Coach Gus Malzahn: Auburn’s 3-way QB rotation didn’t work

After using three quarterbacks in its season-opening loss to Clemson, Auburn has apparently decided less is more heading into Week 2.

Malzahn said Tuesday the nucleus of the game plan Saturday night was to attempt to catch a favored and Top 5 ranked team off guard with something none of the Clemson staff had seen before from this group of Auburn personnel.

Without Roberts’ services at safety, Auburn held No. 2 Clemson to just 248 passing yards and 19 points, which was the first time in the last 19 games Clemson has been held below 20 points (a 28-6 loss at Georgia Tech on November 15, 2014). Late in the third quarter, Clemson stopped Auburn short on a fourth-and-one inside the five-yard line on a play where Christian Wilkins recovered a Jeremy Johnson fumble.

Look for Gus Malzahn to go back into the lab this week to try to find a way to get one of his quarterbacks to produce.

Franklin is the biggest running threat of the three but didn’t have a carry while handing off on a few of the zone read plays that have been staples of Malzahn’s offenses with mobile quarterbacks.

White completed 10-of-21 passes for 140 yards and an interception.

The offense had new pieces all over the place.

“He’s very coachable, he’s got a good attitude and he moved the football when he was out there”, Malzahn said.

They included a new center in Xavier Dampeer with Austin Golson moving from center to left tackle and Robert Leff taking over at right tackle.

In a game where the offense looked terrible, I thought Kerryon Johnson was a bright spot. Plus, Kerryon Johnson made his first turn as the featured tailback and freshman receivers Nate Craig-Myers and Kyle Davis played for the first time.

For Elliott and company, the understanding is that when you can go on the road against an SEC opponent like Auburn and put up 400 yards of total offense, things can’t be that bad.

“Our plan (vs. Clemson) was we were going to throw a lot at them”.

Stephen Roberts has been reinstated after a one-game suspension following his recent arrest on multiple misdemeanor charges. “I think it’s a combination of those guys have confidence that we’re going to find the answers”. “Jeremy will be ready if we need him”.

Stay on topic – This helps keep the thread focused on the discussion at hand.

Share with Us – We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article, and smart, constructive criticism.