Gus Malzahn has a lot of buzz going as an offensive coordinator and as far as I can tell it's well deserved. What he's done with Auburn is one of the biggest surprises of the SEC season thus far, if not THE biggest. But maybe it shouldn't be a surprise at all. Malzahn's Tulsa offense averaged 569 yards and 47.2 points a game last season. His 2007 offense at Tulsa averaged 544 yards. His first collegiate offense, at Arkansas in 2006, wasn't as prolific but still got the Razorbacks to the SEC Championship Game.
Tennessee didn't fare well in its one meeting with Malzahn. That was 2006, at Fayetteville. The Vols were without injured Erik Ainge at quarterback and had no counter to the potent Razorbacks, who raced to a 28-7 halftime lead and won 31-14. With Darren McFadden taking snaps in the hurry-up Wildcat formation, I had the sense that there were times when Tennessee's defense had no clue how to adjust.
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Comments » 42
TheBanker writes:
I am very confident in the ability of the Vol defense. I believe Nick will still be a factor on the sidelines. I also believe that UT has the capacity to "reload" where needed. Nobody will walk (limp maybe) from a game against the Vols without believing they have been hit by the best. The Auburn defense will have a tough time with our OL and backs. My surprise perdiction is that our passing game will have some production against Auburn. However, I may have to leave this one for WD's bones.
TheBanker writes:
Word of advice to Crompton from the fan box:
Show your teammates that you are physically tough and use your legs a little more. Run through some people every now and then. Have a little bit of a nasty attitude when you do it. What have you got to lose. Your soldiers need to see you prepared to do what it takes to win. Forget about the pretty pocket pass. If the WR's are wrong, take matters into your hands. But protect the "rock". It is your destiny! This day! This game! IT'S TIME!!!!!
givehim6 writes:
This time next year or by 2011 Malzahn will be coaching some where else who is willing to pay out big $$$$ for an OC or wants to make him a HC.
CoverOrange writes:
Obvoius question, Mike: where does Auburn's defense rank?
AFVol423 writes:
'06 was the first time I saw the Wildcat Offense. It was Novel back then. Now it's just another stunt but it works with the right personnel. Basically Florida ran it every down this year with Tebow taking McFaddens roll. Auburn hasn't got a Tebow. Play at home, win the one on one battle and make tackles. Offense move the chains and keep the D off the field. A few points wouldn't hurt while your at it.
Vols Win in a low scoring close one. Go Vols!
CrankE writes:
Well, this year's Auburn OC isn't selling his offense from the trunk of his car. Monte's defense has to slow Auburn. UT can't win a shootout type of game.
NashvilleVolsincebirth writes:
I for one am worried we will lay an egg on offense if we are not careful. The Auburn boys will have their ears pinned back to stop the run. Unless we are going to see a leap in understanding by JC and improvement in running routes that are open enough to attempt a pass, we are in for a long tough game. Play action passes will work for short gains if they don't stuff the run too hard. If they stuff it where we just have to throw, it could become a long season. We simply have to win this game or Georgia to expect to get a winning season. Not too many cupcakes in the SEC anymore. KY is probably licking their colletive chops over this years opportunity to end the streak. SC game against the ol ball coach is looking like a doozy too. The whole thing hinges on confidence of the QB and it starts Saturday. If he gets some confidence against a quality opponent in the SEC things will look much better on offense. I feel we have a lot of atheletes on D to keep it going if CLK can solve the MLB situation with the right one (McCoy IMHO).
GO VOLS!
ThurmondEppy writes:
Mike, when you're strange, do faces really come out of the rain?
TommyJack writes:
I'm thinking we should go ahead and let them play it out.
murrayvol writes:
According to the NCAA #41.
murrayvol writes:
Why not? It'll only take about 3 hours.
volsfanlostinthebigeasy writes:
Monte is going to place his "Big Orange Boot" in the ars of this Malzahn fella. GO VOLS!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well, they gave up 30 or so to Ball State, so maybe we can eke out 20 or so.
Don't believe they've been hit like Monte's Maulers bring it. A few Gators can attest to that.
Got to get going on my 9-3 predict.
Geezsus...
TheBanker writes:
Crompton has the tools to run through some defenders. He is a big guy and I am sure he receives proper training from the strength and conditioning coaches. I choose not to whine about the selection of the coaches. I respect their judgement. However, I will challenge the heart of a warrior. I am sure that the team will respond to this QB if he shows he will "give of himself" and play with the "by any means necessary" mentality. Look how they respond to Nick and Eric. I do not hear anybody on the team that is saying ( aloud at least) that JC is a warrior. I know this kid has it. He has to play like this game is still fun and slap the s--- out of somebody. Everything else will fall in line.
