So, yes, Auburn fans - there’s a real chance your visions of Schwartz catching slants from Nix aren’t just a preseason practice mirage. Arkansas threw 10 percent fewer screen passes than Auburn, as well as 7.2 percent more short passes and 5.9 percent more intermediate passes. Even in Morris’ struggle-filled 10-game stint with Arkansas last season, there was more variety through the air. Schwartz is effective at all levels of the field, and Morris’ passing attacks historically have been more diverse than Malzahn’s. That step forward from Nix also coincides with the arrival of Morris, which should only add onto Schwartz’s explosive potential for the 2020 season. Schwartz was Auburn’s most efficient receiver in 2019, and those numbers have real potential to grow if Nix improves on his significant accuracy issues from a season ago. The only two receivers ahead of him in that category, Will Hastings and Sal Cannella, are no longer on the team. No one on the team had more yards per target on short passes of one to nine air yards (7.32), and he was the third-highest on intermediate passes of 10 to 19 air yards (7.75). Schwartz, unsurprisingly, led the team in yards per target on screens (6.65) and deep throws of 20-plus air yards (14).īut, like Williams, Schwartz has proven himself to be capable of becoming an all-around receiver for the Auburn passing game. Schwartz’s elite speed has made him an ideal receiver in Auburn’s offense under Malzahn, which has focused a lot of its attack on deep shots and screen passes. He also was the most efficient option on the roster, leading all receivers who had at least double-digit receptions with an average of 8.30 yards per target. According to a film review of Nix’s passes from earlier this year, no Auburn receiver had a better catch rate than Schwartz at 77.36 percent. Getting the ball more to Schwartz made a ton of sense from Auburn’s perspective. That was even more than Williams, who averaged 5.42 receptions per game during that stretch. And unfortunately for Schwartz, he missed almost the entirety of the Iron Bowl win over Alabama due to an injury he suffered after making a catch on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage.Įxcluding the Iron Bowl, Schwartz averaged 5.83 catches per game between the trip to Arkansas and the Outback Bowl loss to Minnesota. While Nix had established a solid connection early with Williams, it took more time to get to that point with Schwartz, due to the injuries. Starting with the Arkansas game, Schwartz became a bigger piece in the Auburn offense. Against Arkansas, Schwartz was finally on the field consistently - and he was doing it across from Williams, who he had shared time with at split end up to that point. It followed an off week for the Tigers, and it came after a first half of the season in which Schwartz was heavily affected by injuries. That Arkansas game was a turning point for Schwartz, though. Schwartz only had one touchdown reception, which came in a blowout win at Arkansas. Schwartz had the second-most receptions (41) and receiving yards (440) for Auburn last season, behind Seth Williams (59 and 830). However, Morris’ arrival might have the biggest impact on Schwartz this fall. When Gus Malzahn hired his longtime friend Chad Morris to be his new offensive coordinator and play-caller late last year, plenty of people rightfully pointed toward the potential impact it could have on quarterback Bo Nix. Schwartz is the fastest man in college football, and he’ll enter the 2020 season for Auburn as an experienced weapon out wide. The acceleration that it takes to go from motionless to world record-breaking speed is nothing short of an athletic detonation. Scouts look for it.Īnd there might not be a better definition of explosive than Anthony Schwartz. All players - from quick skill position players to massive linemen - want to be known as explosive. The word “explosive” gets thrown around in football all the time.
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