Striped lightning: Auburn offense electric

By Andy Johnston

For the AJC

ATHENS -- Coming off their first shutout in three years, Georgia’s defensive players are full of confidence and resolve -- just in time to face an Auburn offense unlike anything they’ve seen this season.

First-year Auburn coach Gene Chizik hired offensive wonder Gus Malzahn to revamp a woeful attack that averaged 302.9 yards and 17.3 points in 2008, and that’s exactly what he has done.

Operating out of a no-huddle, spread formation, with a dash of wildcat formation and trick plays, Auburn leads the SEC in total offense (450.3 yards), is second in both scoring (35 points) and rushing (230 yards) and is fifth in passing (220.3 yards).

“They have a high-powered offense with a lot of weapons, so this will be an opportunity to show our discipline and to show that we’re a hard-nosed defense,” Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said.

If last year’s Auburn offense was a lullaby, this version is speed metal.

The Tigers never back off their up-tempo attack, wearing out defenders who don’t have time to rotate and creating mismatches when defensive coaches can’t send players onto the field in time for the next play. They have scored 26 or more points in all seven of their victories behind running back Ben Tate, who has 1,142 yards rushing, and quarterback Chris Todd, who has thrown 17 touchdown passes and only three interceptions this year.

“One of the advantages of this offense is, if you are clicking, and that’s the operative word, it can keep a defense on the field a long time,” Chizik said. “If it’s clicking and getting first downs, and that’s the goal of this offense, keep getting first downs, it certainly will have a huge impact on the rest of the game. Can it wear a defense down? Yes. Have we done it all year? No. When it’s clicking on all cylinders, it can wear a defense down.”

Malzahn perfected his offensive system on the high school level in Arkansas, and it has taken him to three jobs in his four years since joining the college ranks at Arkansas in 2006.

Darren McFadden flourished in it at Arkansas, finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting that season. In 2007, Malzahn went to Tulsa, where the Golden Hurricane led the nation in total offense. They were second in yards and points in 2008.

“When you have something a little unique and you know it well and you can implement it with the athletes you inherit, it’s a pretty good sign that it’s not some kind of gimmick,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It’s an outstanding system that creates problems for people.”

Georgia’s scout team has re-created the formations but can’t match the intensity of Auburn’s attack, which could turn into problems for a defense that has struggled at times.

The Bulldogs’ complete shutdown of Tennessee Tech improved their numbers, but they are still allowing an average of 26.1 points a game, tied for 70th in the nation.

“It’s just another challenge in front of us where somebody is coming up with something different,” Georgia defensive end Demarcus Dobbs said. “The up-tempo they go at is really working out for them. They do a lot of things well, so we have to man up. We have to come out and try to match their pace and play good fundamental ball. We can’t be confused and caught up in all the formations they do and try to play our assignments.”

Auburn struggled on offense during a three-game losing streak in which Arkansas, Kentucky and LSU held the Tigers to an average of 15.6 points a game. The Tigers have snapped out of their funk with a vengeance the past two games, combining for 96 points in victories over Ole Miss and Furman.

“We know it’s no huddle, and we know it’s fast,” Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. “We’ve played against teams like Oklahoma State, but from what I understand, it’s even faster than that. The key for us is to make sure we line up right and we execute.”