2010 Preview: The Offense

The 2009 season saw one of the most prolific offenses in Auburn history in the first year under offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. The leaders of that offense, Chris Todd and Ben Tate, are now gone so there is certainly a lot of production to replace. Tate had some doubters heading into the 2009 season but he silenced them on his way to over 1,200 yards and into the Auburn record books to fifth in all-time career rushing yards. The Houston Texans drafted Tate in the third round. While Todd had his share of detractors, the numbers he put up are hard to argue with: Sixty percent of passes completed, 2,612 yards and 22 touchdowns all in the regular season. That being said, Todd put up a lot of his yards against lesser competition and struggled mightily against the tougher SEC foes. In Auburn's five losses Todd averaged just 135 yards per game and through five of his six interceptions. This year the team will return a veteran offensive line and receiving corp and Malzahn has raised his expectations for the pace of play and overall execution of his offense. With more consistent play throughout the year and slight improvement across the board, the 2010 offense should rewrite the record books for the second straight season.

Quarterback
Shortly after the completion of spring practice Cameron Newton, the highly hyped five star junior college transfer, was named the starting quarterback. When Newton left Florida after his redshirt Freshman season he had gotten in trouble after some questionable off field decisions and was in danger of losing his heir-apparent role to John Brantly. Newton knew he needed a fresh start and decided to transfer to Blinn Community College where he subsequently led Blinn to the Junior College National Championship, throwing for over 2,800 yards and 22 touchdowns, while rushing for 655 yards and an additional 16 touchdowns. From the day he has stepped on campus Cam Newton has been all business. He is the first one in and the last one to leave, always ready to put in extra work with the receivers, leading voluntary workouts and spending extra time in the film room or reviewing the offense with Malzahn in his office. Few players get two chances to be QB at an SEC school and Newton is not going to let this one go to waste. Standing 6'6" and weighing in at 250 pounds with reported 4.5 second speed in the forty, Newton has all the physical tools you could ask for in a quarterback. So far this summer the practices have been closed and the reports have been limited but what has been leaked is that Newton has the arm to make all of the throws and he has spent a lot of time with Malzahn honing in on the plays that he likes the most while customizing the offense to his strengths. The 2010 version of the offense will certainly incorporate a greater rushing threat from the quarterback position which should open up more holes for the running backs and in the secondary as more eyes will be focused on Newton. Consistency will be key but the pieces are there for much greater production from the quarterback position in 2010 than we saw last year. Behind Newton are three reliable back up options who are all in their second year in the offense. Senior Neil Caudle and Sophomore Barrett Trotter would each be capable of running the offense similar to the level Todd ran it last year and redshirt Freshman Clint Mosley had shown a lot of improvement this summer.

Running back
During the spring of 2009 running backs coach Curtis Luper went on record predicting that Ben Tate would surpass 1,000 yards rushing, which he did. Luper has now made the same prediction for Senior Mario Fannin this season. Fannin started off his career at running back showing some impressive flashes of potential as a redshirt Freshman gaining 448 yards on 84 carries (5.3 ypc). Prior to his Sophomore season Fannin suffered a shoulder injury which caused the coaches to be concerned about his ability to take the consistent pounding a running back would endure. He still received some carries in 2008 but worked primarily as a slot receiver. When the new staff took over in 2009 they saw Fannin as an extremely versatile and valuable weapon. Fannin worked at fullback, running back, tight end, H-Back and receiver and compiled the second most receptions (39), third most receiving yards (403), and the third most rushing yards (271). For his career Fannin has 812 receiving yards and 971 rushing yards which puts him in the unique position to surpass 1,000 receiving yards and 2,000 rushing yards for his career. Fannin and Tate have similar measurables in both stature and speed and though their running styles are very different it would not be surprising at all to see Fannin experience an emergence similar to Tate's in 2009. Behind Fannin will be some limited but talented depth. Returning for his Sophomore season is a slightly bulked up Onterio McCalebb. McCalebb has sprinters speed but struggled with nagging injuries for most of the year and is hoping the added weight will help that. Now pushing 180 pounds McCalebb believes he may also have gotten faster in the off season which is a scary thought for the opposition and with a better grasp of the offense he should be poised to take a big step forward in 2010. The new addition to the running back corp is five star incoming Freshman Michael Dyer. Dyer had his pick of schools from across the country as a consensus top 10 overall player in the country but saw potential to continue his staggering offensive success running the ball at Auburn in Gus Malzahn's offense. Built like a bowling ball at 5'9" 215 pounds, the reports have been positive coming out of camp thus far and there is no doubt Dyer will see significant carries early and often in 2010. Should injuries force the coaches to reach deeper into the depth chart they can turn to H-Back/Fullback Eric Smith (career: 41 carries, 182 yards) or true Freshman jumbo-back LaDarious Phillips (6'0", 291) who has shown some surprising agility for a back his size. With Newton being a greater threat on bootlegs, option plays and the zone read, combined with running behind one of the best offensive lines in the SEC, there will be no excuses for the running backs not to produce at a very high level in 2010.

