Top Five Improvements Areas for 2010

[WaDE'05 8]

I'll start by saying that I have been very, very impressed with our squad this year. Above all else they have been fun to watch, not just because of the new offense, but because you can just tell that these guys believe in each other and their coaches, and are having fun playing the game.

Now, I think there are a few glaring areas for improvement as this teams moves into 2010. Here are my top 5. These are more coaching points than personnel issues, but personnel is a serious undercurrent with most all of this team's issues.

1. Penalties. Especially on the offensive line. Penalties killed more drives and momentum for us this year than I can ever remember. I honestly think if we cut our penalties in half we win 2 more this year.

2. Finishing. This may have a lot to do with depth. We finished well against WVU, but UK, UGA, and UAT were tough to stomach.

3. Consistency on Special Teams. A lot of people have throw special teams, as a whole, under the bus, but the truth is there were some real bright spots on special teams with the increase in blocked kicks, DW's success (at times) as a returner, and Byrum shaking off the sophomore slump. Again, as has been said, a lack of depth can really affect SpT play, but I saw enough good this year to expect some pretty substantial improvement next year.

4. Developing Depth and Talent on Defense. We just didn't have the horses this year on D. I know some people may have a hard time swallowing that pill but by year end we were missing more than half of what should have been our starting D, and many of those remaining were playing a lot of snaps and doing it banged up. It will be interesting to see how this staff implements the recruiting success that it has garnered. Young guys need to be ready to contribute early in 2010.

5. QB Play Don't get me wrong, I think CT was a very serviceable QB for us, and he had some very high points throughout the year. I'm glad we had him. He just seemed to lack the poise, grit and intangibles of an above average SEC QB. I think about Brandon Cox. Even though he didn't have a rocket arm and would drown running through a car wash, he had ice water in his veins and when the game was on the line I always liked knowing he was in there. Though their skill set is similar I never felt comfortable with CT in the same position.

[IndyTiger 3]

Penalties and mental errors are definitely #1. I think a lot of that goes away with just being in the system for another year and having better understanding. We were undisciplined, but it was still our first year in an entirely new system. If it continues at the same level next year then we have something to worry about.

[aucanucktiger 1,818]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

[tgr4lfe 220]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

Seriously!?!? You've gotta be kidding, he has been here one year with the worst depth and talent on a defense at Auburn in the last 10+ years and you want to kick him to the curb?

I think his defensive schemes shined thru in the bama game. That was a well rested D and it showed for 55 minutes, but then the lack of depth at LB showed as bama started moving the ball. You have to hand it to Roof, he had the D dialed up pretty good shutting down one of the best running games in the country.

[vatz22au 142]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

Roof had nothing to do with our D's below average performance this year. How many times have you seen a play and the player is there (Thorpe comes to mind) but doesn't make the play? In the first half of the season it was tackeling issues. I feel like that had to do with the lack of contact in preseason practice (probably because of the depth issue.)

There's no doubt in my mind Roof will shine with some talent on that side of the ball. Especially with some LBs that have some wind under their feet.

[boyjeddah 1]

I thought the offense's ability to make adjustment during the game was something missing from this year as well...

[WaDE'05 8]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

Ok, I'll play...

But... You are going to have to give the board an succinct explanation of why anyone should believe that AU's defensive woes were the result of poor scheming and play calling rather than lack of talent and depth before I'll be able to take your post seriously.

Here is why I believe that it is reasonable to assume CTR's schemes were not the main issue with this D:

1. Most of the season we were playing with 4 or less scholarship linebackers in a defense that is very LB dependent.

2. 36% of our starting defense was lost before the season started in Marks, Powers, Blackmon, and Savage.

3. By November, our most experienced Safety was a True Freshman.

4. Our #1 playmaker on defense played hurt most of the season.

5. We played 11 consecutive games with a short supply of reserves.

6. Much like the offense, the defense had to adjust to brand new schemes and philosophy this year.

7. A fast tempo offense put more strain on this D than AU defenses of the past.

8. Lack of depth and mounting injuries puts the handcuffs on what a D is able to do in practice.

Here is why I believe Ted Roof is a good DC and our D will show marked improvement next year.

