Auburn Football: Can Chizik Improve the Tigers Defense by Bowl Week?

The 7-5 (4-4 SEC) No. 25 Auburn Tigers are entering bowl preparation without a defensive coordinator. Ted Roof has officially left Auburn to take over the defensive coordinator duties at the University of Central Florida.

Most expected for changes to come on the Auburn staff after the third year of regressive defense. Gene Chizik was a defensive genius in his time as a coordinator, but his Auburn teams have finished 68th, 60th and 78th in total defense from 2009-11. If nothing else, Roof is gone simply because it was time for a change.

Roof made a lateral move to a school that Gene Chizik has previously been a defensive coordinator and Roof’s former boss at Georgia Tech is now the coach, George O’Leary. It was a good move for both Auburn and Roof.

Now is the time when Chizik has to make a splash. It is imperative that he find a coach that can recruit as well as Roof, but can also stop the opposing team. Auburn needs to find a defensive coordinator that is younger and on the upswing in their career. Auburn would do well to bring in a young, exciting coach.

In the meantime, the Tigers have to find a quick answer for the bowl game right? Wrong. Chizik announced today that he will take over as defensive coordinator for the coming bowl game. Chizik doesn’t appear to be in a hurry to find a replacement but putting himself in the position of coordinator, even for one game, may be a bad move.

The Auburn faithful still remember Chizik’s contribution to the 2004 undefeated season. Chizik is still respected for his defensive prowess at Texas after Auburn. Most Auburn people even ignore Iowa State and talk only of his time at defensive coordinator when comparing “their” coach to others.

Chizik is a great leader for the Auburn program. He has taken a stand on a number of headline issues and not missed a beat. He is showing his leadership by taking over the coordinator position in lieu of the departure of Roof, but is taking over the coordinator role, even if just for the bowl game, the best move?

It would have been an easy move to promote a position coach to interim defensive coordinator but that could lead to animosity for a new coach that will come in. Most coordinators want to bring their own guys as well; Auburn isn’t likely looking to make a change elsewhere so this is a going to be a very selective search.

Chizik stepping into the role is likely the best move for his players and coaches. How the fans will react may be a different story. Will the Tigers fans expect to see huge improvements in the defense or will they temper expectations for the bowl game, expecting only to be competitive?

If Auburn doesn’t show some differences in scheme or style of play, is it a safe assumption that Chizik has been involved with the defense this season and has been since arriving on the Plains? It would be difficult to believe he has never given a touch of input, but was Chizik’s role bigger?

The Tigers will play an 8-4 (5-3 ACC) Virginia Cavaliers in the Chick-fil-A Bowl on December 31, a team that has not exactly lit up the scoreboard with production offensively. It may be a great game for the Tigers defensively regardless of who is leading the squad, but it will be interesting to see Chizik’s calls versus Roof’s.

A bigger issue for the Tigers this fall was simply development. It wasn’t that Roof didn’t call good defense necessarily, it was that once the Tigers hit the holes they simply could not make a basic form tackle. It has been a disaster at the point of attack for the Tigers all throughout 2011.

When basic fundamentals are being missed, there has to be a gap in either coaching style or comprehension. Both issues are coaching issues. Chizik will have to find a way to make the defense more productive.

The only option that seems to be available for the Tigers would be to simplify the schemes and work fundamentals for the entire week leading up to the bowl game. Auburn must get back to the basics as Virginia is a downhill running team that relies on junior running back Perry Jones and a pair of freshmen in Clifton Robinson and Kevin Parks to churn up rushing yards.

Auburn hasn’t been particularly strong against the run this season, but breaking down fundamentals and simplifying the calls could help this young defense help Auburn leave Atlanta with a win.

Chizik has the ability to coach good defense so the hope has to be that the Tigers will show some progression by the end of December. His reputation as a defensive genius may rely on it.