Cldvols1 writes:
Malzahn's offense is fast paced that is designed to throw the opposing defense off balance. Granted they have some pretty good guys on the O but they're 8th in the SEC in passing defense where UT is 3rd. Rushing D they are dead last in the league and once again UT is 3rd. Their offense eventually will tire out giving the Vols leadway to create some turnovers. Their defense is okay but not great so Hardesty should have a big game. IF Crompton has improved some, notice I said IF, he should have a pretty good statistical game as well. Here's to hoping UT can get a big SEC win! Go Vols!!!
govols7462 writes:
i think if we had auburn's schedule, we could be at least 3-1 if not 4-0. The average defenses auburn has faced are about 67th in the country and the average defenses we have faced are about 47th. if our defense can play like they did against Florida and if the offense doesn't make too many mistakes, we can win. the whole season is riding on this game.
gnm53108 writes:
Dam Banker,I realy want to be with you but....
It's gonna take a boat load of kool-aid.
Pray for my liver.
SLOBBER_knocker_U writes:
27 to 20 VOLS WIN!!! WE WILL HAVE AT LEAST 2 PICKS AND EB BREAKS THE RECORD! WE HAVE TO GET LOUD FELLAS! I WILL BE AT THE GAME AND WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM JACK DANIELS AND MILLER LITE I WILL GIVE MY ALL FOR TENNESSEE SATURDAY!!! GO VOLS!!!
TheBanker writes:
Come on over to the "Dark Side".
The Kool Aid is very refreshing over here (especially with the Rocky Top chaser)!!
commonsense32 writes:
First off, Monte is a MUCH better coach than Malzahn. But unfortunately this isn't what this will boil down to, except in a round about way.
I have reserved judgement for Jon Crompton because the coaching staff said he was the best, although I have been to several practices and games this year and I thought Stephens was the best. First argument you supporters will make, is he has been evaluated by X number of offensive coaches and they say he is better than Stephens, and in response to that let me say he has been evaluated by 2 coaches only, and 1 of them lost his job thanks to his inability to understand that it isn't ok to throw the ball to the other team.
Another argument is well he is Kiffin's pick so lets get behind him.. Well I tried that too and it has my team losing to UCLA and Florida, both of which we win if we have someone decent at quarterback say, the quarterback who plays for I dunno North Carolina. You can call me fairweather or whatever you like, but I have been a fan and contributor to the VASF longer than alot of you have been alive.
3rd you say that the recievers are to blame. Are you guys being serious? I mean dam n! Recievers are never good until they have a quarterback to throw to them, unless they are Randy Moss caliber and they are few and way far between. The recievers would look great if they had somebody who could get the ball to where it is supposed to be when it is supposed to be there. Most of the time when people are saying the reciever didn't run the route correctly it is because they were a second or third option on the play, but Jon stared at the 1st option so long they had broken their route off. We have GOOD RECIEVERS, RUNNING BACKS, DEFENSIVE BACKS, OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, AND DEFENSIVE LINEMEN the quarterback position is the only place we are truly lacking at this time.
You say Nick is worse, I say prove it! Prove to me and the rest of the fans who would love to see better QB play that Nick is actually worse than Jon. You will say if he is then we have a revolving door, and I say so, by that time we will be another losing season in rebuilding mode.
I promise you whether you believe this or not, this fan base is still divided and will be until a good season is in the books and it surely matters if the fans are divided amongst themselves, but not nearly as much as a divided locker room!
The locker room is not far from being completely splintered because of the effort by many being detroyed by one. If you think for one minute the players on both sides of the ball aren't getting angrier by the week that all of their hard work is being erased by inept play at the most IMPORTANT position on the field then you are crazy.
That being said I will continue to be a VOL fan til the day I croak and will cheer for whomever they put on the field even though inwardly I will have that sick feeling of absolutely no confidence in the man behind center if his name is JC.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
A couple of points:
One thing that keeps getting left out when looking back at the 06 Arkansas game is that wasn't really Malzahan's offense. That's why he left Arkansas because Nutt was handcuffing him. That offense stayed exactly the same after he left and Chavis figured it out.
Also that same year when SC played at Arkansas the hogs were without Darren Mcfadden. There's no telling waht impact that could have had on the game.
TheBanker writes:
I reflect on the spring practice where these coaches took the green jerseys off the quarterbacks and let the defense run at them. I understand that Crompton performed better. I also remember when NS replaced Crompton under Fulmer and the team did not respond. Above anything, chemistry plays an important role. I do not believe that NS has developed a chemistry with the rest of the team more the Crompton.
Here is my theory:
If Crompton hits a couple of LB's and DB's in the mouth; returns to the huddle with a " let's play football" attitude; hits somebody in the mouth again; You will see the wheels turn the right way.
