The Gold Mine question of the hour...
When Auburn offensive coordinator Tony Franklin talks about his running game, he's really talking about
(a.) Not passing the ball
(b.) Spreading the wealth
(c.) This sounds like a test
(d.) Nobody said there would be a test
(e.) The quarterback
We're guessing some of Auburn's established tailbacks would be the correct answer, but since they weren't on the test, we'll rely on Franklin's work from last season and pick ``the quarterback.'' As you may know, the Gold Mine likes to bring up quarterbacks because, well, Auburn doesn't have one. It has two. Franklin says he'll choose between Chris Todd and Kodi Burns in fall practice.
But let's take a trip through the stats from Franklin's former school, Troy, to see if we can find some clues about the coming season.
Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook was statistically involved in 632 plays, or, if you prefer, 65 percent of all the plays the Trojans ran last year. He threw more passes, and had more carries, than any Trojan. In 2000, the only year Franklin was Kentucky's offensive coordinator, quarterback Jared Lorenzen either threw or ran 635 times, which still stands as the most stat-producing plays in SEC history.
(Lorenzen, for the record, threw it 559 times, or 278 more times than the year Pat Sullivan won the Heisman Trophy). Those stats helped Lorenzen set six NCAA freshman records for passing and total offense.
Haugabook had 155 rushes, threw 475 passes and even caught two passes to get to his 65 percent last year. (By comparison, quarterback Brandon Cox produced stats in 40 percent of Auburn's plays last year.).
Auburn is careful to say Franklin's Troy offense was almost a 50-50 split between running and passing, and his pre-Auburn bio said, "Franklin's two-back combinations at Kentucky out-gained any two back combinations in the SEC in total yards from scrimmage for three straight seasons.
" It's safe to say part of those "total yards
" came as "receiving yards.
" Franklin's running backs have to be able to catch.
Auburn is deep in running backs, and they won't be wasted. They'll get to run because Franklin will make it happen. He has more talent and depth at the position at Auburn than he had at Kentucky and Troy. He can keep loading up that position. Plus, Tommy Tuberville won't back away from running. So what does all this really mean? We'll keep an eye on the quarterbacks all the way to opening night, and then beyond.
