Opposing coaches have had a difficult time putting into words just what it's like trying to defend Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, but Auburn coach Gus Malzahn's description may have nailed it:
It's almost like watching a video game sometimes with the stuff he does," Malzahn said, according to oanow.com.
If so, it's a video game that Manziel seems to have mastered years ago, while opposing defensive coordinators are still trying to figure which buttons to push. Manziel leads the Southeastern Conference in passing yards per game (305.8), total offense (377) and is even the league's 11th-ranked rusher.
"He finds a way to be effective, it looks like, each week no matter how you play him. He's the best offensive player in college football," Malzahn said. "He's very good within their system but he's probably even better once things break down."
Malzahn knows plenty about dual-threat quarterbacks. They are vital to his offensive system, as evidenced by Cam Newton's red-hot season of 2010, when Auburn won a national championship with Malzahn as offensive coordinator. Auburn's starter this year, Nick Marshall, adds a dangerous rushing element to the offense as well.
"I would say probably those two are probably two of the best that ever played the game in college football," Malzahn said of Manziel and Newton.
Unfortunately for Malzahn, Auburn's defense has done little to suggest it has a chance of containing the elusive Aggies star. AU ranks 11th in the SEC in pass defense, allowing 253 yards per game.
And on Saturday, there will be no reset button.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