PennVol writes:
I see more upside than downside in playing Stephens.
1) If he plays better, great.
2) If he plays worse, at least we know and can always put Crompton back in.
3) Maybe he can hit a receiver running a bad route better than Crompton can.
4) High school QBs will see that the competition goes into the season and doesn't just end at spring practice.
Question - If Crompton continues to play, will we be able to sign more than 1 good QB? Why would a second good one sign if we're sticking with one after spring practice?
TommyJack writes:
With respect, if you're depending on JC's running to win the game for us, then God help us.
#1, He's no runner.
#2, Someone will break his spleen.
gnm53108 writes:
OK
I'll give it a shot.
Hell,if 05 and last year didnt kill me...
Just dont know how many more of these the ole liver can take.
phhome writes:
C'mon guys support your team if you call yourself a big orange fan. Banker more power to ya! I look at these posts, and see fear in our own fans for saturday's game, we have played four games with this qb and we need to support him, we all may not like him, but he is who our head coach is going with. Why don't you guys dog the receivers like you do crompton, they are running the bad routes, and if you listened to CLK he said sometimes a qb has to throw to a spot on the field, and sometimes you have a defender almost in your face, and it has happened, I see no one talking about the passes that were dropped in the game against Ohio, only the interceptions, you're going to complain, do it to and about everyone. If i'm not mistaken this is AU first game away from the plains, and what a delight for Monte to be able to shut down a team that's on a high like AU. They haven't faced a stingy D like the one this Saturday, our, if corners show up, they're in for a rude awakening, so c'mon get with the program, support everybody! Take no prisoners! GBO!!!
phhome writes:
I'm with everyone Crompton shouldn't be running anywhere!!!!!
mike3387 writes:
According to Auburn's official website the Tiger Walk for the Tennessee game has been cancelled per the request of the University of Tennessee for "safety and security measures."
I would hope when you come to Auburn we can control our fans so that you can welcome and show support for your team. What does it say for the Vols fans that the entire UT police force can not guarantee the safety of AU fans.
Pitiful!
seventysevenvol writes:
Malzahn did not leave Arkansas b/c Nutt had him handcuffed. Freshman QB Mitch Mustain bailed from Arkansas and went to USC in a smear-Nutt move. Nutt got rid of Malzahn- whom Broyles made Nutt hire to get Mustain to commit-after Mustain left for USC. Malzahn was Mustain's head coach in highschool and had Mustain living with him b/c Mustain lived out of the Springdale,AR highschool zone. Mustain's mother relinquished parental custody to Malzahn. The mom was told/convinced that Mustain would be playing on Sunday's if he would go to Springdale highschool and be showcased in Malzahn's wide open offense...strange but true. Dissention was the downfall of the '07 Hogs, not the departure of Malzahn. McFadden was a divisive player and whined about not being showcased enough, though he had plenty of touches. Nutt did try and keep running the "wild hog" but it lost its uniqueness in '07 as the opposing teams were better prepared...like UT was when they plastered Arkansas in Knoxville in '07. Unfortunately, Gerald Jones this year reminds me a lot of McFadden in '07.
AUtim writes:
"Their offense eventually will tire out giving the Vols leadway to create some turnovers."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Holy horse feathers, you should open for Carrot Top. Brilliant comic relief you are.
corrinebrown writes:
Well shizzle my chizik!!
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
Tru!
tdforvols writes:
MVuniv writes:
in response to TurboFan:
Obvoius question, Mike: where does Auburn's defense rank?
Way above Ohio.
________________________________________________
Not really that much... Auburn defense is ranked 41st and Ohio is 51st.
vol_chaz writes:
CLK will slow this game down, much like the UF game, only this time we win, and no one will complain that we weren't trying to win. I expect some big runs..Vols 31-Barners 21
GeneralNeylandsReturn writes:
Nah man, the Banker makes some good points - and remember - nowhere is he predicting that we are going to suddenly become mightily prolific; but he is correct.
I've seen, and you have too if you have been paying attention, Jonathan Crompton take hits that would knock out many grown man and jump up slapping his opponents helmet in fiery respect. I've also seen him put his shoulder down and knock a few people on their behind.
When he's playing like its fun (and that was hard to do under Fulmer's most recent staffs...which is the KEY reason he is really gone, the KEY reason his players began to underperform), Crompton can be an outstanding football player, maybe not an oustanding quarterback, especially relative to a streak like UT has experienced since really Tony Robinson with only a few blips going all the way back to Condrege Holloway, even Bobby Scott - who spent years backing up Archie Manning in New Orleans - heck back then we had back ups like Matt Cassell, our very own Pat Ryan.
