Commentary

Malzahn needs a win over Arkansas

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn watches during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Clemson, Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt)

Unlike Arkansas, there isn’t much room for error at Auburn.

Not even if you win a national championship like Gene Chizik did before he was fired. Now, Gus Malzahn’s BCS title game appearance in 2014 is ancient history and some fans are restless.

After a close early-season loss to Clemson, Auburn was cruising with a Top 10 ranking until last week when it coughed up a 20-point lead at LSU. That collapse stirred up talk about Malzahn’s job security and 14-14 SEC mark since playing in the BCS title game at the end of the 2013 season.

A win against Malzahn's home state team wouldn’t end the talk entirely, but a loss would make it difficult to envision Auburn retaining him for a sixth year.

“No, I'm not," Malzahn said Tuesday at his weekly news conference when asked whether he's concerned about his job security. "The only thing I'm worried about is beating Arkansas and coming back and getting healed up for a week, and try to finish this thing with the goals we started with."

The good news for Auburn and Malzahn, the legendary Arkansas high school coach, is that the Razorbacks aren't very good. That's also bad news.

The Hogs have nothing to lose and somehow, even after a 41-9 loss at Alabama, seem rejuvenated. Some of the comments made by Arkansas coach Bret Bielema - embattled in his own right - and backup quarterback Cole Kelley would make you think they won the game. After a lackluster showing at South Carolina, the overmatched Hogs played harder against the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide.

So, the Hogs enter the game against the No. 21 Tigers with a giant, somehow-confident, inexperienced Cajun quarterback and a coach who is desperately trying to find anything positive - even an improved effort in a 32-point loss - to give the administration a compelling reason to keep him.

However, the reality is Arkansas is still struggling. The Hogs are No. 10 in the SEC in total offense and passing offense, and eighth in rushing offense. Meanwhile, defense has been the Tigers’ strong suit all season. Auburn is among the leaders in team defense and held the Hogs to three points in a 53-point thrashing a year ago.

Arkansas’ anemic attack with a weak offensive line will have a hard time against Auburn’s physical front.

Auburn ranks in the top 5 in the SEC in most offensive categories. Transfer quarterback Jarett Stidham has had some ups and downs, but is ranked No. 4 in passing in the SEC.

Arkansas’ defense has given up 20-plus points to every opponent since Florida A&M. The Hogs have given up an average of 46 points to SEC opponents. There is no reason to believe that Auburn won’t torch the Arkansas defense.

Auburn was held to 64 yards of offense in the second half against LSU and ran on 17 consecutive first-down plays. Malzahn insists first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who came from Arizona State, is calling the plays, but look for the offense to be a little less predictable against Arkansas.

"As a head coach, we are going to have a philosophy," Malzahn said. "We are a run, play-action and throw the ball vertically team. We hired Chip Lindsey to be more balanced, and we are more balanced, so you need to throw that in there, too.

"Chip is doing a good job. The second half we just didn't score points. That's really the tough part right there. But we will rebound, and Chip is going to do a super job."

This isn’t the first time Malzahn has faced adversity. He is normally cool under pressure and has only lost back-to-back SEC games twice in his tenure and not since the 2015 season.

The Arkansas game, especially in Fayetteville, is important to Malzahn because of his connection to the area.

"I mean, that's where I grew up," he said. "It's always a little bit different going there than it is other places. Got a lot of my best friends in the world around that area and family is still there, so it's always a little different when you go back home."

Malzahn isn’t as close to a pink slip as Bielema is. His ship can be righted, and if Auburn comes to Fayetteville with the right focus this could be a get well game for them with two huge home games looming against Georgia and Alabama.

A blowout win over Arkansas might quiet the grumbling for now.