The Oklahoma defense better be ready for everything and the kitchen sink
Malzahn's no-huddle offensive attack has Tulsa running around like its hair is on fire
Malzahn's no-huddle offensive attack has Tulsa running around like its hair is on fire

By John Helsley

Published: September 20, 2007

T ULSA — Brigham Young coach Bronco Mendenhall claims Tulsa pulled a fast one on his squad Saturday, saying trick plays contributed heavily to the Golden Hurricane's 55-47 win.

"There were a number of trick plays and gadget plays and change-of-direction plays that worked,” Mendenhall, also the team's defensive coordinator, told reporters this week.

Except here's the real trick: All that, the gadgetry and misdirection, that isn't anything Tulsa drummed up for the Cougars. That's Gus Malzahn's offense.

"We just try to do everything we can to win games and put as many points on the board as we can,” said Malzahn, TU's first-year offensive coordinator.

Everything and anything.

And Mendenhall should have known as much, not so much from Malzahn's one controversial season at Arkansas a year ago, but from Malzahn's past.

Malzahn wrote the book, well, a book — literally — on the hurry-up, no-huddle offense while a head coach, piling up state high school championships in Arkansas. Now he's brought his philosophy on offense, which has been admiringly referred to as "recess,” to Tulsa.

Where Malzahn's approach was shackled with the Razorbacks, it's been embraced and encouraged by TU coach Todd Graham.

And if last Saturday is any indication, it's going to at least be entertaining on old Skelly Field and wherever the Golden Hurricane tread this season in Conference USA.

The Hurricane, who host No. 4-ranked Oklahoma on Friday night, piled up 595 total yards against BYU. Quarterback Paul Smith posted career bests passing with 454 yards and five touchdowns.

Inside those numbers, however, was a scheme that featured an array of possibilities.

The chance for a reverse existed on almost every snap, with wide receivers routinely circling the backfield. Linebacker Chris Chamberlain has appeared in the backfield, taking a direct snap against BYU and romping for an 8-yard gain on one play. Backup quarterback David Johnson, wearing No. 28 for the BYU game, fired a 36-yard completion off a reverse from a wide receiver spot. Smith lined up at wideout on another play.

Malzahn guessed that of TU's 70 snaps, more than half featured different plays and/or formations.

"Our goal is to keep defenses off balance,” Malzahn said. "You do that by misdirection in the run-pass game. You do it by different formations.

"We felt like we had to throw it all out there to win.”

Malzahn has the Sooners' attention.

OU's defense has dominated during a 3-0 start, but their victims were overmatched. North Texas and Utah State presented few challenges, and Miami was bogged down by inept quarterback play.

"From a complexity standpoint, it's gonna be 10-fold from what we've seen,” said Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "They've got a very good philosophy, a very good scheme, a good structure and very good players executing it, as much as anything.”

Smith, the trigger man, said running Malzahn's attack has presented its own set of challenges.

Now that he's got a feel for it, though, it's just like when he was a kid — "recess” is fun time.

"It's a blast,” Smith said. "I don't want to jinx myself, but I feel like I play best under pressure. I feel like I play best when the lights are on. When you send a play in and you've got about three seconds to snap it, run it, execute it... whether it be a fake punt and a pass or whether it be a deep throw down the field or whether it be just a handoff, I've got to be able to respond in a moment's notice.

"That's what this offense can do. That just makes it fun for me.”

Fun for everybody.

Trae Johnson, a true freshman wideout from Grand Prairie, Texas, said he was lured by the promise of Malzahn's offense.

"It was major,” said Johnson, who has caught a touchdown pass in each of TU's two games. "Just being able to spread it out like that, run all over, run vertical and do things that receivers dream about.

"It's a whole lot like playing backyard football. It's like our hair's on fire, the way we're running around.”

Whatever it takes.

Graham, whose history is on the defensive side of the ball, couldn't help but shake his head in admiration of his offense after the BYU game.

"I think that's pretty entertaining offense to watch,” Graham said. "That's what I like.”

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