[jwplayer KUNfZDOJ-er0jUifI]
The stats out there right now showing how good Tank Bigsby has been for Auburn so far this season are mind-boggling. The biggest one is in missed tackles.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Bigsby is leading the country by making defenders miss 9.5 tackles per 25 rush attempts. The second closest? North Carolina’s Javonte Williams at 6.7.
Yet we haven’t seen the true power of Tank Bigsby because he is basically being held down. Despite averaging 6.9 yards per game on the ground against South Carolina, the true freshman received just 16 total carries. Bo Nix? Ran the ball 15 times. In the red zone, Chad Morris finally went to Bigsby in the first half, securing him his first career touchdown.
Yet Morris is basically ignoring what his strength is on offense. Even Gus Malzahn knows what he has.
“He looks like an Auburn running back to me,” Malzahn said on Tuesday. “He’s running with great passion and that’s a good thing. It fits, too. He’s been able to run the ball effectively. He’s broken tackles. Our offensive line really took that next step with running the football. We just need to keep building upon those things.”
Keep building on those things, in my opinion, means giving the ball to Bigsby more. Maybe the lack of a real fall camp is keeping Morris back from running the freshman more. Maybe it is just the fact that he is still new to the college game. Who knows what Morris is thinking in his play-calling.
Sure, it is cliche to say that Auburn’s offense is and always has been built around the ground game. Even if the arrival of Morris means more opportunity for Nix to throw the ball, why has that not changed after four games in which the quarterback has struggled — 54.9% completion percentage and five touchdowns to four interceptions — is beyond me.
It made sense that Nix threw the ball a lot against Georgia because the Tigers fell behind early and the Bulldogs were basically daring them to win through the air. Yet against Arkansas and South Carolina, with Bigsby (and D.J. Williams) able to move the ball on the ground, Morris made no adjustments. This isn’t an Air Raid attack. This isn’t Mike Leach’s offense. The Tigers are built to run the ball yet the offensive coordinator is still riding on the arm of mediocrity.
Maybe that will change after the loss against the Gamecocks. Bigsby had only 16 carries against South Carolina and shockingly no receptions. You have a stud in the backfield that is being kept grounded.
There’s a reason Alabama gives the ball to Najee Harris. He had 31 carries for 152 yards and a reception in the win against Georgia.
And there’s a reason why Malzahn used to ride the legs of Tre Mason and Kerryon Johnson.
It works and, so far, Morris’ plan for this offense isn’t. As long as defenses can set back and let Nix throw the ball 45-50 times a game, this offense won’t reach its potential.
It’s up to Auburn’s new offensive coordinator.