After a season that saw Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers lean heavily on a dynamic rushing attack, to the tune of 328.4 yards per game, much of this offseason was spent attempting to strike a better offensive balance in 2014.
According to coaches, senior quarterback Nick Marshall improved his passing in the offseason, a vital addition to his already lethal rushing ability.
The presence of sophomore quarterback Jeremy Johnson, a more refined passer by most accounts, had also been seen as a motivating factor for Marshall to improve through the air.
During Saturday's season opener against Arkansas, the 2014 Gus Bus showed off that balance, passing for 293 yards and rushing 302 in the season-opening 45-21 victory over Arkansas.
"We were close to 50/50 on passing and rushing yards," head coach Gus Malzahn said. "I am very proud of Jeremy Johnson. We said before that we feel like he could start for most teams in college football. I think everybody saw that tonight. We have two outstanding quarterbacks."
With Marshall's suspension costing him a start in the season opener, Johnson rose to the occasion, going 12-for-16 with 246 yards and two touchdowns in his first SEC start.
"Jeremy got off to a good start and so we were going to make a commitment," Malzahn said. "As a quarterback you want them to get in there and get comfortable and that's what me and Coach Lashlee decided to do. He definitely looked comfortable."
Johnson was quick to form a connection with new Tiger receiver D'haquille Williams, who reeled nine catches for 154 yards in his first game on the Plains.
"He really spreads the field and it gives us more options to throw the ball deep or throw it across the middle," Johnson said. "He's a big factor and a key to our offense."
The offset of the Tigers' aerial explosion, however, was a struggling run game, which produced just 68 yards in the first half and received zero from Johnson.
After three scoreless drives to end the first half, Auburn's Heisman candidate made his season debut. The Tigers racked up 234 yards on the ground with Marshall taking snaps and controlled possession for most of the final half.
The threat of Marshall running on his own opened up lanes for the tandem of Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant, who combined for 264 yards and two touchdowns in the opener.
"Jeremy can run as well, but not like Nick," Malzahn said. "They are different type of players. It is good to have two guys who can run you offense effectively."
Marshall has performed well enough to silence most whispers of a quarterback controversy, but the Gus Bus' new aerial components appear to be here to stay, which could spell trouble for SEC defenses attempting to cover the likes of Williams and Sammie Coates.
"Nick is still the quarterback, but Jeremy will have a role," Malzahn said. "We talked in the off-season about giving him more of different situations and packages."
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