The Problem: Complexity. The Solution: Simplicity.

[Townhallsavoy]

AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn coach Gene Chizik has taken his players and coaches back to the drawing board.


Yes, that includes the offense and special teams, too.


"We've had a lot of opportunities in the last two days to evaluate and assess our deficiencies," Chizik said during his Tuesday press conference just days after the Tigers fell to Clemson 38-24.


One solution? "We're definitely going to simplify some things" on defense.

"Obviously, we'd love to be playing better on defense right now. We need to play defense, I don't think there's a question in anybody's mind about that."


Auburn's ranked 117th in the nation in total defense. When asked if he'd have a bigger hand in the defense going forward with defensive coordinator Ted Roof, he said:  "I've got great coaches. Ted does a good job running our defense.  I'm involved there, just like I'm involved in offense and special teams."


Chizik said he didn't see any changes among his players.


 "Not necessarily. The personal changes right now have to do with guys getting banged up," he said. "As far as wholesale changes, no.


"I've been assessing every part of our football team the first three weeks. That's offense, defense and special teams. This is about Auburn this week. I've been extremely involved in all three phases."


Auburn plays Florida Atlantic on Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium and is a prohibitive favorite.


"It really wouldn't matter who we're playing. We need to play better as a football team. Florida Atlantic just happens to be the next opponent," Chizik said.


**Chizik said quarterback Barrett Trotter will improve with more experience. Chizik said preventing a pass rush better and having the wide receivers getting more open would help, too.


Auburn's Gene Chizik on personnel changes? "Not necessarily. The personal changes right now


**Ladarious Phillips Jonathan Rose didn't make the trip to Clemson because of a violation of a team rule.


"I'm going to meet with them later today. If anything changes, I'll let you guys know," Chizik said.


**Chizik said he didn't see playing anybody who hasn't played.


"But the role of players with limited play could play more," he said.


**On his playing rotation: "Offensively and defensively. I don't think there's any question we're getting a much better feel on who's going to play and how much."


**Chizik said freshmen who could see more time are Quan Bray, Tre Mason, Jermaine Whitehead, Angelo Blackson


**Chizik said he likes the way defensive back Chris Davis is playing.


"He's got a great comfort level. He knows his job, he knows his responsibility. And he plays fast. He's improved every week."




Related topics: Chris Davis, Gene Chizik, Ted Roof

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/09/gene_chizik_says_auburn_will_s.html

[Token]

Ok, I'm trying to stay out of this debacle, but soft zone and no blitz packages.  How much more simple can things get?

[JR4AU]

Ok, I'm trying to stay out of this debacle, but soft zone and no blitz packages.  How much more simple can things get?

They played mostly man last week. 

[JR4AU]

Here's my hope in all of what Chiz says...that he's simply not going to berate his defensive staff publicly, and that he's full of shit, and he's gonna jump in to the Def. side of the ball with both feet.   He's not going to air the problems publicly, and give a bunch of coach speak. 

[Token]

They played mostly man last week.

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

[AUTiger1]

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

No, no, that was how far past our corners they were after they dove at their feet and missed.

[JR4AU]

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

I didn't say they never ran zone, but they ran mostly man or a lot.  I don't know what coverage they run with DBs 15 yds off the WR, and not sure you saw them THAT far off either.

[Kaos]

Didn't Tony Franklin shed plays from the playbook until we only ran two? 

[GH2001]

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

We ran the "Roof Cover 2 Nickel Zone Man" Defense. It works great for setting records. Offenses love it.

[The Prowler]

"keeping it simple" for the LBers....BLITZ like your hair is on fire!!!! 3rd & 7? Blitz...3rd & 11? Bring the House!!!

[Snaggletiger]

I got nothing out of that article.  That was about as much coach speak saying nothing at all as his original presser at the Coaches Conference.

One game at a time.

[dallaswareagle]

I got nothing out of that article.  That was about as much coach speak saying nothing at all as his original presser at the Coaches Conference.

One game at a time.   

Or as the other teams say:  Some 500+ yards later

[Buzz Killington]

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

They disguised the coverages that well...

[Pell City Tiger]

My bad.  I thought I saw the corners 15 yards off the receiver.  Automatically thought zone.

That is our man coverage package. We bunch everyone on one side of the field (away from the hot receiver) when we play zone.

[jmar]

I didn't say they never ran zone, but they ran mostly man or a lot.  I don't know what coverage they run with DBs 15 yds off the WR, and not sure you saw them THAT far off either.

I still think this looked like WestVa '08. This was a tired team, possibly overworked. Auburn looked lethargic and helpless after 20 minutes of football.
We have a fast team, faster than most but after that opening quarter we we turned weak, slow and beaten...outcoached even because our offense has been trending to far less possessions and plays and we should have been able to sustain a few drives against Clemson's defense in the second half. But we took a different approach. It wouldn't have made up for the diving whiffs but grinding up some asses might have minimized the beatdown.
I suppose it's better to have it handed to us early on knowing that this team can do nothing but improve from Saturday forward, because it truly can't perform any worse right?

We tackled poorly as a veteran team last year...and we brought the heat. I don't care if we play six DBs as long as someone is badgering the other team's QB. One way to stop 'em is to never let 'em get started. They don't necessarily have to check down to the right play to burn us but then our confusion could always work in our favor once and awhile too. What could it hurt? Gus & Co. get the ball back.

 

 

 

[Token]

Prayers sent.

[Jumbo]

I got nothing out of that article.  That was about as much coach speak saying nothing at all as his original presser at the Coaches Conference.

One game at a time.

I didn't get a harumph outta that guy.

[The Prowler]

Also...tell Nosa that if he's going to bump the QB late....might as well knock the total fuck outta him, I'm talking knock his fillings loose out of his fucking teeth. If you're going to get called for a Personal Foul late hit, make it fuckin count.

[Townhallsavoy]

Also...tell Nosa that if he's going to bump the QB late....might as well knock the total fuck outta him, I'm talking knock his fillings loose out of his fucking teeth. If you're going to get called for a Personal Foul late hit, make it fuckin count.

[AUTiger1]

Problem?  Maybe.  Not very flattering.

http://coachesbythenumbers.com/ted-roof-and-the-art-of-failing-up/