4]

Hey Stat what did Tulsa average per game running the ball as compared to passing?

[rtftiger 40]

Hey Stat what did Tulsa average per game running the ball as compared to passing?

Oh, come on. That is no where near Stat-worthy. Little baby Stat was breaking down run/pass statistics before he was potty trained. If you want Stat to answer, you have to add difficulty to the question.

The following would be acceptable questions:

1. What did Tulsa average when running on first down in the red zone?

2. How many drops per game did the number 3 receiver for Tulsa have?

3. How many yards did Tulsa gain when facing a 4-3?

4. Statistically speaking, does Malzahn favor the visor, the cap, or the straw hat (ala Nutt and Saban)?

For any question that falls short of this bar, you must look it up yourself.

Self Help for the Statistically Challenged

[OldNewby 27]

Hey Stat what did Tulsa average per game running the ball as compared to passing?

Stat may have already answered the rushing part of your question here:

http://www.aunation.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=54992

[aucanucktiger 2,016]

...and of course no data/stats are complete w/out all pertinent info., e.g. the quality of Tulsa's opponents the last 2 years:

Aug. 30, 2008 at UAB W 45-22 1-0 (1-0)

Sept. 6, 2008 at North Texas W 56-26 2-0

Sept. 20, 2008 New Mexico W 56-14 3-0

Sept. 27, 2008 Central Ark W 62-34 4-0

Oct. 4, 2008 Rice (CSTV) W 63-28 5-0 (2-0)

Oct. 11, 2008 at SMU W 37-31 6-0 (3-0)

Oct. 18, 2008 Texas-El Paso (CSTV) W 77-35 7-0 (4-0)

Oct. 26, 2008 UCF (ESPN) W 49-19 8-0 (5-0)

Nov. 1, 2008 at Arkansas L 30-23 8-1

Nov. 15, 2008 at Houston L 70-30 8-2 (5-1)

Nov. 22, 2008 Tulane W 56-7 9-2 (6-1)

Nov. 29, 2008 at Marshall W 38-35 10-2 (7-1)

Dec. 6, 2008 East Carolina L 27-24 10-3 (7-2)

Aug. 30, 2007 at La.-Monroe (ESPN2) W 35-17 1-0

Sept. 15, 2007 BYU (CSTV) W 55-47 2-0

Sept. 21, 2007 Oklahoma (ESPN2) L 62-21 2-1

Sept. 29, 2007 UAB W 38-30 3-1 (1-0)

Oct. 6, 2007 at Texas-El Paso L 48-47 3-2 (1-1)

Oct. 13, 2007 Marshall W 38-31 4-2 (2-1)

Oct. 20, 2007 at UCF L 44-23 4-3 (2-2)

Oct. 27, 2007 SMU W 29-23 5-3 (3-2)

Nov. 3, 2007 at Tulane (CSTV) W 49-25 6-3 (4-2)

Nov. 10, 2007 Houston W 56-7 7-3 (5-2)

Nov. 17, 2007 at Army (ESPN+) W 49-39 8-3

Nov. 24, 2007 at Rice W 48-43 9-3 (6-2)

Dec. 1, 2007 at UCF L 44-25 9-4 (6-3)

Jan. 6, 2008 Bowling Green W 63-7 10-4

[StatTiger 3,188]

...and of course no data/stats are complete w/out all pertinent info., e.g. the quality of Tulsa's opponents the last 2 years:

Aug. 30, 2008 at UAB W 45-22 1-0 (1-0)

Sept. 6, 2008 at North Texas W 56-26 2-0

Sept. 20, 2008 New Mexico W 56-14 3-0

Sept. 27, 2008 Central Ark W 62-34 4-0

Oct. 4, 2008 Rice (CSTV) W 63-28 5-0 (2-0)

Oct. 11, 2008 at SMU W 37-31 6-0 (3-0)

Oct. 18, 2008 Texas-El Paso (CSTV) W 77-35 7-0 (4-0)

Oct. 26, 2008 UCF (ESPN) W 49-19 8-0 (5-0)

Nov. 1, 2008 at Arkansas L 30-23 8-1

Nov. 15, 2008 at Houston L 70-30 8-2 (5-1)

Nov. 22, 2008 Tulane W 56-7 9-2 (6-1)

Nov. 29, 2008 at Marshall W 38-35 10-2 (7-1)

Dec. 6, 2008 East Carolina L 27-24 10-3 (7-2)

Aug. 30, 2007 at La.-Monroe (ESPN2) W 35-17 1-0

Sept. 15, 2007 BYU (CSTV) W 55-47 2-0

Sept. 21, 2007 Oklahoma (ESPN2) L 62-21 2-1

Sept. 29, 2007 UAB W 38-30 3-1 (1-0)

Oct. 6, 2007 at Texas-El Paso L 48-47 3-2 (1-1)

Oct. 13, 2007 Marshall W 38-31 4-2 (2-1)

Oct. 20, 2007 at UCF L 44-23 4-3 (2-2)

Oct. 27, 2007 SMU W 29-23 5-3 (3-2)

Nov. 3, 2007 at Tulane (CSTV) W 49-25 6-3 (4-2)

Nov. 10, 2007 Houston W 56-7 7-3 (5-2)

Nov. 17, 2007 at Army (ESPN+) W 49-39 8-3

Nov. 24, 2007 at Rice W 48-43 9-3 (6-2)

Dec. 1, 2007 at UCF L 44-25 9-4 (6-3)

Jan. 6, 2008 Bowling Green W 63-7 10-4

It's not like Tulsa had Oklahoma talent competing on their roster the last two years. Look at the yardage and scoring margins I pointed out in my initial thread on Malzahn. It's not what they did but how much they did it better then their opponent's opponents.

