aubiefifty 16,624 Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 sports.usatoday.com Auburn’s Greg Brown not running from player loyalty to ‘Crime Dog’ McGriff Associated Press Auburn has hired Greg Brown, who in his photo is being interviewed as a member of the Louisville coaching staff, as its new defensive backs coach AUBURN – After 36 years of coaching experience at the college and professional level, Greg Brown knew exactly what kind of room he was walking into at Auburn. The defensive backs room at Auburn is filled with players that were extremely loyal and loved their position coach Wesley “Crime Dog” McGriff. Instead of trying to immediately turn their allegiance over to McGriff, Brown immediately decided to use that faithfulness to their old position coach to the advantage of the program and for their own success. At least publicly, Brown has no problem with players loving their old position coach and wants the players on this current Auburn roster to use those techniques going forward in these spring practices. “Great coach,” Brown said. “Wesley is a great coach, great developer of talent and is great at building relationships with players. It’s what makes ‘Crime Dog’ great. Why would I try to break that down when I walk into the door?’ Similarly to how Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele took the basics of what his predecessor Will Muschamp built schematically in the year before he arrived, Brown is using the spring practice sessions to learn how his players feel comfortable playing in their current scheme. “This isn’t about me,” Brown said. “For example, if we’re doing a one-on-one drill and my player comes to me and says ‘Coach I feel more comfortable taking this first step because that’s what I was taught last year’ that’s fine with me? There’s not one way to be a good football player and good defensive back.” After the first scrimmage, Auburn junior cornerback Carlton Davis said he thought the transition to Brown would be difficult but his new coach’s ability to be receptive to listening to the veteran leadership has changed his viewpoint immediately. “Coach Steele runs a system you know and the system hasn’t really changed,” Davis said. “When one person leaves we just plug them right in and just keep the factory rolling so it’s not a real big deal.” Auburn safety Tray Matthews joked that the only difference between McGriff and Brown is “their skin color”. Auburn cornerback Javaris Davis (13) covers wide receiver Eli Stove during an Auburn spring football scrimmage on Saturday, March 25, 2017 in Auburn, Ala. Three of Brown’s former players (Deon Figures at Colorado, 1992; Chris Hudson at Colorado, 1994 and Gerod Holliman at Louisville in 2014) have won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back. Brown is the only coach to have ever coached three players that have won the Jim Thorpe Award. Brown has been the defensive backs coach at Wyoming (1987-88), Purdue (1989-90), Colorado (2006), Alabama (2014) and last season with Missouri. Throughout his career as a defensive backs coach, Brown has been known as a “players coach” because of his adaptability to each job, situation and program he’s arrived at. “That day-to-day involvement with your players, getting them ready, strategy, you meet with your fellow coaches and figure out what you want to do,” Brown said. “I feel like I’ve actually never worked a day in my entire life. Even though you work all these tremendously long hours and pour your heart and soul into it but I get paid for it? That’s the feeling I get. Most coaches would say they feel the same way.” Auburn defensive backs coach Wesley McGriff, shown here during a Auburn spring football practice on March 1, 2016, is currently in negotiations with Ole Miss to become their next defensive coordinator. Brown spent one season with Alabama after two years as Colorado’s defensive coordinator but it was reportedly Brown’s NFL experience that Alabama head coach Nick Saban found attractive as Brown had a 12-year run coaching the secondary with five different NFL franchises: Falcons (1994, 2000-01), Chargers (1995-96), Oilers (1997-98), 49ers (1999) and Saints (2002-05). It is that NFL experience, similarly to what McGriff brought after a three-year stint with the New Orleans Saints, which Auburn players have bought into with Brown. “They both let you do your work and study film, but the differences between them—they’re both coaches that can flat get after it,” Auburn safety Stephen Roberts said. “They don’t mind a little contact. That’s what I like about both of them.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdgeneration 6,458 Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Why does it say McGriff is currently in negotiations to become Ole Miss's DC? Doesn't he already have that position? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auburn4ever 1,266 Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 McGriff was good in the short time he was here. But now that he's left, it's time Auburn and our fans and players to move on because coach Brown has a lot of work to do before we kickoff the season in Jordan-Hare against Georgia Southern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFE12 9,190 Posted April 2, 2017 Share Posted April 2, 2017 Wow...only coach to coach three jim thorpe winners. I haven't looked at anything about him until now. I'm sure glad he's on our staff..secondary should definitely make great leaps with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CameronCrazy 1,042 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Perfect world would be get to McGriff back as our 10th coach once it is finally approved and after Ole Miss fires Hugh Freeze. