Auburn and Texas A&M looked at the 2015 season through similar glasses. Both figured that with high-flying offenses, an equivalency on defense would lead to domination in the SEC. With that as a guide, both went out and plucked the top defensive coordinators available.
John Chavis and No. 25 Texas A&M (6-2, 3-2) host Will Muschamp and Auburn (4-4, 1-4) at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at Kyle Field on the SEC Network. The Aggies are a touchdown favorite.
Change is sometimes difficult as both Chavis and Muschamp are finding out in their new programs. And while both defenses have slightly improved statistically, each coordinator is encountering his own degree of frustration.
Chavis’ defense is yielding almost 10 fewer rushing yards (206.8) and 43 fewer passing yards (191.5) than last year and is forcing more turnovers as well. The Aggies recovered 8 fumbles in 13 games last season. They have 7 already through eight games this season.
But coming up with big plays and then inexplicably allowing explosive plays are adding to the gray in Chavis’ mustache.
“You can’t put a finger on it,” he said in this week’s press conference. “If you could, we’d have it fixed already. We’ve let plays get away from us.”
Chavis noted that South Carolina busted four plays last week that totaled right at 190 yards. “You can’t do that in this league,” he said.
It’s been a multitude of things from a linebacker not being in his gap to a missed tackle, although for the most part, the Aggies have been a fairly decent tackling team. And as Chavis pointed out, that comes with confidence.
Another head-scratcher is how effective the Aggies defense has played in the fourth quarter. In Chavis’ words, the Aggies have been able to “turn it up a notch” in the fourth quarter, allowing just 3 points over the last 13 fourth-quarter possessions.
“These guys will battle,” Chavis said. “When their backs are to the wall, we seem to play better.”
Chavis is in the process of trying to extend that to the first three quarters as well.
“If we can do that, then we can start looking at a good defense,” he said.
That task will be strongly tested against Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn and his multi-dimensional offense.
“It’s all about discipline,” Chavis said. “Ultimately, they want to run the ball right at you. It’s power football, but they’ve got a lot of other things that go along with it.”
Chavis also complemented Muschamp on his intensity and knowledge of the game.
“I’ve got great respect not only for what he does, but how he does it,” Chavis said.
Muschamp was thought to be stepping into a situation where his defense could have time to grow while Auburn’s high-powered offense scored enough points to ease the transition. However, the Tigers’ offensive problems are well-documented, and the process in transforming the defense has been slower than expected.
Auburn gave up 399 yards on average last season. The Tigers are yielding 446 so far this season (last in the SEC) and remain at or near the bottom of the SEC in almost every statistical category.
That’s foreign territory for Muschamp, whose defenses have been in the top 10 nationally in 10 of 12 seasons.
He is Auburn’s fourth defensive coordinator in five seasons. Muschamp admits that’s a huge factor when it comes to recruiting the type of player you want in your system. It trickles down all the way to terminology and possible confusion it can cause in the heat of the battle.
“I don’t think there’s any question that it’s a huge issue in continuity,” Muschamp said in a Wednesday press conference. “There’s no question it takes a toll on players.”
Muschamp said he lives by the philosophy that there are six to eight snaps of every game that determine the outcome, and his goal continues to be to have his defense make those plays.
“That’s the frustrating part,” he said. “We’ve had opportunities, and we haven’t made the plays.”
He also took the responsibility for needing to do a better job of coaching to assure that happens. Muschamp’s defense has another big challenge in corralling Aggies QB Kyler Murray on Saturday.
“It’s hard. You can’t hem him up in a phone booth,” he said. “He’s quick as a cat.”
Glenn Sattell is an award-winning freelance writer for Saturday Down South.
