He can probably still get Auburn some conference wins running what he did last night and that that is the only way he is going to be able to prove anything. His offensive philosophy is ridiculously run-heavy and predictable but the SEC is terrible this season. The SEC East is a complete joke and that does not look like it will change anytime soon. Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt are awful and the same Mississippi State that lost to South Alabama last week smoked South Carolina (and Will Muschamp) and Georgia barely beat Nicholls State (???) .
The West is better but just about everyone has problems. Therefore again I think Auburn should be able to scratch out some wins even with Gus' flawed offensive philosophy if he can avoid any more Clemson-like meltdowns. However he has to beat Texas A&M next week at home. He loses that one and things look a lot tougher. It is an absolutely huge game for both coaching staffs involved. Both have been under fire and Aggie coach Kevin Summerlin has been a bigger flop than Malzahn after losing Johnny Manziel.
LSU got beat up about as much as Auburn last week and it seems like every Auburn fan is now counting that as a win in two weeks but I would predict caution. Les Miles is a complete kook but he has pretty much owned Auburn. Auburn has only beat Miles three times in eleven tries. THREE OUT OF ELEVEN... Auburn can beat LSU because they are obviously "pass-challenged" as well but LSU has the defense that can stop Auburn's predictable offense. So back to last night's game, yes while Gus threw a few on first down early and cut down on subs early it was still predictable a lot of the time.
However Sean White, Kerryon Johnson, Kamryn Pettway and the offensive line were absolutely brilliant against the Red Wolves. White had all day to throw and could run at his leisure. Johnson and Pettway ran through and around Arkansas State all night. The offensive line was a juggernaut even when running out of three to four wide receiver formations. The wide receivers made good catches including one outstanding catch. Auburn ran up 700 yards of offense. Auburn absolutely dominated Arkansas State.
It was great and sorely needed but I do not think it erases all the problems of the last year and a half. The only thing that will start to do that is big conference wins. I will have to see it to believe that Malzahn will be balanced on first down consistently. I will have to see it to believe it that Malzahn will not sub as much. It is obvious that Auburn will continue to try and power run out of three wide receiver sets because Auburn just lost another tight end. Everyone's great tight end hope, Landon Rice, just quit the team. Auburn is back down again to the inexperienced Jalen Harris. I just have never seen a great Auburn run game with out a good to great tight end.
Last night was also great but painful watching some of these good young wide receivers that will never be used to their full extent. Auburn made some great plays in the passing game but... Malzahn still threw the ball less than 25 times and ran the ball over 60 times. I thought as always he missed a golden opportunity to work more on the passing game especially with John Franklin. The guy sorely needs real-game passing reps. Auburn had the first team out of the game. IT IS NOT RUNNING UP THE SCORE PASSING WITH SUBS. I mean come on! I do not understand how it is better sportsmanship to bludgeon a team for almost 500 yards rushing than it is to throw a few passes with subs.
There is not much more to say about last nights game. It was a good bounce back after one of the worst offensive games in Auburn history but the next two weeks could tell the story of this Auburn season.
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