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for the AU defense in the opening game in my view were, 1) getting off blocks and, when successful at #1, 2) making tackles.
At the risk of sounding like a an old fogie (which I am rapidly becoming), I think the Roof era has seen consistent poor tackling and poor tackling fundamentals. The first guy frequently tries for a knockout blow, does not wrap up, and the runner eludes the blowup attempt and continues for yardage that the play does not deserve. Alternatively, you often see guys out of control and taking poor pursuit angles and missing things entirely. Jay Tate documented some of the latter in his blog the other day.
The worst offender in the first game was Darren Bates, who seems to either take the wrong angle or, when he does take the correct angle, simply seems to have difficulty taking his man to the ground. This has been a problem throughout his career, and his career has been played under the coordination of Ted Roof, who, for the last two seasons, has also been Bates' position coach. I don't want to pick on Bates, because I think he gives great effort. But I do believe that effort could be more focused and productive.
These are not scheme problems. They are fundamental technique problems that are/should be addressed through drills in the Spring and Fall practices. Auburn has folks in position to make plays, but the plays are not made as frequently as they should be.
It is easier for me to be patient with a young player who busts a coverage (like Holland did on 3rd and 20 in the Tampa 2) or who doesn't immediately recognize screen and goes after the QB or doesn't get his assignment right on a stunt. The college football responsibilities are greatly in excess of what these new guys had on their high school plates. There is a learning curve, and that just takes time. Patience is more difficult for me when a highly regarded young player has made contact with a Utah State player yet cannot get him on the ground because he tries to block him down rather than wrap him up.Or doesn't break down and maintain leverage.
And it seems to me that is where the criticism of Roof (and others) is most warranted. Because the fundamentals problem is not just a problem that the true freshmen and RS frosh have.
Don't get me wrong. I know we won big last year, and the defense was an integral part of that (despite giving up a dumptruck load of points). I don't think anyone needs to be fired. But the same things that troubled me in year 1 continue to plague year 3 (at least after one game). I don't care if you read and react or play the Bears 46 defense and attempt to kill the QB on every play. Ideally, you do some of both. But if you can't get people on the ground consistently, well, at a minimum ,you are going to be on the field for 84 plays against Utah State.
Before you jump on the Fire Ted Roof bus, it's important to remember that the Head Coach is a defensive guy.
He was DC at Central Florida, Auburn and Texas before becoming a head coach.
Auburn's defense was bad in 09, passable in 10 and appears poor in 11.
Think about that before you maul Roof. Many considered Chizik one of the best defensive minds in college football during his time at Texas. That wasn't long ago.
Also consider that Roof basically wrote the book on being multiple at Minnesota in 08. He lacked talent and used quick-change fronts and schemes to provide deception. Did you see that ...[Saturday against Utah State]? Nope.
What did Chizik run at Auburn? Base, base, base.
Did you see that ...[Saturday against Utah State]? All day long.
Mash
