Can Gus Malzahn Have a Good Defense?

[Townhallsavoy]

Common criticism of the HUNH is that it puts the defense on the field too often, thus tiring them out, thus making them a shitty defense.  It seems to be accepted that no matter who Auburn hires, it will not be possible for Auburn to get back to playing Tuberville-level defense.

But that's a got damn lie:

2014 Time of Possession Statistics (rounded for clarity):

Clemson (#1 total defense): 31 minutes
Alabama: 31.5 minutes
Missouri: 29 minutes
Miss State: 30 minutes
Ole Miss: 28.5 minutes
Florida State: 29 minutes

Auburn: 30 minutes

How about some other notable teams that had great defenses:

2013 Florida State: 29 minutes
2011 Alabama: 32.5 minutes
2011 LSU: 31.5 minutes
2012 Alabama: 32 minutes
2008 USC: 31 minutes

Other Malzahn-coached teams:

2013 Auburn: 30.5 minutes
2011 Auburn: 27 minutes
2010 Auburn: 29 minutes
2009 Auburn: 29 minutes
2012 Arkansas State: 29 minutes
2008 Tulsa: 29.5 minutes

So many people want to equate Auburn's offense with Oregon's, which has averaged 25 minutes a game since 2009.  Auburn is not really as faced pace as people would like.  Malzahn's ingenuity is not build on the HUNH.  It's build on the subtle set up of plays that have easily managed options for the QB.

Oh and those Tuberville teams that had the defenses we long for?

2007: 31 minutes
2006: 30 minutes
2005: 30 minutes
2004: 32 minutes

Malzahn's offense is a minute or two off the best.  So maybe we won't have a 2011 Bama-esque defense.  But the notion that we have to settle for shit on defense is erroneous.  I think we could have a top 25 defense every year, and with the way Malzahn has consistently owned the best defenses over the past decade, I'd say we do well to throw the checkbook at a guy like Muschamp.

[WiregrassTiger]

I was worried about TOP somewhat when Malzahn was announced as the hire but not a minute since. It's a non issue when a team can score and is as physical on offense as his teams have been.

And, like you point out, he isn't all about the HUNH. He manages the game to fit his plan for that particular game. And when he thinks we need to speed it up, he does.