1. CTR was on Tuberville's short list almost every time the DC position was open. And though xCTT had some failings, evaluating quality DC's wasn't one of them.

2. We will be signing the #1 LB corps in the nation this year.

3. The way our D looked against UAT after a week of rest.

4. The call for Bynes to spy on Ingram is proof that someone manning the chalkboard in defensive meetings is a genius.

5. The guys that have been recruited to fit this D are already stepping up (Bates, Fairley, Washington, Evans), and we should expect to see more of that next year with the recruits we will have coming in. (The "hopefully incoming" reference leads me to believe you don't follow AU recruiting, which is probably really good for your social life, but just to ease your fears, we've got talent heading to the plains and will have it as long as this staff is at AU.)

Don't get me wrong, I don't think CTR is the next Rex Ryan or anything but he is, IMHO, more than capable of putting together a top 10 defense when he has access to talent and depth. I do think he had some failings as a DC this year, most notably the way he didn't seem to adjust his linebacker dependent scheme to fit our defensive strengths and weaknesses this year. But, all in all I think he's a good coach, at the very least all any educated person could say is "the verdict is still out".

That's the way I see it. I'm open to another point of view if there is a valid argument. But for the love of all that is holy, please don't say, "We need to blitz more". We stunted a linebacker around 65% of all defensive snaps this year. "Blitz more" is the defensive equivalent of "put in the backup QB".

[WaDE'05 8]

I thought the offense's ability to make adjustment during the game was something missing from this year as well...

I'll agree except to say that I think it was more "spotty" than non-existent. On a few occasions it looked like we adjusted well on O. See WVU and Arky. Then a lot of times it seemed like it was a burn to shine scenario, see UGA and UAT.

[IndyTiger 3]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

Well, it's a good thing we already have that. He was a DC at GT and won the f'n Broyles Award as the top assistant coach in the country. Yeah he sucks man.

[aucanucktiger 1,818]

"Ok, I'll play...But... You are going to have to give the board an succinct explanation of why anyone should believe that AU's defensive woes were the result of poor scheming and play calling rather than lack of talent and depth before I'll be able to take your post seriously."

Well who can respond under THAT pressure. Decent points (esp. re. the Bama game) and if an SEC DC's only important functions were "scheming and play calling" I might gnerally agree, but @ the college level teaching and enforcing fundamentals @ the speed of the college game are CRITICAL. Now Muschamp did neither but his ability to personally fire up 18-22 yr olds more than made up for it (except against arky & a couple others). Roof's defenses (not just @ Auburn) chronically take wrong angles, fail to wrap up tackles and generally are not disciplined in their assignments. Big talent can somewhat make up for those failings and that's Roof's claim to fame, overachieving in recruiting. Time will tell on that one, but not on his historic (including this year) failure to coach/enforce fundamentals.

(fwiw, the list is pretty long of guys that previously won the even more prestigious Broyles college ass't coach of the year award but are now sitting on porches or selling insurance)

Your turn

[vatz22au 142]

"Ok, I'll play...But... You are going to have to give the board an succinct explanation of why anyone should believe that AU's defensive woes were the result of poor scheming and play calling rather than lack of talent and depth before I'll be able to take your post seriously."

Well who can respond under THAT pressure. Decent points (esp. re. the Bama game) and if an SEC DC's only important functions were "scheming and play calling" I might gnerally agree, but @ the college level teaching and enforcing fundamentals @ the speed of the college game are CRITICAL. Now Muschamp did neither but his ability to personally fire up 18-22 yr olds more than made up for it (except against arky & a couple others). Roof's defenses (not just @ Auburn) chronically take wrong angles, fail to wrap up tackles and generally are not disciplined in their assignments. Big talent can somewhat make up for those failings and that's Roof's claim to fame, overachieving in recruiting. Time will tell on that one, but not on his historic (including this year) failure to coach/enforce fundamentals.

