So it came as no real surprise Monday when Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn opened his time in Hoover, Alabama, by announcing four of his players would not miss any playing time in 2016 for their marijuana-related arrests during the spring.
Before taking the podium at the Hyatt Regency hotel, Malzahn told reporters cornerback Carlton Davis, defensive end Byron Cowart, cornerback Jeremiah Dinson and wide receiver Ryan Davis would not be suspended for their May arrests on misdemeanor marijuana charges:
The situation Malzahn faced entering SEC media days wasn't new to him. In 2014, former quarterback Nick Marshall was not allowed to attend the event after being cited for marijuana possession days before.
A few weeks later, Malzahn announced Marshall would not start in the 2014 season opener against Arkansas. Cornerback Jonathon Mincy—who was arrested for marijuana possession in June of that year—missed the opening series of the contest.
Two years later, though, Malzahn is going a different direction with the discipline for marijuana charges.
Carlton Davis will be able to return as a key starter at cornerback September 3 against defending national runner-up Clemson. The other three players are expected to be important reserves when the season opens.
During his main time with the media Monday, Malzahn was asked by Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports if the caliber of Clemson played a role in determining the punishment for the players who got in offseason trouble.
Malzahn said it did not.
"We have the same expectations regardless of the opener," Malzahn said on the SEC Network broadcast. "It just so happens we're playing one of the best teams in college football, a team that almost won it all last year. ... We have high expectations from our players, no matter who we're playing the first game."
While the news of no suspensions for the four Tigers was by far the biggest highlight of Malzahn's fourth time at the event as Auburn's head coach, he also provided some insight on how he's heading into what will be a crucial 2016 season for him and his program.
Here are some more key takeaways from Malzahn and the Tigers' time in Hoover.
Get ready for a "hands-on" Malzahn in 2016
Auburn is coming off the worst year of offense for a Malzahn-coached team—one filled with quarterback issues, poor execution and questionable play-calling in crucial situations.
On Monday, Malzahn was particularly candid about his responsibility in a season in which the Tigers ranked 86th nationally in yards per play and 74th in points per game.
"From an offensive standpoint, [2015] really was the first time since I've been coaching college that we didn't execute at, what I say, a high level consistently," Malzahn said. "And that goes back on me."
Malzahn sounded like a head coach who knows he's under great pressure to fix the once-stellar offense that got him hired at Auburn in the first place:
In order to prevent a repeat of those offensive woes, Malzahn said he plans to go back to his roots as a coach this season. He said he was too much like a CEO of the team in 2015.
"One thing that really hit me pretty hard is that I got to be more active with the daily X's and O's and coaching that goes with that," Malzahn said. "And that's what I look at as my strength. ... I'm looking forward to getting back in the middle of things and enjoying the actual coaching on the field."
If Malzahn was indeed more hands-on with the offense in 2013 and 2014 than he was in 2015, then a turnaround on that side of the ball should be on its way for the Tigers.
The most crucial aspect of a potential bounce-back season on offense will be selecting the right starting quarterback.
Malzahn, who was more hands-on with the quarterbacks during drills this spring, said Monday the battle continues to be open among JUCO transfer John Franklin III and former starters Jeremy Johnson and Sean White.
"The positive is we have three guys that we feel like can execute our offense," Malzahn said. "The challenge we have is defining and figuring out who that guy is that gives us the best chance to win games. The good thing is we do have experience in this."
Malzahn's focus on the three-way battle among Franklin, Johnson and White means true freshman quarterback Woody Barrett, who enrolled at Auburn late last month after some academic issues, will not compete for the starting job in fall camp.
"I think every player has a shot, but realistic right now the three older guys are going to be ahead," Malzahn said, per Michael Niziolek of the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. "The fact that he just showed up two weeks ago, we are going to focus our attention on those three guys trying to win the position, and we will bring Woody along."
Great confidence in defense, despite coaching changes
It's been a while since Auburn has entered a season with more known qualities on defense than on offense.
But that's where the Tigers are right now in 2016. With so many questions about quarterbacks, play-calling and wide receivers on offense, the defense has the potential to be a strength again for Auburn.
"We do have a lot of experience back, which I think is very important, we played well in the second half of the season," Malzahn said. "There's a lot of carryover, as far as our defense last year and defense this year, which I think is important. And I think we got a chance to have one of the best, if not the best, defenses we've had at my time at Auburn, which I think is very important."
A lot of Auburn's defensive success in 2016 will come down to one of the players he brought with him on the plane to Hoover on Monday—defensive end Carl Lawson.
Since he arrived at Auburn as a freshman in 2013, the Tigers defense has been better in almost every major stat category with him on the field. He missed all of 2014 and half of 2015 with injuries, so keeping him healthy will be vital, because he has elite talent.
"He's a game-changer. When you have a guy like that, it changes everything," Malzahn said. "And it really makes people better than maybe they are, or it hides some of your deficiencies. He's got that ability. ... He's at his fastest and quickest and strongest he's ever been."
Lawson will lead a defensive line that is so deep, 6'8" redshirt freshman defensive end Prince Tega Wanogho has moved over to the offensive line:
Auburn will be able to rely on the likes of returning starters such as defensive tackle Montravius Adams, safety Johnathan "Rudy" Ford, cornerback Carlton Davis, safety Tray Matthews and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell.
But they'll still have to adjust to a new defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and defensive backs coach after the exodus of Auburn assistants to South Carolina this offseason.
Still, with the changes to former LSU defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, former Auburn linebacker Travis Williams and former NFL defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff, Malzahn remains confident in his defense.
"Our defenses responded extremely well," Malzahn said. "Our players were flying around during the spring. They were having fun with our defensive staff. You can just sense it when you go on the defensive staff room. They are all on the same page. It's a great feeling."
If Malzahn and his new-look staff can keep those good feelings going on both sides of the ball through the fall, then he'll be under a lot less pressure the next time he lands in Hoover for media days.
All quotes obtained from SEC Network's broadcast unless otherwise noted. Stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com. Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
Justin Ferguson is a National College Football Analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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