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AUBURN, Alabama – Gus Malzahn He has not often trusted his new recruits to the quarterback during his career.
The coach did it only three times – and once per need – in 14 years as a coordinator or head coach.
We can not argue with the results, though. The teams led by real rookies in the quarter are an incredible 13-0 under the direction of Malzahn. Bo Nix Auburn has a 4-0 start after the two most impressive victories in his country: a 27-21 comeback against no. 11 Oregon in Arlington, Texas and a demolition in 28-20 of the building then no. 17 Texas A & M in College Station, Texas.
The No. 7 Auburn (4-0, 1-0 SEC) ramps up to enter its opening match against the Mississippi State (3-1, 1-0) in Jordan Stadium -Hare Saturday. And the Tigers have drawn the attention of the nation with a real freshman who runs the reins.
But it is not new to Malzahn. His first season as a university coordinator included an 8-0 run with a true novice quarterback, his high school quarterback at Springdale High. Mitch Mustain He came into play in Arkansas during the second week and the Razorbacks did not lose a match for nine weeks. He was 8-0 as a starter, including a win in South Carolina in which Mustain was fired by the head coach Houston Nutt for launching an interception on his first pass.
Mustain never started again and it was transferred to USC. Malzahn left for Tulsa and later landed in Auburn.
But what about winning Malzahn with real freshmen from quarterback? This should apparently be more difficult, right?
"Gus knows very well what guys know how to do and differentiate their strengths and weaknesses," Mustain said in 2014. "Quite often, it was not really necessary to change the things we were doing."
In other words, Malzahn's plans always seemed to perfectly match the quarter. That continues this season with Nix, Auburn 's legacy and former double – threat quarterback from high school ranks, leading the Tigers to the seventh season of Malzahn as a "rookie". head coach.
"You have to be a little more patient because you have to understand that they are still learning," Malzahn said. "You have to put yourself a little in the place a bit, they have to be confident, there is a margin of maneuver between making sure they are ready, when they are going to take it and when they will be not."
Nix is used to coaching in person. He was coached by his father, the former Auburn quarterback Patrick Nix, during his career in high school. The two men often had disagreements on the sidelines, and his father was extremely hard on his son when he made mistakes.
Malzahn seemed to emulate that style after a touchdown run against Kent State in which Nix bounced off the outside instead of running to the inside. Malzahn was heated and shouted at the edge of the field.
"More than anything, for a true freshman, no matter who the party leader or coordinator is, you need to have excellent relationships," Malzahn said. "And they have to make sure that they know you're with them and that you have their backs.I think that's the # 1 thing for a young quarterback, just to know that we Are you with you? Yes, you're going to make mistakes. So what? Do not make the same mistake twice. We believe in you. That's really what we are trying to do. "
The results were perfect in the registers. Malzahn was 8-0 with Mustain as starting in Arkansas in 2006, 1-0 with Jeremy Johnson as a freshman in 2013 and 4-0 with Nix. Arkansas and Auburn have both progressed to the SEC championship in those years. What's waiting for Auburn with an unbeaten Nix?
"Honestly, it's the weekly lifestyle, how to prepare games, go to class and stay focused on homework while doing everything possible to make the game plan a reality," said Nix. "So it's a lot harder off the court, I would say, but it's hard on the court, just because of the speed of the game." It's very different, but so far it's not not exactly the same, but hopefully it'll go where I'm used and comfortable. "
A deeper dive into the numbers reveals that the real first-year students did not necessarily have staggering statistics under Malzahn, despite their undefeated records. The 2006, 2013 and this season's all-time offense did not rank better than the 107th overall. Nix has an average of 161 passing yards with five touchdowns and two interceptions in his first four games.
The key to the winning streak is to protect football and attack strongly.
Auburn leads the nation in rushing yards in the second half (638), almost reaching the total number of Nix by air in all games.
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The three offensives led by Malzahn ranked among the 16 best in the country in the race. Auburn is the only team in the SEC history to have dominated the country with 324.4 yards per game in 2013. The Razorbacks in 2006 were led by two 1,000-yard riders, including the Heisman Trophy finalist. Darren McFadden, who broke the school record with 1,647 rushing yards in 10 wins. This team finished fourth nationally with 228.5 yards per game.
It's still early, but Auburn averages 260 rushing yards in the first third of the program this season. Nix has been a key factor, just recently in the last two weeks. Auburn's zone reading offensive is in full swing, and Nix has 117 yards and a touchdown to complete his total passes.
Malzahn preached to his players around Nix that they needed to step up their activities and produce more to make life easier for the Pinson Valley native, and that's what they did. made. Return JaTarvious Whitlow enters the fifth week as SEC second scorer (102 yards per game). Nix teamed up with Seth Williams, perhaps the Tigers' best receiver, for an incredible 26-yard touchdown pass to Oregon in the opening game of the season.
Whitlow, meanwhile, intimidated the Aggies for 48 rushing yards in eight races during a 12-game match sealed at Texas A & M last week. He crowned the match with an 8-yard touchdown that broke the tackle.
In simple terms, Malzahn played real recruits at the quarterback when he knew he was playing hard.
It helps to have Nix, whose winning pedigree drove Pinson Valley to his first state titles in 2017 and 2018, breaking state records and winning every conceivable award in the world. State. Losing is simply not in his blood.
"I hope to continue this momentum, because I do not like losing," Nix said. "Winning is the most important thing, and if we continue to win and continue to play well and improve small things every week, let's hope we have a chance this season."
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