Tight End / H-Back
These positions are combined because they have a lot of overlap in both personnel and responsibilities in Malzahn's offense. Often times you will see Junior fullback / H-Back Eric Smith lined up in the slot and you could see Sophomore tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen lined up in the backfield. Both positions have a lot of responsibilities blocking in space and are also used in a multitude of ways in the passing game. Smith saw plenty of action in this position in 2009, primarily as a backup to Mario Fannin but also used in ways that were better suited for his skills as a blocker. Smith was extremely clutch making critical third down receptions throughout the year and his ability to clear out linebackers and safeties as a lead blocker was one of the primary reasons for last years' rushing success. Smith's 18 receptions for 226 yards made him the 4th leading receiver on the team last year and should again be a valuable and versatile weapon in 2010. Lutzenkirchen will be stepping into the starting roll vacated by Tommy Trott. Trott had some successes last year and was a solid open field blocker but he also had his share of struggles. With a lot of hard work in the off season in becoming more aggressive in his blocking and bulking up to 260 pounds on his 6'4" frame, Lutz is confident that he is ready to handle all aspects of the position. Having gotten his feet wet as a Freshman with 5 catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns he should be poised to take a big step forward in his second year in this offense. An impact newcomer to the position is true Freshman Shaun Kitchens. Kitchens has wowed the coaches since he first arrived on campus with his physical and aggressive style of play. At 6'3" 217 pounds he brings a different element to the position than Smith or Lutz have to offer and will be used in situations this fall that will highlight his skills. LaDarious Phillips was mentioned earlier under the running backs but he will also see time behind Eric Smith at H-Back this season. Providing depth behind Lutzenkirchen at tight end is redshirt Freshman Robert Cooper and true Freshman Dakota Mosley though, I believe both of those players will see only limited playing time. Smith, Lutzenkirchen, Kitchens and Phillips are four very different players, with very different body types and very different skill sets; this position gives Malzahn the most flexibility in his offense and formations.

Wide Receiver
In 2008 Auburn's two leading receivers combined for 499 yards receiving and neither was returning for the 2009 season. The players slated to start in 2009, Terrell Zachery and Darvin Adams, had combined for 5 receptions and 42 yards for their career. To say the position was a question mark would be a massive understatement; 86 receptions and 1,479 yards later those questions were laid to rest. Adams, now a Junior and a pre-season All-SEC selection, and Senior Zachery both return to form one the most formidable receiving duos in the SEC. With more experience in the offense and more time under receivers coach Trooper Taylor this should be one of the strongest units on the team. In addition to the return of Adams and Zachery, Kodi Burns, Quindarius Carr, DeAngelo Benton, Emory Blake, Travante Stallworth, Jay Wisner, and Derek Winter all return after catching passes in 2009. Carr had his breakout game against Northwestern in the bowl game and followed that up with a phenomenal spring practice. Kodi Burns was thrown into the mix at wide receiver last summer after falling out of the quarterbacks race and never really had time to refine his techniques at the position. He has now had that opportunity and that time has paid off. Cam Newton recently described Burns as the MVP of the offense saying, "He's embracing his role and being a key receiver. He's got that 'wow' factor." It seems like the coaches are mentioning Burns after every scrimmage as a standout player, and not just as a pass catcher; Burns has been the ultimate teammate excelling in his perimeter blocking and also is making contributions on the special teams. One player who will join this stacked group of receivers and still have the potential to stand out is true Freshman Trovon Reed. This former four star recruit has combined his unquestionable talent with an unmatched work ethic since arriving on campus and has supplanted Burns as the starting Wildcat quarterback and is working at 2nd string behind Zachery at receiver. With the leading receivers returning in addition to all of the 3-deep behind them and adding some supremely talented Freshmen there is no reason this unit shouldn't build on their successes in 2009 and become one of the nation's premier group of receivers.