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Plainsman 948 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 I am not so enamored with Crime Dog. In his short time, I am not sure he really made that much of an impact. I would say at best he maintained an improved level of DB play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,291 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 3 minutes ago, The Plainsman said: I am not so enamored with Crime Dog. In his short time, I am not sure he really made that much of an impact. I would say at best he maintained an improved level of DB play. I disagree. The DBs, to me, played with much better technique and positioning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Plainsman 948 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 4 minutes ago, bigbird said: I disagree. The DBs, to me, played with much better technique and positioning. Carlton Davis I beleive had a better Fresh. year IMO. I do beleive T. Matthews improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C'viewTiger 242 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 1 minute ago, The Plainsman said: Carlton Davis I beleive had a better Fresh. year IMO. If I'm not mistaken, he played injured a lot last year. And that defense we had his freshman year, he did stand out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottsboroAuburnFan 462 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 CGB will only improve on Trob and Crime dogs start... Those there Thorpe winners, what position did they play? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUIH1 1,515 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 21 hours ago, bigbird said: I disagree. The DBs, to me, played with much better technique and positioning. I think the the 2016 D in its entirety benefitted greatly from the Muschamp coaching staff from 2015 (other than linebacker coach where T-Will was an improvement over Thompson). The D started to struggle beginning with the Ole Miss game. My concern is that step down from Muschamp and his handpicked (other than Garner) staff started showing itself. It is my uneducated belief that the technique and positioning groundwork was laid under T-Rob and to give McGriff credit, he maintained it. FWIW, I would be happy if McGriff had remained on the staff. wde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,291 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 13 minutes ago, AUIH1 said: I think the the 2016 D in its entirety benefitted greatly from the Muschamp coaching staff from 2015 (other than linebacker coach where T-Will was an improvement over Thompson). The D started to struggle beginning with the Ole Miss game. My concern is that step down from Muschamp and his handpicked (other than Garner) staff started showing itself. It is my uneducated belief that the technique and positioning groundwork was laid under T-Rob and to give McGriff credit, he maintained it. FWIW, I would be happy if McGriff had remained on the staff. wde Michael and T-Rob were more responsible for the attitude and toughness turn around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUIH1 1,515 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 49 minutes ago, bigbird said: Michael and T-Rob were more responsible for the attitude and toughness turn around Who is Michael? wde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird 60,291 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 11 minutes ago, AUIH1 said: Who is Michael? wde Auto correct...Muschamp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AUIH1 1,515 Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Just now, bigbird said: Auto correct...Muschamp Got it and I totally agree. This goes to my concern about the way the D finished the season in 2016. wde Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keesler 5,914 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 On 4/2/2017 at 7:25 PM, CameronCrazy said: Perfect world would be get to McGriff back as our 10th coach once it is finally approved and after Ole Miss fires Hugh Freeze. I'm not sure it would be the perfect world for McGriff to have to step down from his first DC job back down to position coach. But damn I hated to see him go to that dead hole that will be OleMiss football when the NCAA gets done with them. What a shame, he'll have little to no talent or depth to work with for a long time once the sanctions sink in. Of course he may be hunting for a new job if Hugh Freeze gets canned in the aftermath. Just seems like a no win situation over there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timeslider 6 269 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Why did he go there in the first place? was it just his desire to be a DC, if so then (it would seem) his desires ended up leading him to a poor decision. I mean, he would have been treated pretty well if he had just stayed where he was. Maybe another example of poor judgement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 20 minutes ago, Timeslider 6 said: Why did he go there in the first place? was it just his desire to be a DC, if so then (it would seem) his desires ended up leading him to a poor decision. I mean, he would have been treated pretty well if he had just stayed where he was. Maybe another example of poor judgement? He made a really big leap- professionally and in terms of compensation- to an SEC West team that was recently ranked #1 in the nation for a time and to which he already had ties. Assuming he wasn't aware of the impending poopstorm over there, I can hardly call it a poor decision or poor judgment. He might've been treated pretty well here, but they offered to treat him a LOT better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuburnNTexas 7,104 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 On 4/2/2017 at 7:53 PM, AU04ever said: You are correct the drop in Davis was due to nagging injuries not enough to keep him out but enough to affect his performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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