Close Article Return to stream X
NCAA Football

Jeremy Johnson Will Add New Dimension to Prolific Auburn Offense

+Read full article
jeremy johnson

Shanna Lockwood – USA TODAY Sports

Gus Malzahn has not had any trouble putting together a high-powered offense since becoming the head coach of the Auburn Tigers. Nick Marshall provided a dynamic and athletic option under center the last few seasons, running the spread read-option offense to near perfection. But with Jeremy Johnson set to take over the No. 1 quarterback duties this fall, expect the Tigers offense to be even more explosive through the air in 2015.

With Marshall leading the way in 2014, Auburn finished as the No. 2 offense in the SEC, averaging a stellar 485 yards per game. That was in large part to the team’s dynamic rushing attack, led by Marshall and senior running back Cameron Artis-Payne who combined for 2,406 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns, to finish as the No. 2 rushing team in the conference at 255.5 yards per game.

But with both Marshall and Artis-Payne now gone, change is coming to the Plains. The running game will still be a huge part of Malzahn’s offensive attack, of course, but the load will be carried by running backs like sophomores Roc Thomas (214 yards on 43 carries and 2 touchdowns as a freshman in 2014) and Peyton Barber (54 yards on 10 carries in 2014), along with true freshman and early enrollee Jovon Robinson.

That leaves Johnson, a big-bodied, big-armed pocket passer, to open things up down the field in the passing game in a way that Marshall never could. Last season, Auburn finished in the middle of the pack in terms of passing offense in the SEC, with the aerial attack used more to keep defenses honest rather than as an integral part of the gameplan. Johnson has the ability to stretch the field with his arm, as he displayed in his one and only start of the 2014 season with a 12-for-16, 243-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

On top of that, Johnson’s ability to stretch the field with his arm will only help Auburn’s running game as he lo0sens up the box by forcing safeties to stay high to defend the pass, opening up additional running lanes for the Tiger backs. By turning the offense over to Johnson, a strikingly different quarterback than Auburn has had under Marshall, the Tigers aren’t necessarily going to be changing their identity. They will simply be adding a new dimension to it.

And that expanded offensive identity will only make the Tigers that much more difficult to stop next season, providing a perfect opportunity for Auburn to make a run at another SEC title in 2015.

You can follow Tyler Brett on Twitter @ATylerBrett, on Facebook and on Google.

Your Favorites