(fwiw, the list is pretty long of guys that previously won the even more prestigious Broyles college ass't coach of the year award but are now sitting on porches or selling insurance)

Your turn

You just proved why it's a lack of talent and depth. Roof isn't on the field taking these angles or missing tackles. Also, aren't the position coaches the ones you should be aiming at and not Roof if you're sticking to those arguments?

[aucanucktiger 1,818]

"You just proved why it's a lack of talent and depth."

Only if you believe high school fundamentals are adequate in the SEC

"Roof isn't on the field taking these angles or missing tackles."

No, he's just the coach supposedly teaching those skills. that's how football works, the players are on the field and the coaches are on the sidelines.

"Also, aren't the position coaches the ones you should be aiming at and not Roof if you're sticking to those arguments?"

Possibly both, are you claiming defensive COORDINATOR Roof is not responsible for what his position coaches teach (or don't teach)?

[woody 11]

"You just proved why it's a lack of talent and depth."

Only if you believe high school fundamentals are adequate in the SEC

"Roof isn't on the field taking these angles or missing tackles."

No, he's just the coach supposedly teaching those skills. that's how football works, the players are on the field and the coaches are on the sidelines.

"Also, aren't the position coaches the ones you should be aiming at and not Roof if you're sticking to those arguments?"

Possibly both, are you claiming defensive COORDINATOR Roof is not responsible for what his position coaches teach (or don't teach)?

TED ROOF! Is Resonsible for global warming too. Oh and the Kennedy Assassination. Grow up!

[WaDE'05 8]

"Ok, I'll play...But... You are going to have to give the board an succinct explanation of why anyone should believe that AU's defensive woes were the result of poor scheming and play calling rather than lack of talent and depth before I'll be able to take your post seriously."

Well who can respond under THAT pressure. Decent points (esp. re. the Bama game) and if an SEC DC's only important functions were "scheming and play calling" I might gnerally agree, but @ the college level teaching and enforcing fundamentals @ the speed of the college game are CRITICAL. Now Muschamp did neither but his ability to personally fire up 18-22 yr olds more than made up for it (except against arky & a couple others). Roof's defenses (not just @ Auburn) chronically take wrong angles, fail to wrap up tackles and generally are not disciplined in their assignments. Big talent can somewhat make up for those failings and that's Roof's claim to fame, overachieving in recruiting. Time will tell on that one, but not on his historic (including this year) failure to coach/enforce fundamentals.

(fwiw, the list is pretty long of guys that previously won the even more prestigious Broyles college ass't coach of the year award but are now sitting on porches or selling insurance)

Your turn

I think there are far too many mitigating factors in there to pin the weight of the defensive problems (solely of mainly) on CTR. Most notably: the ever-mentioned talent and depth, the (in)ability to go full speed in practice due to injury concerns, and also the position coaches making it through their first year of working together.

Now, I'm not saying that in 2-3 years I won't be calling for CTR's head if things don't progress. But, given the reasons stated earlier, I tend to believe they will. I just think that given the situation, trying to throw him under the bus, at this point, is veeeeerrrry premature. It is just unreasonable to believe that, at this point, any definitive judgements can be made of CTR.

[aucanucktiger 1,818]

"TED ROOF! Is Resonsible for global warming too. Oh and the Kennedy Assassination. Grow up!"

Sonny, since the topic of this thread asked for opinions (mine is laid out in detail above) of the the top 5 improvements our team needs to make starting Jan 1, my suggestion (although it may differ from your personal opinion...clearly backed up in your detailed post above ) has nothing to do w/ needing to grow up. Less caffeine before posting please.

[mcgufcm 4,107]

It's somewhere in between. Roof is absolutely to blame for two of our problems this year: 1) a change in tackling technique that was an abject failure and 2) passive playcalling during the middle of the season.

