It’s impossible for a player to win a Heisman based on his spring-game performance, just as, barring injury, it’s impossible for someone to lose it. What a solid-to-spectacular performance -- especially when it’s televised -- can do is show the level of progress made from the previous year... and put that player on the minds of those with a stiff-armed lean during the dog days of the offseason.
Based on that assumption -- howdy, Coach Saban! -- you can very well expect rave reviews and upbeat predictions for the upcoming season to be rolling in for Nick Marshall.
During Auburn’s spring game Saturday, the Tigers quarterback led the first-team offense on seven possessions... and put points on the board at the end of every single one of them. Included in that very efficient and proficient performance were four touchdown passes from Marshall to three different receivers. Additionally, all of that scoring came in the first half as Marshall didn’t see the field for the last two quarters.
One of the few negatives to take out of Marshall’s day was the fact that he completed 59 percent of his passes; offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee has set a standard of a 65-percent completion percentage for Marshall. Other than that, though, Marshall’s head coach came out of the day pleased with the triggerman of his offense as he grows both as a quarterback and as a leader.
“He’s more of a leader by example,” Gus Malzahn said of the second-year starter. “He doesn’t say a lot, but when he does, his teammates listen. ...
“Our emphasis was obviously throwing the football. It was good to see our guys throwing and catching the ball in front of a crowd.”
For his part, Marshall had ominous words for what opposing defenses can expect from an offense that was run-centric in 2013 but could be adding a potent dimension for 2014.
“We’re going to be a scary sight this year,” the quarterback said. “We can get real scary. We know we can run the ball. We’re just focusing on throwing the ball down the field. That’s the emphasis this year.”
In Marshall’s first year as a starter at this level of football, the Georgia transfer, by way of the JUCO ranks, played a significant role in leading the Tigers on a magical ride to the BCS title game following the 2013 season. In two of AU’s biggest games of the season -- the Kick-Six win over Alabama in the regular-season finale and the SEC championship game win over Missouri that propelled AU to its date with Florida State -- Marshall completed just over 74 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and, most importantly, zero interceptions. Not only that, but Marshall rushed for 200 yards and a pair of scores for good measure in those huge wins.
Of course, Marshall then proceeded to put up arguably his worst performance of the year against the best defense he faced, barely completing 50 percent of his passes and throwing a pick in what was still just a three-point loss to the Seminoles.
Coming off that inaugural starting campaign, AU coaches have done nothing but privately rave about the work Marshall has put in to improve himself this offseason.
Yes, it’s the spring and, yes, the spring game specifically is nothing more than a glorified scrimmage with fans in attendance. Marshall has shown the desire to improve as a player, and those results showed themselves this afternoon. How that all plays out when the real footballs start flying in a handful of months, though, remains to be seen.