Malzahn overview

Hey everyone. So we got our first look at Gus Malzahn, the Tigers' new offensive coordinator, on Monday night. He said the things Auburn fans wanted to hear.

Let's review those points:

• Malzahn plans to play "smash-mouth" football. He didn't play that way at Tulsa in 2007 because, as he said, the team didn't have the linemen to make that happen. Does Auburn have that kind of line? Things didn't work last season. Maybe that was talent. Maybe that was scheme. Maybe that was a fluke. If we learned anything from Tony Franklin, it's this: Don't judge an offense until it works against an opponent during the fall.
  
  
• Malzahn will have a say in hiring the team's offensive staff. Head coach Gene Chizik made that point clearly on Monday. He said assistants can't be "strong-armed in there," which makes a lot of sense. Of course, Tommy Tuberville had no problem doing that.
  
  
• Malzahn spent Monday assessing recruits and his own players via video review. That had to be an interesting process. Auburn doesn't exactly have an excess of skill-position talent these days.
  
  
• Malzahn will continue to coach with Tulsa through its bowl game on Jan. 6. He's doing that because, he said, leaving those players so abruptly didn't feel right. His decision also will allow Auburn recruits -- both current and future targets -- to see how this system works. Auburn will be discussing this game as much or more than anyone in Oklahoma.

Photo credit: Dave Martin/AP

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