Alabama Football will face four new SEC Offensive Coordinators in 2017
By Ronald Evans
Auburn Offensive Coordinator Chip Lindsey
The big question in Auburn is whether anyone not wearing a sweater vest is allowed to touch an offensive clipboard. Gus has sworn to fully relinquish the offensive control to Chip Lindsey. How many successive three-and-outs in key games will it take Gus to swear something else?
There is a core problem in Auburn that has nothing to do with Chip Lindsey. For the better part of a decade, Gus Malzahn has been known as an offensive genius. Auburn fans credit Gus, not Gene Chizik with the 2010 National Championship.
The problem with being considered a genius is living up to incredibly high expectations. Losing 16 games over the past three seasons is not genius worthy. Malzahn’s seat on the Auburn Gus-Bus is more than a little warm.
Coaches are human and like the rest of us will do strange things under intense pressure. In last season’s opener against Clemson, Malzahn rotated three quarterbacks. The rotation was driven by separate packages for each QB. On some plays, all three quarterbacks were on the field.
The winning Tigers held Genius-Gus’ team to a total offensive production of 262 yards.
The good news for Chip Lindsey is that whatever he does is likely to be an improvement. College football experts respect Lindsey. He is known as a developer of quarterbacks.
Enamored with spread attacks and Air-Raid offense early in his career, he has adapted in later years. His offenses at Southern Miss and Arizona State were well balanced between the pass and run. For all his gimmickry, Malzahn’s offenses have been run-heavy, mostly between the tackles.
Malzahn’s passing schemes have struggled, particularly since the scrutiny of offensive lineman blocking too far downfield on passing plays.
Most expect the arrival of Lindsey and former Baylor quarterback Jarrett Stidham to greatly upgrade the Auburn passing attack. Lindsey will want to throw the ball up the field and Stidham has the passing skills needed. Auburn fans are giddy in anticipation.
An interesting Tigers sub-plot is the hiring of former Auburn offensive coordinator, Al Borges as an offensive analyst. Borges is a good fit with Malzahn. The Borges offensive style is sometimes defined as the “Gulf Coast” offense, largely developed and popularized by Saints coach Sean Payton. It could be argued that Malzahn owes his “genius” to a combination of “Gulf Coast” and historical “single-wing” principles.
Can Lindsey meld these far-ranging offensive schemes into a cohesive and potent attack? Or at the highest points of seasonal pressure, will Auburn have too many cooks in the kitchen?