Scarbinsky: Replace Auburn's Roof already? That's just crazy talk

[AUChizad]

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/09/scarbinsky_replace_auburns_roo.html

Scarbinsky: Replace Auburn's Roof already? That's just crazy talk
Published: Tuesday, September 07, 2010, 5:30 AM
  Kevin Scarbinsky, Birmingham News

Are you pointing fingers at Ted Roof? (The Birmingham News / Hal Yeager)
The Auburn football team has a long way to go and short time to get there, given Thursday's trip to cowbell country, but the Auburn fans are in mid-season form.

A measly 60 minutes into the new season, they want to lose Ted Roof.

Not all of them have taken up pitchforks and torches and marched off in the direction of their defensive coordinator, mind you. Just the ones who own computers with Internet access.

The following are just a few of the topics that popped up Saturday on the free AUTigers.com message board before the 52-26 win over Arkansas State was done:

"Like a Roof in Headlights."

"I'd Have to Say Roof is on the Hot Seat."

"The Roof, the Roof, the Roof Needs to be Fired."

OK, so those particularly displeased posters lacked originality. They more than made up for it in animosity.
To react to this knee-jerk reaction, we turned to a man who knows a few things about defense, which he's coached, and knee-jerk reaction, which he's gotten and given.

"That goes with the territory," said former Auburn coach and current AUTigers.com blogger Pat Dye. "On Ted's behalf, last year we didn't have near-enough people on defense. We still don't have enough people, and we're playing with a lot of young ones."

See what he did there? He played the depth card and the youth card, all in one hand. It's true on both counts, but well-played just the same, coach.

Continue.

"There's more than one coach over there" on that side of the ball, he said. So git 'er done, Tracy Rocker, Tommy Thigpen and Phillip Lolley.

"Besides that," Dye said, "I know damn well Gene Chizik knows how to coach defense, and he's involved with the defense."

That last thought explains why, 18 years after he coached his last game, Dye remains a go-to guy on all manner of football-related matters. His hindsight may be 50-50, but his insight is 20-20.

There are reasons for concern at Auburn heading into Year Two, Game Two of the Chizik era, and the most pressing do revolve around what happens while Cam Newton is resting after adding to his highlight reel.

Busted tackles. Botched assignments. The uncanny ability to make the most pedestrian quarterback look like Joe Montana, before he started peddling walking shoes.

Forget the SEC. Based on statistical and anecdotal evidence, right now the Auburn defense isn't good enough to win the Sun Belt.

If you're looking for someone to blame, or hoping for someone to correct the mistakes that have seen Auburn allow at least 26 points in its last five games dating to last season, you really should look a little higher on the organizational chart than coordinator.

What did Chizik do before he became a head coach? He coordinated defenses. In two of his last three years in that position, he coordinated two defenses that were part of undefeated teams.

His 2004 Auburn unit led the country in scoring defense. His 2005 Texas outfit finished No. 8 nationally in that department.

Despite what some bitter Iowa State backers may believe, Chizik didn't bump his head in the last five years and forget everything he ever knew about stopping the other team from scoring. Nor did he hire Roof and turn the defense entirely over to him to go work on his putting.

As for the defensive coordinator, who's an early favorite to defend his title as the team's scapegoat, Dye defended him and argued that one year and one game isn't near-enough evidence to hang him.

"You damn sure couldn't grade him based on last year," Dye said. "We lined up with two linebackers that played every snap. At the present time, I think we're better on defense with a chance to get a lot better."
They better, and in a hurry. Otherwise, Roof will leave Starkville with his ears ringing. Cowbells will have nothing to do with it.

[RWS]

Why are there so many people upset about the defense? It was spot on against Arkansas State. This is a top notch defense, will be one of the best by the end of the season even.




These aren't the droids you're looking for.

[Saniflush]

Why are there so many people upset about the defense? It was spot on against Arkansas State. This is a top notch defense, will be one of the best by the end of the season even.




These aren't the droids you're looking for.

I gotta say although I'm not happy about giving up that many points to Arkansas State I saw improvements over last year.  Outside of one or two plays it appears we have learned how to tackle which is marked improvement over last year.

[Buzz Killington]

I gotta say although I'm not happy about giving up that many points to Arkansas State I saw improvements over last year.  Outside of one or two plays it appears we have learned how to tackle which is marked improvement over last year.

This.  To an extent anyway.  A busted assignment all but gave them their first 6.  Washington's fumble didn't help matters much giving them a very short field for another 7.
Especially without one of their leaders in Stephens, they did alright overall.

[djsimp]

I have to say that watching the game at JHS, I was much more aggravated then when I watched the replay on TV. I'm thinking that much of the negativity from us fans comes from a mixture of the zealous anticipation for Auburn football and the defensive debacle from last year. After calming down and watching with a clearer head and no alcohol in me, I did see some good improvement. Also, with the soft zone that we played much of the night, any team will rack up yardage on the underneath pass. I am hoping that the reason for this soft D was to protect plans for SEC foes. I mean, the coaches may be thinking that we have to protect our schemes as much as possible to keep some element of surprise. Most of the SEC teams we play will have more depth than us. Although I am sick of using this excuse, this is a fact. I was glad to see much better tackling fo sho.