Why are Auburn fans so protective of Gus Malzahn? It's easy to point the finger at Ted Roof, but why not Malzahn, as well?

Auburn's "high flying" Gus-bus has scored over 17 points once in the last 6 games...against terrible Ole Miss. Auburn has played some good defenses, but the Gus-bus is supposed to be able to overcome good defense, and still put up points, correct?

And yes...I realize the offensive line is "young", Chad Slade is playing two different positions on the line at the same time...yada, yada, yada. But, if you think back to the senior laden offensive line from last year, how many of Cam's approximately 1500 rushing yards came on plays when the blocking broke down and Cam made a play happen with his feet? I'd say probably 1000 or better of them.

Anyone care to compare Gus' offensive stats against SEC competition both with and without Cam Newton at quarterback? Hint...it ain't good if you're an Auburn fan. Does Gus' offense = Superman qb or bust in the SEC?

There are rumors that he's in line for the UNC head coaching job. Quite frankly, I'd like to see him stay at Auburn, because I believe that SEC defenses have figured him out, just like they do every other offensive style thrown at them. Of course, if he leaves Auburn, that might open up another can of worms with regards to whom AU promotes/hires as OC.

Just some food for thought and discussion over the slow, patsy week .

My God you are more consumed with AU than any AU fan on the planet. I guess AU fans are giving him a pass because he has a body of work that shows success. Roof has nothing but putting the 3 worst AU defenses ( statistically ) in history on the field. I know thats not the answer your AU obsessed pea brain was looking for but its factual.

Given experienced veteran players we know Malzahn can do a great job. Next year I suspect you'll see a much improved offense.

Roof has sucked everywhere he's been. His defenses almost lost a few games last year. Without Fairley they do loose a couple last year.

Body of work. I will say I've been shocked at the play calling from Malzahn this year. His stock for head coach has definitely dropped.

Nobody wants to admit that prior to Cam his offense sucked and that they are paying $1M+ for an offense that can't score in the second half.

I have never been impressed with GM. Would not lose one minutes sleep if he departs. Auburn will succeed without him.

Dustin, usually your pretty rational but you are way off base here. His first year at AU he put up big numbers with Todd at qb. He put up huge numbers before that at? Tulsa ? He took Arkansas to the sec championship game when he was there. There is a reason he has been so successful and cam isn't his only accomplishment.

Look at SEC game stats only from his first year at Auburn, bill...then tell me what you see. Anyone can run it up on the weak sisters. Very average looking at SEC games only, even in '09.

As for his previous stints, having Macfadden and Jones would make anyone look like an offensive genius. Even then when he ran into a decent team his offense pretty much tanked. Tulsa is still Tulsa.

2009 they put up huge numbers against a MAC, Sun Belt, a crappy MSU team and a directional school. You look at his 2nd half numbers in SEC play. They probably didn't score 28 points. I'm pretty sure in the games against teams with a decent defense they probably didn't score 21 points in the second half. I know they didn't score in the second half against mighty Kentucky.

He hasn't developed Moseley or Frazier. Alabama's Moseley is probably a better QB than Clint. It looks like all Frazier can do is run a stutter step delay QB draw for 3 yards. I hope he has a QB squirreled away in an electrical closet for next year because I don't see those two making an impact. They've been outscored 100+ to 28 or so in SEC losses. 7 points in the final 3 quarters of those losses.

If paying 1.2 million dollars for an OC you would expect that team to be better than 100 or at least 75 other schools at the forward pass. Gus better be beating the bushes and looking for that next once in a generation QB.

Bust, if you do not have a qb that can actually move his feet faster than a turtle then it is destin to fail. There is a reason that his offense was a boom in high school. In high school your typical qb does not have a cannon for a passing arm and the o-line is not elite caliber so the QB has to be a playmaker by using his feet. On the other hand, college QB's are taught to stay in the pocket, stay in the pocket, stay in the pocket, so they forget how to react and make plays. Then you throw in the I am to valuable to the team and might get hit and hurt my little pantywaste self so I will just throw it away, or throw a interception, or intentionally ground the ball so I won't get hurt mentality.

Auburn had a head coach one time that had a stellar high school record, his name was Barfield and he could not win games with the likes of Joe Cribbs (NFL Rookie of the year), James Brooks (4 time NFL pro-bowler) and William Andrews (NFL's most productive running back from 1979‐1983 by gaining 8,382 yards rushing and
receiving) in the backfield.

Since this seems to be a busted rebuilding year they should be starting Frazier every game instead of wasting his talent like they did Cody Burns when the only time he comes in the game is to line up in shotgun and he runs the ball 90% of the time, now that's smart coaching when a 10 yearold girl knows what is going to happen in that formation. Frazier has shades of Cam Newtons moves running the ball, he just needs some size, which will come from the all you can eat grub buffet in the athletic cafeteria.

I have been critical of Gus's playcalling and the offenses execution this year. I still believe that Gus is the best offensive coordinator in the country, bar none.

Call him what you want, but a guy who has gone from coaching a small HS team in the Arkansas Delta to wearing a NC ring is a bad sumbitch.

I will have to say his offense didn't do to bad in the Iron Bowl last year. Dammit.

Fans are fickle. They always assume the backup is better when the starting guy isn't playing well, always want to replace coaches when things are not going well. Last year Auburn fans were calling the staff the best in the country, this year we have heard calls for both the defensive coordinator and the offensive coordinator to be replaced. In fact both coaches are good or they wouldn't be at Auburn...probably not best in the country, but far from bad.

The ultimate blame in bad years and praise in good years falls on the head coach.

BP, your talking out of your ass again just because you feel the need to be heard on every topic. Show me where any AU fan has called for malzhan to be replaced. Also you say roof isn't bad? What do his stats say? Not just this year but 3 years running he has the 3 worst defenses in AU history. Your need to be heard on Every subject must be stronger than your need to be accurate.

Nuff said.

Did you not read this thread?

Stats? that is easy, One National Championship.

...thanks for reading bill. I'll be here all week

At Arkansas, they didn't run his offense, they ran the ball, just like Nutt had always done. He only got the job because Arkansas wanted 4 or 5 of his high school players. All of them signed with Arkansas after he was hired. Two of them left when he was fired at the end of the year. Why did he leave, because he didn't like Nutt's offense. It was Nutt's offense not his.
He went to Tulsa and the put up huge numbers. So, they are Tulsa and the play in the we suck league.
Then to Auburn, where he has shown that if he has the players, he can do good things. Or is it that the players can play? Can he coach up the crappy ones?

What is the saying? Is is Xs and Os or Jimmy and Joes?

Oh yea, and he is a legend in Arkansas high school football.

Did you mean to say County......... ;-)

That is the million dollar question. Right now it's not looking like it. Time will tell.

Whatever the case, he's not alone with problems. Roof is a far more serious problem in my opinion.

FFP...maybe the defense just gets worn slam out from being on the field the entire game. Let's face it, whether Gus' offense is clicking at it's best or falling on its face, the defense is on the field for practically the entire game. Quick strike, feast or famine offenses affect their own defense negatively either way, IMO.