Auburn defensive coaches roundtable: 'You've got to be aggressive'

Auburn defensive coaches roundtable: 'You've got to be aggressive'Auburn defensive coaches roundtable: 'You've got to be aggressive'
Austin Perryman / AU Athletics

Defensive coordinator Ron Roberts

AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn defensive coordinator Ron Roberts wants the Tigers to create havoc for opposing offenses at least once every five snaps.

Tackles for loss, sacks, pass breakups, fumbles or interceptions. Roberts' goal for Auburn's defense is to produce a havoc rate of at least 20 percent.

"By the nature we play, we're going to go after it," Roberts said. "Try to get tackles for loss, get behind the sticks and put us in favorable downs."

As offenses have evolved, so too have defenses, says Roberts, requiring an aggressive scheme to neutralize and minimize explosive plays.

"The whole nature of our scheme is, can I get them out of those situations so it's not favorable for them?" he said. "You've got to do that some with calls. You've got to be aggressive."
 Defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett
X's and O's are part of the equation. Jimmys and Joes, as the saying goes, are the other, more important aspect.

Jeremy Garrett hopes to oversee the next era of elite Auburn defensive linemen, a unit whose legacy since 2010 includes All-Americans like Derrick Brown, Jeff Holland, Carl Lawson and Nick Fairley.

"Very physical, NFL style D-linemen, stopping the run," said Garrett, Auburn's defensive line coach. "At this place, football is important, the defensive line is important. To be in that tradition, it was huge for me being here."
 Linebackers coach Josh Aldridge
Like Garrett, Auburn linebackers coach Josh Aldridge followed head coach Hugh Freeze from Liberty to the Plains.

"We've got to do a great job of identifying and recruiting dynamic athletes to play linebacker," said Aldridge, a Tennessee native. "Coach Freeze is a very relationship-driven head coach. You give him the same size stick as everybody else to fight with and he's going to crush it.

"I grew up around the SEC and the opportunity to coach in this league and coach that level of athlete really excited me. Getting in those recruiting battles, I love that aspect of it."
 Cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff
In the secondary, Auburn's coaches, like the student-athletes they lead, are seasoned veterans. Cornerbacks coach Wesley McGriff begins his third stint on the Plains while safeties coach Zac Etheridge brings continuity to the secondary with 2023 being his third straight season at his alma mater.

"You see the history, the legacy, you see the pride and the tradition of defensive backs coming out of Auburn," McGriff said. "I'm fortunate to continue to be a part of that. I think these guys understand the challenge and the standard of what it takes to play at Auburn in the secondary."

After focusing on recruiting during December and January, Auburn's coaches are spending this month preparing for the start of spring practice on Feb. 27.

"It's been full speed," Etheridge said. "A lot of guys are living out of suitcases and getting adjusted but it' been really good. The staff is meshing very well. I think we're all eager to get to our players now.

"With all the guys coming back, how fast can we get on the same page and play as a complete unit?"
 
 Safeties coach Zac Etheridge


 


 


 


 


 
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer