Auburn Spring Football
Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee talks with quarterback Jeremy Johnson during the first day of spring football practice Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the Auburn Athletic Complex in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
Expectations are high, but Auburn is trying to keep everything in perspective this spring.
After all, the Tigers are not only installing a new defense with
calling the shots. The offense, while filled with players with experience, lost most of its starters from the core group that broke school records in
's first two seasons as head coach.
"When you look at our offense, I think it's overlooked that we lost eight starters," offensive coordinator
said.
The three returning starters -- receiver
and offensive linemen
and
-- provide Auburn a strong core. Still, those not technically labeled returning starters have plenty of experience, including quarterback
, receiver
and running back
.
Aubur must replace most of its offensive production from last season -- 86 percent of its rushing, 85 percent of its passing and 55 percent of its receiving yards. Simply put, it's not exactly smooth sailing this spring as the Tigers replace their top two running backs (
Cameron Artis-Payne
and
Corey Grant
) and quarterback (
Nick Marshall
).
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talks with offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee during the second half Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
"We've got eight new faces out there," said Lashlee, "so there's position battles at a lot of places."
The last time Auburn lost this much production under Malzahn, the Tigers' offense experienced steep drop the following season. The Tigers went from top 10 in yards and scoring in 2010 to the bottom half of the country in both categories as they replaced eight starters. Circumstances are certainly different in 2015 as the Tigers are arguably more talented, but the challenge is no less important or concerning.
"There are a lot of young guys out there," Malzahn said. "There's new quarterbacks and we lost a lot of older guys, so we're still trying to find who we are from a leadership standpoint -- not only on both sides of the football, but overall as a team."
Gus Malzahn's offenses
Auburn, 2014: 35.5 ppg (27th nationally)/485 ypg (17th)
Auburn, 2013: 39.5 (12th)/501.3 (11th)
Arkansas State, 2012: 34.9 (T-26th)/481.8 (15th)
Auburn, 2011: 25.5 (70th)/337.9 (100th)
Auburn, 2010: 41.2 (7th)/499.2 (7th)
Auburn, 2009: 33.3 (T-17th)/431.7 (16th)
Tulsa, 2008: 47.2 (2nd)/569.9 (1st)
Tulsa, 2007: 41.1 (6th)/543.9 (1st)
Arkansas, 2006: 28.9 (31st)/378 (29th)