The first was harped on early. He wants guys "delivering the big hit" and the rest of the team to clean up? Presumably the idea is to be overly aggressive and create turnovers while the rest of the defense swarms to the ball. That's nice in theory, but it's not a coincidence that the NFL teaches the exact opposite. The first guy breaks down, secures the tackle, the guys that follow him rake the ball if the tackle is secured. Why? Because when you're playing against the best and the biggest and the fastest, sometimes you only get one chance. If you get a second or third guy there? Great. But the first guy has to make the safe play or you're screwed. That happened to us a LOT at the start of the year. Roof, not lack of depth, was to blame for that shift in philosophy. We looked like we did that ("deliver the blow") less as the year wore on.

The second thing is just a fact. We stopped blitzing or mixing up our coverage packages in the middle of the season. We made lame excuse that we needed to play base defense because of depth, but I (as I said a number of times during the year) think you have to attack EVEN MORE with a thin defense. You can't afford to stay on the field while the offense nickel and dimes you. Attack. If you get beat, you get beat. We definitely mixed it up more late in the season (and early) after the UK game.

I also think Roof deserves some blame for allowing teams to run it down our throat. To an extent, that's all on the players. Rush defense is a about fire and desire. But when you have a team that struggles against the run, you have to alter schemes to bail them out. If you can't stop the run, you can't win games. Period. Our lack of flexibility in schemes really cost us against UK and UGA especially, but we let teams run it on us all year long. That's personnel and coaching.

On the flip side, Roof was playing against a stacked deck. You always struggle moving from one coordinator to another (unless the guy before really sucked... See: Noel Mazzone to Petrino, Nallsminger to Borges, Gibbs to Muschamp, and Franklin to Malzahn). Add the loss of Mike McNeil, Aairon Savage, and Zac Etheridge (3 of our 4 projected starters in the secondary) over the course of the year. Add Freeman's odd start (or non-start). This was going to be a struggle. The players didn't give the same effort during the year as they did against Ole Miss or Bama. They just didn't. If they had, we would've been better defensively. That's on them. Roof deserves a LOT of credit for the fact that our defense played its best ball late in the season (Ole Miss and Bama in particular). He'll be just fine.

Other than penalties, I want to find someone who can competently return punts (no one did that this year, Washington included), and I'd like to find a KO Specialist that actually has a strong leg.

Finally, I just want to see our coaching staff progress. Malzahn is one of the best gameplanners/scripters I've ever watched. We ALWAYS score on script. Always. He's incredibly creative. That said, he's a terrible play caller. He just is. Compare our success in the first two drives (generally scripted) with the rest of the game. When people adjust to our gameplan, he rarely found a new avenue/groove. He's got to get better, and he's a smart guy so I think he will. Roof, I think, learned a lesson in why the SEC is different. I don't expect him to repeat the technique/scheme mistakes from this season. He'll get better. I just think this is a staff of young, energetic coaches with a ton of potential. If they continue to grow (just like the players), we'll be ready to compete for a Division crown next year.

[WaDE'05 8]

The first was harped on early. He wants guys "delivering the big hit" and the rest of the team to clean up? Presumably the idea is to be overly aggressive and create turnovers while the rest of the defense swarms to the ball. That's nice in theory, but it's not a coincidence that the NFL teaches the exact opposite. The first guy breaks down, secures the tackle, the guys that follow him rake the ball if the tackle is secured. Why? Because when you're playing against the best and the biggest and the fastest, sometimes you only get one chance. If you get a second or third guy there? Great. But the first guy has to make the safe play or you're screwed. That happened to us a LOT at the start of the year. Roof, not lack of depth, was to blame for that shift in philosophy. We looked like we did that ("deliver the blow") less as the year wore on

This was/is the philosophy held by xCWM, as well. I don't remember a whole lot of people ready to kick BOOM to the curb. I do think that our lack of talent and depth often made this philosophy a serious liability. How can you you expect a guys to come in and "mop up" after your big hit, when he is constantly getting reached? I think that it is very very possible for a coach to change schemes to play to the strengths/weaknesses of his personnel, however changing philosophy to fit personnel is done to the long term detriment of the team.

