Fly War Eagle
Fansided

College Football Countdown: 5 Things That Must Go Right for Auburn in 2016

By Jake Mastroianni

Nov 28, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; General view of a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2015; Auburn, AL, USA; General view of a flyover prior to the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
College Football Countdown
Oct 15, 2015; Lexington, KY, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn coaches his team against the Kentucky Wildcats in the second half at Commonwealth Stadium. Auburn defeated Kentucky 30-27. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

Better Red Zone Efficiency

The play calling within the redzone last college football season was some of the worst I’ve ever seen in my life – and that’s no exaggeration. For someone who is supposed to be an offensive genius in Gus Malzahn, he sure couldn’t drawer up a simple play from inside the 10 to put the ball in the endzone.

I know we have one of the best field goal kickers in the country in Daniel Carlson, but I’d rather utilize him on extra points after we’ve scored a touchdown.

When Sean White took over at quarterback he did a good job of moving the ball between the 20-yard-lines, but it’s like once he got in the redzone Malzahn was so surprised he forgot how to coach. Instead of being aggressive and trying to get a touchdown, he’d run it up the middle or roll White out to where he only has one receiver to throw to, and if he wasn’t open he had to either throw it away or take a sack.

I don’t ever want to relive those moments again, so for the sake of the Auburn fan base I hope Malzahn has learned his lesson from a year ago on how not to call plays inside the redzone. In 2013 Auburn scored a touchdown 72 percent of the time when they reached the redzone. That number dropped to 63 percent in 2015, which isn’t terrible, but it could have been a lot better.

You would have to think that if Franklin is the man at quarterback that the playbook will open up a little bit more close to the goal line. Regardless of who is behind center, the play calling in the redzone has got to improve for Auburn in 2016 if they’re going to compete. Instead of three, Malzahn needs to be thinking about seven.

Next: A Little Bit of Luck

Home/Auburn Football