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Auburn Offense Among Most Balanced in College Football in 2014

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Prior to the 2014 season, head coach Gus Malzahn and offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee often said they wanted the Auburn offense to be more balanced than it was in 2013, not only in terms of yards, but in the threat the team posed to opposing defenses both on the ground and through the air.

“For us, balance is being able to take what’s there,” Lashlee said in August. “It’s about if you’re giving us the run then we can run the football. If you’re giving us the pass then we can throw the football efficiently. That’s where it lies for us because when we have been at our best every year, it’s one game we might throw for 350, but the next game we might throw for 120, but we ran for 280.”

Sep 14, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall (14) hands off the ball to Auburn Tigers running back Cameron Artis-Payne (44) during the first half against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

The coaches got their wish. In terms of the difference between rushing yards and passing yards in 2014, the Auburn offense had the 12th smallest margin at 337 yards, according to a CBSSports.com article.

N.C. State was the nation’s most balanced team in 2014, with only seven yards separating their rushing and passing statistics, followed by Middle Tennessee State, UAB, Florida, and Utah in the top five. Washington, Eastern Michigan, Marshall, Ohio State, Appalachian State and Toledo ranked 6-10, all of which had less than 300 yards of separation. 

Behind Cameron Artis-Payne – the SEC’s leading rusher – and dual-threat quarterback Nick Marshall, the 2014 Tigers racked up 3,321 net rushing yards in 2014, and average of 255.5 per game. That’s a far cry from the 4,596 rushing yards (328.3 on average) Auburn amassed as the nation’s leader in 2013, but it fell in line with the goals Malzahn and Lashlee set to be more diverse offensively.

In 13 games last season, Auburn had 2,984 passing yards (229.5 yards per game) compared to the 2,422 the Tigers had in 14 games the previous year. That’s an increase of 56.5 yards through the air on average. Also, Marshall set a single-game passing record with 456 yards against Alabama, which is an example of how dangerous he and the Tigers truly were in the passing game. 

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It’s worth noting that a more balanced Auburn offense in 2014 didn’t necessarily mean a more productive one. The Tigers averaged 501.3 yards and 39.1 points per game in 2013 on the way to a 12-2 record, the SEC Championship and a spot in the BCS National Championship game.

In 2014, the Tigers stumbled to an 8-5 overall record after a 7-1 start. Still, Auburn averaged a very respectable 35.5 points and 485 yards per game and most of the team’s late-season struggles can be blamed on an underperforming defense that allowed 31 points or more to seven consecutive FBS opponents.

Looking ahead to 2015, the Tigers have an opportunity to be very balanced. Jeremy Johnson is expected to be the starting quarterback, and he is more of a traditional pro-style passer than Marshall. He’ll also have a potential All-American candidate, D’haquille Williams, at his disposal. However, the Tigers will still have a quality offensive line creating running lanes for talented running backs like Roc Thomas, Jovon Robinson, Peyton Barber and Kerryon Johnson.

In other words, the pieces are in place for Malzahn and Lashlee to create an even more balanced offense next season.

Next: Recruiting: Auburn, Gators Share Several Top Targets

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