Offensive Line
At the conclusion of the 2009 season left tackle Lee Ziemba contemplated leaving for the NFL. Fortunately for line coach Jeff Grimes and Auburn fans alike Ziemba decided to return for his Senior year on the Plains where he is on track to set the record for career starts. Ziemba has started in every game since he arrived in Auburn, at right tackle as a true Freshman and the past two years at left tackle. Though the pre-season 1st team All-SEC selection has oodles of experience, this summer he has been refining his technique and now believes he has a more complete grasp of what defenses are trying to do and believes he will be an even better player this fall. Along with the return of Ziemba at left tackle, Senior Mike Berry will be returning at left guard, Senior Byron Isom will be returning at right guard and Senior Ryan Pugh will be returning at center. Pugh is also entering his fourth year as a starter and has been selected to 2nd team pre-season All-SEC. Flanking Pugh will be two veteran guards, Berry and Isom, who have combined for 39 starts in their careers. Needless to say there is a lot of cohesiveness among this unit and with their experience in the SEC and now their second year in this offense, there is no reason why this shouldn't be one of the more dominating lines in the SEC. The biggest position battle of the summer has been to fill out the fifth spot on that line at right tackle. Originally the battle was thought to be between two four star junior college transfers Roszell Gayden and Brandon Mosley. Unfortunately Gayden has been struggling with injuries and has been unable to participate at full strength thus far and Mosley, who had out grown the tight end position he played in junior college, is still getting acclimated to playing tackle. Those developments opened the door for two current players on the roster: Sophomore John Sullen and Junior A.J. Greene. Sullen came to Auburn pushing 360 pounds on his 6'6" frame but, despite being in less than ideal shape he was able to earn playing time in a backup role as a true Freshman and in fact started one game for an injured Byron Isom at right guard. Sullen reported this summer at a much more fit 312 pounds and has a renewed sense of confidence to accompany his new found mobility and agility. This improvement allowed Sullen to work his way into the mix at the right tackle competition. Greene has been a player few Auburn fans have heard much about since his arrival on the Plains in 2007; he redshirted his first season, didn't see any playing time as a Sophomore and played mop up duty in just two games in 2009. So, what has changed? Apparently Greene had a personal situation in his life that turned around his attitude and when the door opened for him to win the starting position he asserted himself more than he ever had before. Whatever he did must have worked because with less than 10 days until kickoff against Arkansas State Greene was named the starter at right tackle. That development not only allows the full starting five to build their chemistry but it also gives Auburn some great depth. In addition to Gayden, Mosley and Sullen, the most experienced backup and the first off the bench at either guard spot is Senior Bart Eddins. Eddins has a lot of talent but has struggled with injuries in his career and never has been able to supplant the more experienced players. Though he hasn't been a regular starter, Eddins does have playing time in 26 games in his career with one start under his belt and the coaches are confident he can be counted on if called upon. Filling out the depth chart will be Junior Jared Cooper who has played in 19 games in his career and four true Freshmen: Eric Mack, Ed Christian, Chad Slade and Tunde Fariyike. With four returning starters, the emergence of a 5th at right tackle and a bevy of experienced backups and talented newcomers to fill out the depth chart there is no doubt the offensive line will be a strength of this team.

In summary the offense will have a lot of production to replace at quarterback and running back but the players stepping up to fill those voids are loaded with talent and the pieces around them will only ease their transition. With veteran, talented players throughout the receiving corp and along the offensive line Cam Newton wont have to be a superstar to make this offense work. If he grows into a superstar and lives up to his potential than this offense should be one of the best in the nation. Last year Malzahn averaged about 70 plays per game in 2009, his goal for 2010 is to push that number up to 80 plays per game. Those extra plays will come from an increased tempo and will further tire out the opposition and create more scoring opportunities for this talented offense. I wouldn't want to be a defensive coordinator preparing to face these guys.