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Wysłany: 14 Listopad 2017, o 09:35AUBURN, Alabama Auburn is in hunting mode as it looks for its fourth defensive coordinator in five years.
Gus Malzahn fired Ellis Johnson on Sunday. He made the move less than 24 hours after the Tigers' 55 44 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, which ended a disastrous six game stretch for Johnson's defense against SEC teams. The Tigers allowed 39 points per game during that time and the Tigers lost four of those games.
We're expecting Malzahn to move quickly in his search for Johnson's replacement, and the new coach could very well be in place in time to help coach the Tigers in their bowl game. The extra practices will provide the new coordinator time to install a small portion of his defense and evaluate talent. Think of it as an early start to spring practices.
There are several obvious candidates and Malzahn is looking for a steady and reliable coordinator with a proven track record.
Will Muschamp, former Florida head coach
This one makes sense on a lot of levels. He has deep connections at Auburn, new england patriots shop where he went to school for a year and coached for two seasons (2006 and 2007). Auburn led the SEC in scoring defense in 2007 and ranked seventh in the NCAA in 2006. His electric personality, along with his ability to immediately provide a positive change to defenses, could be a great fit for a defense not only lacking discipline but energy.
Muschamp will surely want to get back in the coaching ranks again, especially in the SEC. He'll have options as we're sure Texas A might also be interested in the proven defensive playcaller. We're chargers shop told any perceived drama between Muschamp and athletics director Jay Jacobs is in the past and the coach is willing to listen if he hasn't already.
Bo Pelini, former Nebraska coach
The recently fired coach is on the market and is a proven commodity at coordinator from his coaching days at LSU and Oklahoma. His LSU defenses were especially impressive, ranking third nationally in total defense all three seasons, including the run to the BCS national championship in 2007. LSU was 34 6 during Pelini's time coordinator.
Pelini could be on the radar for a head coaching job at a lower level, so that could factor into his decision. Either way, Pelini is interested in coaching in the SEC again.
Charles Kelly, Florida State defensive coordinator
He's in his first season as a full time coordinator at Florida State, but helped the Seminoles during their run to the BCS national title last season. Florida State's scoring defense is respectable, ranking 27th overall (22nd nationally) and seventh in red zone defense (70.5 percent). He's rising up the ranks, and he also has connections to Auburn and Malzahn. He played defensive back for the Tigers under Pat Dye in the late 1980s and also coached at Henderson State, Malzahn's alma mater, in Arkansas in 1999. He was Georgia Tech's special teams and defensive backs coach for seven seasons prior to his arrival at Florida State as special teams coordinator.
Manny Diaz, Louisiana Tech
The well respected coordinator has improved Louisiana Tech's defense in each of his first two seasons and the Bulldogs rank 29th nationally in total defense (349.6 yards per game) in 2014. The Bulldogs had the fourth best defensive turnaround in the country in 2013, ranking 63rd in total defense, during Diaz's first season.
Diaz had mixed results at Texas in 2011 and 2012, but he has been successful at his stops at Middle Tennessee and Mississippi State.
His defense at Mississippi State in 2010 ranked 22nd in scoring defense (19.9 points per game) and held Auburn's offense in check in a 19 14 loss to Cam Newton's Tigers. His defense slowed the Tigers at times this past season, too, limiting Malzahn's offense to a 10 0 lead until the final 2 minutes of the first half.
Another positive? He has coached with offensive minded head coaches before and has proven successful under such leadership.
Dave Aranda, Wisconsin defensive coordinator
If Malzahn is simply looking for strong candidates without weighing possible SEC connections, Dave Aranda should get a sniff. The second year coordinator's defense ranks second nationally in total defense (260.3 yards per game) and fourth nationally in scoring defense (16.8 points) His 3 4 scheme Discount Panthers Jerseys with High Quality for Free Shipping could be an interesting fit at Auburn, where the 4 2 5 simply doesn't appear to be working.
Aranda's defense ranked in the top 20 of the four major statistical categories during his first season in 2013. Auburn could also offer a pay raise to Aranda, who earns $480,000 a year at Wisconsin.
