The challenge ahead for Kevin Steele

[StatTiger 3,188]

Over the past 25 years, Auburn's defense has defended an average of 12.7 possessions per game.

The 2015 Auburn defense defended an average of 11.6 possessions per game. This was the lowest average of possessions defended over the past 25 years except for the 2006 season (10.5 possessions). Note that 2006 was the season the NCAA shortened the game by changing limiting the stoppage of the game clock.

Despite defending a fewer number of possessions, the defense remained on the field for an average of 6.5 snaps per possession. This was the worst average of snaps per possession by an Auburn defense over the past 25 seasons. The average number of snaps per possession defended over the past 25 years was 5.3. Over the course of a 13-game season, this meant the Auburn defense defended an additional 198 snaps over the season. Over the past 25 seasons, Auburn has defended an average of 67.4 snaps per game, which meant the 2015 Auburn defense played an additional 2.9 games on defense.

The 2015 Auburn defense did possess the 3rd best ratio of allowing plays of 30-yards or more, which was a major goal for Coach Will Muschamp. Take away all the plays of 30-yards or more allowed, the 2015 Auburn defense allowed an average of 4.8 yards per play (minus the big plays allowed), which was the third worst ratio over the past 25 seasons.

Two of the issues for remaining on the field was a lack of forced-turnovers and third-down conversions.

During the 2014 season, the Auburn defense forced 28 turnovers, which dropped to just 19 this past season. The 2015 Auburn defense forced a turnover every 51.6 snaps, third worst by an Auburn defense over the past 25 seasons.

The 2015 Auburn defense forced a "3 & out" only 21.9% of the time, the worst percentage by an Auburn defense over the past 25 years.

This 2015 Auburn defense allowed a third-down conversion rate of 44.9%, second worst allowed over the past 25-years.

[TexasTiger 12,828]

Happy New Year, Stat!

[StatTiger 3,188]

Happy New Year, Stat!

Happy New Year and War Eagle!

[Eagle-1 3,821]

And we paid how much for that?

[fredst 9,064]

Lol. Shows what I know about football. I thought the defense looked better this year, especially last 4-5 games.

[WDE_OxPx_2010 5,290]

And we paid how much for that?

Bed. Go to it.

[StatTiger 3,188]

Lol. Shows what I know about football. I thought the defense looked better this year, especially last 4-5 games.

2014 pass-efficiency defense rating: 159.1

2015 pass-efficiency defense rating: 119.8

21 TD passes allowed in 2014

12 TD passes allowed in 2015

34 TD's allowed in SEC play during 2014

24 TD's allowed in SEC play during 2015

26 plays of 30+ yards allowed during 2014

15 plays of 30+ yards allowed during 2015

106 plays of 15+ yards allowed during 2014

90 plays of 15+ yards allowed during 2015

44 TD's allowed in 2015

36 TD's allowed in 2014

[AUloggerhead 2,227]

Steele has his work cut out for him. Here's a useful link to AU's stats for 2015: http://stats.ncaa.org/rankings/ranking_summary

Select Auburn and just peruse down the list of categories where AU ranks over 100 nationally (out of 127 FBS schools,) or even 10th or more in the SEC (out of 14 schools.) For the category, "Team Tackles for Loss" AU ranks 125th nationally, and 14th in the SEC. For "Team Sacks" AU does a little bit better: 104th nationally & 13th in the SEC. It doesn't take a defensive genius to see the DL needs immediate attention. Now granted, improvements from last year and even during the season were certainly made. But ... until & unless AU starts getting some (better) penetration at the LOS and a consistent pass rush by the front 3-4 DL, they're not going to sniff bowls any better than Birmingham or Shreveport. WDE Coach Steele. Get to work on 2016.

[AU64 10,122]

The objective is to outscore the opponent. A little more offensive output and the D this season would have been more than adequate.

I'm of the school of thought that says we paid too much for CWM but it's like in ML baseball during the stretch run when the contenders go out and pay a fortune for pitcher they think will get them into the play-offs. They over-pay and it's a short-term deal....happens all the time...and sometimes it works and sometimes not.

JMO but time to put that behind us and try to build some stability and continuity in our coaching staff....or we will continue to find ourselves paying too much for short-term solutions that may or may not work out.

