Defense versus Texas A&M

Drop a NT into coverage, looks like Arkansas has some tricks up its sleeve for the Aggies.

Skipper Pancake vs NIU

And the one arm slam from the TTech game.

Q&A with Warroomeagle from College and Magnolia

Its game week! Arkansas travels to Auburn this weekend, and we will get to write and pick apart some real plays and not just the what if scenarios. Warroomeagle who is a contributor at the SB Nation College and Magnolia site answered a few questions for me about the upcoming matchup. 

The Johnson Package And The Arkansas vs Auburn Gameplan

Over at Arkansas Fight my article is up on what backup QB Jeremy Johnson brings to the Arkansas at Auburn matchup. 

Defensive Coordinator Robb Smith spoke to the media about what they were doing to prepare.  

"We're preparing for Auburn in general," Smith said. "Nobody knows how that (quarterback) will turn out. I'm sure we will see [Marshall] at some point and time and we've got to be ready for it. They've got two great quarterbacks and great personnel across the board on offense."Robb Smith 8/21

I've written previously about Robb Smith's lack of experience against the HUNH and Spread to run style teams. Louisville in 2012 was probably the closest thing that he has faced to what Auburn does and they used more 1 back under center sets.

Malzahn also had some comments to the media at the end of this week,  still not saying who will start.

Here are a few more plays from Jeremy Johnson and Auburn against Texas A&M. 

Tries a back shoulder stop fade at the sticks but the timing is off and throws behind.  

Lets see how long he is actually in the game, and if he makes some mistakes like these against the Razorbacks. 

Talking to the Enemy: Q&A with "Fly War Eagle"

Answered a few questions over at the Fansided site for the Auburn Tigers 'Fly War Eagle".

Here is an exerpt, read the entire thing at flywareagle.com

FWE: Of course, 2014 is a new season. Looking at the current roster, what players are fans most excited to see on the field this season? Are there any under the radar players you expect to make a big impact this year?

JG: Korliss Marshall at the running back position is one that everyone is excited to see. In the return game he has the potential to be a big play threat as well. One of the new wide receivers will be a breakout player this year that are flying under the radar. Cody Hollister, Jojo Robinson, Kendrick Edwards: one of those guys will make a huge impact in the wide receiver corps this fall. Cody Hollister has been getting a lot of work in these first few weeks of fall camp, and would be a great target for Brandon Allen. Hollister has the size and speed to get open and improve the passing game. 

FWE: You’ve done some great work at Arkansas Fight, particularly when it comes to X’s and O’s. What are the most important schematic matchups you will be watching on August 30?

Nov 2, 2013; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) looks to pass against the Auburn Tigers during the first quarter at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports

JG: It will be interesting to see how defensive coordinator Robb Smith plays Auburn. He does not have a wealth of experience defending either the Spread play-action style, or the HUNH that Auburn runs. While he was at Rutgers they played a few teams that ran various versions but not much up-tempo stuff like Malzahn. The most important matchups schematically will involve containing the Inside Zone.

Will he do it with outside pressure like FSU was able to do in the National Championship game? Also what will be Malzahns response to some safety and corner blitzes off the edge early? I am of the opinion that he knows Smith will be calling a lot of Fire Zone blitzes from the field on first downs early in the game, and will have several tunnel screen/bubble screen plays ready. If Arkansas is able to play tight coverage and send pressure then Smith will have success, but if they have to back off and give up those easier 5-8 yard gains then it will be tough for the Arkansas secondary. 

 If he mirrors what FSU did last season I’m not sure Arkansas has the same athletes that can contain Marshall or Johnson on the outside when they call the Inside Zone Read. The other area to watch is the one-on-one coverage against Sammie Coates, and D’haquille Williams in passing situations where Smith favors playing tight in your face press coverage.

In 2012 when he was the DC at Rutgers and they played in Fayetteville, Cobi Hamilton had a huge game in similar situations. He was able to beat press coverage on inside routes and Tyler Wilson was able to hit him to pick up big chunks of yardage. I look for Auburn to run a lot of four verticals, and shallow crossers early to beat that press coverage, we will see if Johnson and Marshall can stand in and complete those throws.

Again check out the entire piece at "Fly War Eagle".      

Week 1 Fall Camp Depth Chart

After the first week of practices here is what the offensive depth chart looks like right now.

There are some intense position battles going on at the offensive line spots. Ragnow is pushing for playing time at center while transfer Cam Jefferson is competing with Charpentier at left guard. 

Who will be the starter? Not a best case scenario going into an opener on the road against the defending SEC West Champs.

After a few scrimmages and film grading sessions those spots will sort themselves out.  

At the skill positions it will be interesting to see if Cody Hollister and Jared Cornelius can push their way into a consistent role in the offense. 

Check out all the practice reports at the SB Nation Arkansas Fight Website. 8/7/14  8/6/14 8/5/14 

Update with Defense Depth Chart!

What they decide to do at the LB spot will depend on the opponent each week, but it looks like Ellis may be moved to a role at Will. In the Secondary Mitchell, Gaines and Turner have solid spots and there is a battle for the boundary corner spot. 

Malzahn Play Calling

So you can pretty much find anything on the internet these days. Some documents, articles and pics are put there intentionally, others not so much. (Johnny Manziel?) At some point between Auburn Head Coach Gus Malzahns time at Tulsa in 2009 and now, one of his play call sheets made its way out there. The call sheet was attributed to Herb Hand, who is now the Oline/Run game coordinator at Penn State. It gives a look at his playcalling style and the process involved in game planning.

Basically Malzahn breaks it up in to several color coded categories. The usual first, second and third down areas with specific plays for each, and special trick plays to throw off the defense with specific personnel (WIldcat for example). He also breaks his play calling down in to series openers, and shots. The first of the two, series openers, is an important aspect that he uses, and defenses must be prepared to counter. For each gameplan, these are the plays that can pick up 5-6 yards on a consistent basis with the least amount of risk involved. Very rarely will a Malzahn team come out on a series opener and run a play that is a gamble or deep ball down the field.

The other aspect that is evident in the result on the field but is highlighted in red on this card would be the "shots". These are used at various opportune times throughout a game and are set up by other plays. Many are playaction and can be called on 2nd and 3rd downs from multiple down and distances. Here is an example from the BCS National Championship.

During his time at Shiloh Christian High School the process of signalling play calls was slightly different than what he uses at Auburn now.

Update:  Here is the Install playbook from when Malzahn was at Tulsa. Shows the process that he uses and most of the formations that Auburn used last season.