The second thing is just a fact. We stopped blitzing or mixing up our coverage packages in the middle of the season. We made lame excuse that we needed to play base defense because of depth, but I (as I said a number of times during the year) think you have to attack EVEN MORE with a thin defense. You can't afford to stay on the field while the offense nickel and dimes you. Attack. If you get beat, you get beat. We definitely mixed it up more late in the season (and early) after the UK game.

I agree with you here... I think there was a time in the middle of the season where CTR was just kinda scratching his head trying figure out how to make these player competitive at this level. But I think, he did start to figure out a few pieces of that puzzle as the season drew to a close.

On the flip side, Roof was playing against a stacked deck. You always struggle moving from one coordinator to another (unless the guy before really sucked... See: Noel Mazzone to Petrino, Nallsminger to Borges, Gibbs to Muschamp, and Franklin to Malzahn). Add the loss of Mike McNeil, Aairon Savage, and Zac Etheridge (3 of our 4 projected starters in the secondary) over the course of the year. Add Freeman's odd start (or non-start). This was going to be a struggle. The players didn't give the same effort during the year as they did against Ole Miss or Bama. They just didn't. If they had, we would've been better defensively. That's on them. Roof deserves a LOT of credit for the fact that our defense played its best ball late in the season (Ole Miss and Bama in particular). He'll be just fine.

this^^^

Finally, I just want to see our coaching staff progress. Malzahn is one of the best gameplanners/scripters I've ever watched. We ALWAYS score on script. Always. He's incredibly creative. That said, he's a terrible play caller. He just is. Compare our success in the first two drives (generally scripted) with the rest of the game. When people adjust to our gameplan, he rarely found a new avenue/groove. He's got to get better, and he's a smart guy so I think he will.

I agree with you here, but as I replied to boyjeddah, I think Malzahn also showed flashes in a few games that proved he was capable of making good adjustments (Arky, WVU) but there were more where that wasn't the case (UGA, UAT, UK).

If they continue to grow (just like the players), we'll be ready to compete for a Division crown next year.

And we all say... Amen.

Great analysis mcgufcm... Although, I disagree slightly on a few points, I like where your head's at.

[Mikey 16,781]

I don't forsee the rash of injuries on defense that we suffered this year happening again. As to (lack of) talent at LB, when Freeman was available, we were starting two 4* and one 3* linebacker, which is about the level we've got committed. Might help to add some depth, but the starters were better than the results they obtained. Too many games the opponents scored a bunch early, which had nothing to do with fatigue.

Fairly and Evans were recruited by the previous staff, so they weren't picked to fit the "new scheme".

I'll differ from the pack here: I was somewhat disappointed by the 7-5 finish. I EXPECTED at least nine wins, and clearly nine was obtainable (Ky and UGA). Some other things about this new staff look very promising, but they definitely under achieved in the won-loss department.

Here's hoping next year is better. The Outback Bowl would be a good place to start.

[IndyTiger 3]

The first was harped on early. He wants guys "delivering the big hit" and the rest of the team to clean up? Presumably the idea is to be overly aggressive and create turnovers while the rest of the defense swarms to the ball. That's nice in theory, but it's not a coincidence that the NFL teaches the exact opposite. The first guy breaks down, secures the tackle, the guys that follow him rake the ball if the tackle is secured. Why? Because when you're playing against the best and the biggest and the fastest, sometimes you only get one chance. If you get a second or third guy there? Great. But the first guy has to make the safe play or you're screwed. That happened to us a LOT at the start of the year. Roof, not lack of depth, was to blame for that shift in philosophy. We looked like we did that ("deliver the blow") less as the year wore on.

Actually if you watch the better defenses in the NFL you would notice they are fairly similar to how Roof wants his defense to play. Watch a defense like the Colts and they swarm to the ball always having more than one guy making a tackle. This is how Roof wants his D to play. Of course in one on one situations the defender has to break down and make a good open field tackle. The tackling in our last game of the year against bama looked pretty good to me. They must not be teaching the players that and they just somehow learned it just for that game by themselves.

