OC Derrick Nix wants more 'explosive plays' from Auburn offense

The Ole Miss Rebels did not become one of college football’s top offenses by playing with a slow tempo.

New offensive coordinator Derrick Nix, who spent the previous 16 seasons with the Rebels, has been coached several high-octane offenses and looks to produce the same product at Auburn. Not only is he coaching his offense to make plays, he is working to engrave an explosive mindset into the players in hopes of setting a standard.

“Being a fundamentally efficient scoring machine, it requires us to make explosive plays,” Nix said during a recent media availability. “It becomes a standard, and expectation.”

Being an explosive offense runs deeper than solid quarterback and receiver play. Nix says that each position needs to work together in order to build consistency.

“We just try to challenge our guys to expect it. If our offensive line can protect (and) the quarterback makes the right read against the right coverage, you should make the play and it should be explosive,” Nix said. “We should be able to count on that, week in and week out. That is something that we talk about and something that’s expected and needed for this offense to thrive.”

Auburn added plenty of talented wide receivers to its roster over the offseason including Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith and true freshman Cam Coleman. Jarquez Hunter, Damari Alston, and Jeremiah Cobb return to head the running back position and Payton Thorne is back as the team’s starting quarterback.

This season, up is the only way Auburn can move as they finished No. 14 in passing offense last season among SEC teams. Those skill players as well as a more experienced offensive line should produce the “explosive plays” that Nix hopes to gain this season.

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