The Ill-Prepared and Excused: AU Offensive Decline

What has been the biggest difference between the Auburn offense of 2010 and the Auburn offense of 2011?

Is it youth and inexperience across the offensive line? Is it general lack of offensive team chemistry?

Or…

Is it the simple fact that Kiehl Frazier, Clint Moseley, and Barrett Trotter combined are not good enough to carry Cam Newton’s jockstrap?

The offensive genius known as Gus Malzahn now looks very pedestrian without his prized possession and arguably one of the best players in the history of college football.

Cam Newton, the man who vaulted Malzahn to the “next big thing” in coaching circles, and seemingly carried the Auburn offense (and defense) through more escapes than Harry Houdini, is now a star with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League.

Former Genius and Perennial Stooge

For the first time since the 2009 campaign, Gene Chizik has been asked to coach, while Malzahn has been asked to turn “quarterback mediocrity” into “quarterback efficiency” rather than being served individual superiority on a platter without having to develop talent, i.e. Newton.

As the 2011 season draws to a close it has become very clear that Auburn wasn’t prepared for life without Cam Newton…and didn’t care.

The AU coaching staff achieved what they desired last season while virtually conceding (going through the coaching motions) the 2011 campaign to the media clichéd “rebuilding” tag.

Want proof of the media “rebuilding” tag? How many times have we all heard the following during an Auburn football telecast by a commentator and/or analyst?

Auburn Win:
Gene Chizik has done an incredible job with such young talent.

Auburn Loss:
Well…Auburn is a very young football team.

When you have “media apologists” at your disposal, a win is declared a milestone and a loss is dismissed, excused, and expected.

As for the fans, the vast majority of “family members” have been (and will continue to be) more than happy to “justify” poor overall play on both sides of the ball (in most all facets) in order to bask in the glow of the school’s first national title in over 50 years.

Auburn Offensive Statistics of Note

PASSING

RECEIVING

RUSHING