Tulsa recruiting rankings from Scout.com...

2002: 72nd

2003: 92nd

2004: 77th

2005: 82nd

2006: 83rd

2007: 92nd

2008: 86th

[BoJtrueAUman 4]

Hey Stat what did Tulsa average per game running the ball as compared to passing?

Oh, come on. That is no where near Stat-worthy. Little baby Stat was breaking down run/pass statistics before he was potty trained. If you want Stat to answer, you have to add difficulty to the question.

The following would be acceptable questions:

1. What did Tulsa average when running on first down in the red zone?

2. How many drops per game did the number 3 receiver for Tulsa have?

3. How many yards did Tulsa gain when facing a 4-3?

4. Statistically speaking, does Malzahn favor the visor, the cap, or the straw hat (ala Nutt and Saban)?

For any question that falls short of this bar, you must look it up yourself.

Self Help for the Statistically Challenged

thx mr smarty pants

[AUloggerhead 3,173]

I want to see Gus bring back the counter running plays. It seems like we have missed them for a while now. I saw other teams burn us on defense with the counter plays, but it seemed like we would never use them.

AU did too use "counter" plays this season: their most "successful" counter plays were the Counter-Productive TB offtackle play followed by the Counterfeit QB draw.

[OldNewby 27]

The "Kitchen-Counter" is my favorite.

[Rhetortiger821 3]

Great job stat another reason to look forward to next year. I live in Arkansas where their all crying about how Gus left them for the dissappointing 07 year. I'm glad we have a coach that will splash the attention of recruits.

[TexasTiger 16,011]

Why do they have to play a bowl game on Jan. 6th? Anyone playing that late should be playing for the MNC.

[cadillacattack 0]

Because the competition will be far more challenging in the SEC, we should not expect the same kind of numbers Malzahn’s offenses produced at Tulsa

The koolaid drinkers won't buy it, but that's the understatement of the year.

[aucanucktiger 2,016]

Frankly, I'm more impressed by Malzahn's SEC work @ Arky. If his Tulsa offenses (and talent) had actually beaten Okie (or even BYU) level talent, now that would be quite impressive...but they didn't. Tulsa crushed teams @ its own peer level.

This guy's a good hire, probably the best that was out there for us right now. If there's a worry (so long as we're discussing such things) it's as follows:

Offenses @ the college level, w/ college athletes running offenses against college athletes, frequently don't work in the NFL. The difference between Tulsa's offensive success against its peers vs. against SEC defenses & coaches IMO, is the difference between college & the NFL. Thus, my statement above re. Malzahn @ Arky.

[AU Cav 0]

Frankly, I'm more impressed by Malzahn's SEC work @ Arky. If his Tulsa offenses (and talent) had actually beaten Okie (or even BYU) level talent, now that would be quite impressive...but they didn't. Tulsa crushed teams @ its own peer level.

This guy's a good hire, probably the best that was out there for us right now. If there's a worry (so long as we're discussing such things) it's as follows:

Offenses @ the college level, w/ college athletes running offenses against college athletes, frequently don't work in the NFL. The difference between Tulsa's offensive success against its peers vs. against SEC defenses & coaches IMO, is the difference between college & the NFL. Thus, my statement above re. Malzahn @ Arky.

I thought Tulsa beat BYU. Am I wrong?

[Hoopie 6]

Frankly, I'm more impressed by Malzahn's SEC work @ Arky. If his Tulsa offenses (and talent) had actually beaten Okie (or even BYU) level talent, now that would be quite impressive...but they didn't. Tulsa crushed teams @ its own peer level.

This guy's a good hire, probably the best that was out there for us right now. If there's a worry (so long as we're discussing such things) it's as follows:

Offenses @ the college level, w/ college athletes running offenses against college athletes, frequently don't work in the NFL. The difference between Tulsa's offensive success against its peers vs. against SEC defenses & coaches IMO, is the difference between college & the NFL. Thus, my statement above re. Malzahn @ Arky.

Canuck...I agree that this was probably the best OC hire we could make. I love the statement/commitment to a vertical passing game. Unless the new WR coach does wonders, we don't have the WR for a substantial vertical passing game. If the AU fans will be patient for a few years, we can hopefully recruit the Wrs that we need.

WR recruiting problems was one of the reasons for CTT to go to the spread.

[OldNewby 27]

Frankly, I'm more impressed by Malzahn's SEC work @ Arky. If his Tulsa offenses (and talent) had actually beaten Okie (or even BYU) level talent, now that would be quite impressive...but they didn't. Tulsa crushed teams @ its own peer level.

This guy's a good hire, probably the best that was out there for us right now. If there's a worry (so long as we're discussing such things) it's as follows:

Offenses @ the college level, w/ college athletes running offenses against college athletes, frequently don't work in the NFL. The difference between Tulsa's offensive success against its peers vs. against SEC defenses & coaches IMO, is the difference between college & the NFL. Thus, my statement above re. Malzahn @ Arky.

I thought Tulsa beat BYU. Am I wrong?

Tulsa 55-BYU 47 in 2007.

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/ranking...007&org=719

Tulsa 56- Tulane 7 in 2008.

Tulsa 23 - Arkansas 30 in 2008 at Fayetteville.

http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/ranking...008&org=719

I agree SEC defenses are tougher. But, I also think CGM will improve our ppg and ypg significantly over our 2006 & 2007 averages. Do I expect us to average 600 ypg & 45 ppg in 2009? No! But, down the road? Maybe!

Offensively, we can do nothing but improve with CGM.