[Mikey 16,566]

The objective is to outscore the opponent. A little more offensive output and the D this season would have been more than adequate.

I'm of the school of thought that says we paid too much for CWM but it's like in ML baseball during the stretch run when the contenders go out and pay a fortune for pitcher they think will get them into the play-offs. They over-pay and it's a short-term deal....happens all the time...and sometimes it works and sometimes not.

JMO but time to put that behind us and try to build some stability and continuity in our coaching staff....or we will continue to find ourselves paying too much for short-term solutions that may or may not work out.

Yep. We're like a car going into ever-increasing fishtailing. Every turn of the wheel is making things worse. It's time to stop all the instant gratification nonsense and give well qualified coaches time to do their jobs.

[aujeff11 6,243]

First objective is to build a staff before the recruiting dead period ends. Or at least before the OV's start.

[auburnphan 6,050]

First objective is to build a staff before the recruiting dead period ends. Or at least before the OV's start.

Wouldn't be surprised if there is an announcement at the press conference.

[aujeff11 6,243]

First objective is to build a staff before the recruiting dead period ends. Or at least before the OV's start.

Wouldn't be surprised if there is an announcement at the press conference.

When is the press conference?

[GBAU83 212]

Is there a press conference scheduled for today? Did I miss something (wouldn't be the first time)

[auburnphan 6,050]

I thought I read somewhere yesterday a press conference was scheduled, trying to find it.

[lala 327]

Thanks stat. Watching the MSU dline last night reinforced my belief that our quality depth is atrocious. Lack of depth had as much affect on the inability to get off the field on 3rd downs.

My hope is Steele come up with a certain type of player (size and skill set) at each position a recruit to that measurement.

[auburnphan 6,050]

alright, It says Auburn is expecting a media conference in the next few days

[GBAU83 212]

alright, It says Auburn is expecting a media conference in the next few days

okay makes more sense than doing one on New years day or over the weekend.

[Harp_AU2013 221]

I think will started to recruit those players last year and Rodney has continued it this year which is why I believe we can't lose RG this year. Especially with the "bond" Derrick Brown claims he has with RG. Whoever Steele chooses to bring in to replace TRob and Thompson has to be able to recruit lights out and develop these young guys

[bigbird 60,458]

Hypothetical:

Would you rather have a coach that is a great teacher and developer or a great recruiter.

Don't say both. Choose one or the other

[TheBlueVue 177]

The objective is to outscore the opponent. A little more offensive output and the D this season would have been more than adequate.

I'm of the school of thought that says we paid too much for CWM but it's like in ML baseball during the stretch run when the contenders go out and pay a fortune for pitcher they think will get them into the play-offs. They over-pay and it's a short-term deal....happens all the time...and sometimes it works and sometimes not.

JMO but time to put that behind us and try to build some stability and continuity in our coaching staff....or we will continue to find ourselves paying too much for short-term solutions that may or may not work out.

Yep. We're like a car going into ever-increasing fishtailing. Every turn of the wheel is making things worse. It's time to stop all the instant gratification nonsense and give well qualified coaches time to do their jobs.

but, we're talking about Auburn football. Do you honestly think we'll pull out of this fish tail with out totaling the car? Seems like the trend in Auburn where our Ath Dept burns through more coaches than any other program in the league. If Im wrong about that, who else in the SEC is on their 5th DC just since 2010?

[ToraGirl 5,498]

To Bird's query: great teacher/leader...it may be chicken and the egg, and both are important, but the program will eventually sell itself if the field product is as good as it can be. If you can get the "best" here, intangibles aside, but can't teach or develop them to produce consistently, it looks like what was described of Will Scarlet in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves..."

[aujeff11 6,243]

Hypothetical:

Would you rather have a coach that is a great teacher and developer or a great recruiter.

Don't say both. Choose one or the other

Great teacher.

[TheBlueVue 177]

Hypothetical:

Would you rather have a coach that is a great teacher and developer or a great recruiter.

Don't say both. Choose one or the other

It is a really good question. However, there is only so much a coach can do w/o the talent to compete against SEC teams that are loaded with it.. I'll take a loyal recruiter every time. Size and speed cannot be coached.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

I'm hoping coach Steele will hire Randy Shannon to be DB coach and Kevin Greene or Travis Williams to coach LB's.