So the standard is really high. You can be a good quarterback and still be near the bottom of the list over the past half century (Bobby Scott, Condrege Holloway, Jimmy Streater, Tony Robinson, Sterling Hinton, then it gets really tight - Francis, Kelly, Shuler,Manning, Martin, Clausen, Ainge - throw in few that didn't even stay...Stewart, Suggs, Schaeffer)...my point being the history IS a hard act to follow.
"If he will have fun playing everything else will fall in line:" by that I don't mean, and I doubt The Banker did either, the we are suddenlly gonna win them all; or that all mistakes will suddenly disest; but instead good things will begin to happen for Tennessee footbal, IF and WHEN, playing football in the context of unreasonalbe expectations, amplified a thousand fold by mediums such as this, BECOMES FUN AGAIN; such will help set the stage for Tennessee football as we all want it, to return.
And there is no absolutely no reason the culture of such a way of thinking can't begin with Crompton and these recievers,
now.
It will not make up for our current lacks of depth, talent, or inexperience in the SEC, much less the growing injuries, but it will be what brings back, in the long run, the Tennessee football program.
It's true at all levels of sport...passion and fun are the driving source of determination, will and the PRIDE to get better every day, every week, every time you take up the banner of competition...which is what will utlimately give us the opportunity to play for championships.
I refuse to believe that Jonathan does not have the passion - nor do I observe that that to be true as I watch him play.
Now, is it still fun for him? I don't know, but I think that is an important object, and a little faith in the coaches, from the entertainment media and fans, and a little rallying of the troops - a 'NEVER LEAVE A MAN BEHIND' mentality amongst more of the fans - would go a long way.
GreerVol22 writes:
That being said...I think this turns out very similar to Florida. We play good enough on D to win, but Crompton continues to throw picks and we can't get more than 17 points...24-17
I sure hope I'm wrong. A vote of no confidence sharted in the direction of Crompton...
illinoisvolfan writes:
...and no one remembers your name.
RammerJammer09 writes:
have any of you even watched Auburns offense...Tenn has no offense and a pretty good defense...so Auburns average defense will look better...and do any of you really think TN will put up 30 plus points with there terrible offense
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Now that is about the best point anyone has raised about playing Crompton as a recruiting ploy. As much as I have heard about Bray's potential, I don't see him as the next coming of Peyton or any other game-changing QB anyone cares to name. It would take a supremely confident QB to sign in Bray's class knowing that if he gets beat out in spring practice he won't see the field unless the other guy gets hurt or graduates.
I largely trust CLK so far, but I am having trouble following his logic in terms of either recruiting OR developing the team he HAS, rather than putting everything on the team he HOPES to have. CLK may not realize how hard it is going to be on him if the team continues to struggle under Crompton and yet Stephens never even sniffs the field. In this economic climate, game attendance and donations will drop faster than they would if the economy is humming. UT fans and donors are more loyal than most, and no doubt Hamilton feels obligated to give CLK at least three years ALMOST no matter what happens, but this is not the era for such an obvious "three-year-plan", fair or not.
BigOrangeinCharge writes:
The Wildcat isn't a "stunt." It's a modern incarnation of the Single Wing, and a good one to use when you have someone who can run and throw back there. Auburn DOES have an athlete like that. I believe his name is Forbes, but I could be wrong. The offense works because it uses the QB as a running or passing threat on each down, combined with misdirection that pulls people out of position.
There's so much emphasis on the Wildcat that I think people really overlook what REALLY makes Malzahn's offense work: the no huddle combined with a lightening pace and a bunch of different formations, including some really unusual ones defenses don't see much. They don't run many different plays, which allows them to really polish their execution on the few they run. However, they run them out of so many different formations and they throw them at you so quick, they don't need to be complicated. When a team shows a standard drop back, pro-style offense on one play, then hurries back up to the line and runs the Wildcat the next, it's tough to prepare for or adjust to before you know what hit you.
Malzahn's a brilliant OC and he's very highly respected in coaching circles.
With Reveiz out it's going to be that much tougher on the Vols defense to adjust and just plain keep up. Monte will have a good gameplan. The question is if his players can carry it out on the field without getting their wires crossed.
Volinar_21 writes:
Right on...you are completely right. I have heard from credible sources that the last play Malzahn called was sometime close to halftime in that first USC game. Nutt took over play calling then, but still tried to implement a lot of Malzahn's ideas. Malzahn is an incredible OC when given full reigns to run his offense. Auburn's offense is 10 times better than it was last year. Last year, Auburns offense was just about as bad as ours was/is. They have done a 180. He will continue to be successful and I expect to see him as a HC somewhere in the next 2 or 3 years. The best thing Chizik did was hire Malzahn
joeaubie writes:
Yes the offense will tire out going up and down the field. This may be the funniest comment I've ever seen!
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