[IndyTiger 3]

I don't forsee the rash of injuries on defense that we suffered this year happening again. As to (lack of) talent at LB, when Freeman was available, we were starting two 4* and one 3* linebacker, which is about the level we've got committed. Might help to add some depth, but the starters were better than the results they obtained. Too many games the opponents scored a bunch early, which had nothing to do with fatigue.

There were more games where we fell apart in the 2nd half defensively than gave up early points. Of our 5 loses 3 of them we had the lead in the 2nd half.

[mcgufcm 4,107]

Actually, you're incorrect. You're right about multiple tacklers arriving at the ball. Every defensive coach wants that. The question isn't whether the NFL teaches guys to give up on the play and let someone else do the work of making a stop. They don't. No defensive coach in history has said "Once another guy gets there, you're cool to jog it out."

The point was, NFL teams teach break down, safe tackling technique upon first arrival. THEN (and only then) are you supposed to strip. The amazing thing about the League is that EVERYONE can tackle well and EVERY TEAM pursues to the football. The result? Lots of guys making hits and lots of guys ripping at the ball... ball carriers have to be so good at protecting the football, but it's not the first guy that takes it from you (unless you're the uncoordinated DB from the Redskins who got owned in the open field against the Saints... but note: that wasn't a defender trying to rip the ball on first contact).

Finally, I completely agree that we changed in the Bama game. I honestly believe we dialed back the "knock 'em out" nonsense. I think the coaches stopped telling them, and the players stopped doing it. But in Fall and moving into the season, they were absolutely telling guys to run through the ball carrier. Watch our film: first guy comes in hot, shoulder low, no break down and tries to hit home runs. And the announcers at multiple games pointed out that our coaches were teaching that in practice. It won't work in the SEC (or in the NFL), and I think Roof started to realize that. By the end of the year, we did it less and had more success.

[woody 11]

"TED ROOF! Is Resonsible for global warming too. Oh and the Kennedy Assassination. Grow up!"

Sonny, since the topic of this thread asked for opinions (mine is laid out in detail above) of the the top 5 improvements our team needs to make starting Jan 1, my suggestion (although it may differ from your personal opinion...clearly backed up in your detailed post above ) has nothing to do w/ needing to grow up. Less caffeine before posting please.

True enough.Yes it asked for opinion but it didn't ask for this kind of blame game Bull Sh*t. Ted Roof is a very good coach who had limited talent to run any system. Let alone run a full practice.All this crying and gnashing of teeth over his coaching ability is laughable. So blaming Ted for all of our defensive woes is childish.Like I posted before grow up! or does only your opinion matter? And BTW I got your Sonny swinging I think I will rename him "AUCANUCKTIGER" That way his name will be more fitting

['76 Tiger 108]

CTR had VERY few options. He prefers to run a linebacker-centered defense. He was restricted in that, toward the end of the year, he had only 3 scholarship LBs. In this situation, a typical coach would think of converting a safety to fill the gap. He could not do that because his safties were gone and he was already starting a young corner there.

You can't teach unless you have students. CTR was doing the best possible job.

I have confidence that the Auburn Family will be cheering its defense again. Next year will be better and watch out in 2011!

WDE

Bob in Winter Haven, FL

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

I guess you see what typically happens on this board when you express an opinion. You express it and duck for cover. Almost everyone says they respect other people's opinion but that's usually BS. Sad but true as evidenced by this thread.

[woody 11]

Getting a better-than-Duke-caliber DC to coordinate the (hopefully incoming) young defensive talent we'll sign

I guess you see what typically happens on this board when you express an opinion. You express it and duck for cover. Almost everyone says they respect other people's opinion but that's usually BS. Sad but true as evidenced by this thread.

An honest opinion yes! But to just insult someone is not just an opinion is it? I don't know anyone who is an Auburn fan that was happy with the way our defense played do you? But to just throw CTR under the bus and blame all our problems on him is Bull Sh*t.