With a balanced offense, Auburn could be unbeaten and smack dab in the middle of the College Football Playoff picture according to ex-NFL GM Michael Lombardi.
Lombardi blasted Gus Malzahn's scheme during Monday's "GM Shuffle" podcast, and says the lack of a passing game has damaged the Tigers' SEC hopes this season.
“That’s the worst offense I’ve ever seen,” Lombardi said. “(Malzahn) has no idea how to throw the football. Zero. Zero. All he does is scream at the players. He has no idea how to throw the football. He has no passing game.”
During his football career, Lombardi won three Super Bowls, one as a scout with the San Francisco 49ers and pairs with the New England Patriots as a personnel assistant. Lombardi says Auburn's talent is noticeable and believes something is missing before pointing the finger back at Malzahn.
“He might have the best team in the country,” Lombardi said. “He could go play Ohio State and match. That defense is legit. That defense played … on Saturday in the Bayou, and they played hard to the bitter end. And yet they got no help from the offense. And you’re going to blame it on a rookie quarterback? No. He’s got a bad, bad offensive scheme. It’s horrible.”
Per AuburnUndercover's Brandon Marcello, Malzahn reiterated Sunday night he hasn't considered replacing true freshman Bo Nix with second-year option Joey Gatewood at quarterback despite Nix’s struggles in recent road losses to LSU and Florida, where he combined to hit 41.9 percent of his passes and threw two touchdown with four interceptions.
Judging from the film, Nix has missed open guys downfield and at times, skipped over reads. To Lombardi's point, much of the passing game plan this season has involved getting the ball out quickly to Auburn's speed on the outside and rarely includes vertical routes.
But when those have been open, the Tigers haven't hit them.
“Well, I mean, we’re going to do what’s best for our team, but right now a lot of the things — Bo was put in some pretty tough situations on nine third-down-and-10-plus (at LSU), and there was some things that he would like to have back, but there were also some things that he did well,” Malzahn said. “So he’ll continue to improve. That’s how we’re looking at it.”
Auburn failed to eclipse 300 yards total offense at LSU, a game Malzahn's team might've won had the offense played more consistent. Nix finished 15-of-35 for 157 yards. He threw a touchdown pass and also an interception.
"Obviously not my best," Nix said after the game. "I made a few decent throws, made a few third-down conversions. I missed throws I usually make. That's what's frustrating."
Auburn is averaging 5.8 yards per play, better than last season's total but well short of the previous two years. Explosive plays have been non-existent in the passing game, ranking 12th in the SEC ahead of Vanderbilt and Arkansas.