Gus Malzahn isn't a fan of the ineligible lineman rule proposal

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn doesn't like an offseason rule proposal.

The NCAA Rules Committee will look at a proposal on Thursday that limits offensive linemen from going downfield before a pass. Currently, a lineman has a (perhaps enforced with some slack) three yard cushion to go downfield before a pass is thrown. Per the proposal, "to be legal, a lineman who is more than one yard past the line of scrimmage must be engaged with a defensive player when a pass is released."

"That's part of the creativity of the game," Malzahn said via Al.com. "I'm not into anything that takes the creativity out of the game. You know, you see a lot of coaches around the country, specifically high school coaches that are coaching in college, that's very important to them."

Malzahn's solution is that the current rule is enforced more strictly.

The cushion linemen have has been used to excellent effect by Malzahn and other coaches, who use screens and misdirections. A big part of the rule change could limit how Auburn would call run/pass option plays. A fake handoff with a late pass may not be as deceiving if linemen don't have three yards (and a little more) to barrel downfield before the pass is thrown.

For a complete list of what the rules committee will look at, including the increased use of technology, click here.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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