Gus Malzahn fired Ellis Johnson on Sunday. He made the move less than 24 hours after the Tigers' 55 44 loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl, which ended a disastrous six game stretch for Johnson's defense against SEC teams. The Tigers allowed 39 points per game during that time and the Tigers lost four of those games.
We're expecting Malzahn to move quickly in his search for Johnson's replacement, and the new coach could very well be in place in time to help coach the Tigers in their bowl game. The extra practices will provide the new coordinator time to install a small portion of his defense and evaluate talent. Think of it as an early start to spring practices.
There are several obvious candidates and Malzahn is looking for a steady and reliable coordinator with a proven track record.
Will Muschamp, former Florida head coach
This one makes sense on a lot of levels. He has deep connections at Auburn, new england patriots shop where he went to school for a year and coached for two seasons (2006 and 2007). Auburn led the SEC in scoring defense in 2007 and ranked seventh in the NCAA in 2006. His electric personality, along with his ability to immediately provide a positive change to defenses, could be a great fit for a defense not only lacking discipline but energy.
Muschamp will surely want to get back in the coaching ranks again, especially in the SEC. He'll have options as we're sure Texas A might also be interested in the proven defensive playcaller. We're chargers shop told any perceived drama between Muschamp and athletics director Jay Jacobs is in the past and the coach is willing to listen if he hasn't already.
Bo Pelini, former Nebraska coach
The recently fired coach is on the market and is a proven commodity at coordinator from his coaching days at LSU and Oklahoma. His LSU defenses were especially impressive, ranking third nationally in total defense all three seasons, including the run to the BCS national championship in 2007. LSU was 34 6 during Pelini's time coordinator.
Pelini could be on the radar for a head coaching job at a lower level, so that could factor into his decision. Either way, Pelini is interested in coaching in the SEC again.
Charles Kelly, Florida State defensive coordinator
He's in his first season as a full time coordinator at Florida State, but helped the Seminoles during their run to the BCS national title last season. Florida State's scoring defense is respectable, ranking 27th overall (22nd nationally) and seventh in red zone defense (70.5 percent). He's rising up the ranks, and he also has connections to Auburn and Malzahn. He played defensive back for the Tigers under Pat Dye in the late 1980s and also coached at Henderson State, Malzahn's alma mater, in Arkansas in 1999. He was Georgia Tech's special teams and defensive backs coach for seven seasons prior to his arrival at Florida State as special teams coordinator.
Manny Diaz, Louisiana Tech
The well respected coordinator has improved Louisiana Tech's defense in each of his first two seasons and the Bulldogs rank 29th nationally in total defense (349.6 yards per game) in 2014. The Bulldogs had the fourth best defensive turnaround in the country in 2013, ranking 63rd in total defense, during Diaz's first season.
Diaz had mixed results at Texas in 2011 and 2012, but he has been successful at his stops at Middle Tennessee and Mississippi State.
His defense at Mississippi State in 2010 ranked 22nd in scoring defense (19.9 points per game) and held Auburn's offense in check in a 19 14 loss to Cam Newton's Tigers. His defense slowed the Tigers at times this past season, too, limiting Malzahn's offense to a 10 0 lead until the final 2 minutes of the first half.
Another positive? He has coached with offensive minded head coaches before and has proven successful under such leadership.
Dave Aranda, Wisconsin defensive coordinator
If Malzahn is simply looking for strong candidates without weighing possible SEC connections, Dave Aranda should get a sniff. The second year coordinator's defense ranks second nationally in total defense (260.3 yards per game) and fourth nationally in scoring defense (16.8 points) His 3 4 scheme Discount Panthers Jerseys with High Quality for Free Shipping could be an interesting fit at Auburn, where the 4 2 5 simply doesn't appear to be working.
Aranda's defense ranked in the top 20 of the four major statistical categories during his first season in 2013. Auburn could also offer a pay raise to Aranda, who earns $480,000 a year at Wisconsin.