Chizik: Auburn ready to build winning program
HOOVER – The foundation has been laid and the house is ready to be built according to Auburn coach Gene Chizik.
He said the success of the 2009 season has been instrumental in getting players to buy into what the coaches are trying to do and it also helped attract one of the nation’s best recruiting classes this spring.
“As we look back, we just feel like there were a lot of things laid in place for what we’re trying to do down the road.”
He said the record-breaking offense worked well, but there is still quite a bit of improvement to be made.
Chizik feels the offense’s quick-strike capabilities last season, along with the inability to pick up first downs from time to time, might have hurt the team by keeping the defense on the field too long.
“We’ve got to figure out how to be more consistent on offense,” Chizik said. “There was a lot of pressure on the defense.”
The staff has reevaluated the defensive scheme and personnel in an effort to become a more effective defense. One of the keys is building depth.
“When we were playing in the bowl game, we had defensive players – because of lack of depth – that ended up playing 140-some-odd plays,” Chizik said. “You’d like to get away from that a little bit.”
Chizik said there was a significant drop-off at positions last season between the first and second guy on defense.
That lack of depth has helped recruiting by attracting top players who want to get on the field and contribute early.
“There were things we did last year that are just a glimmer of how good we can be,” Chizik said. “If you’re a young guy wanting to come in and play right now, there are not a lot of long lines to stand in at Auburn to play.”
Of course, success is difficult to come by with inexperienced players and the Tigers did not lose many starters from last season. Auburn returns seven starters on offense and eight starters on defense.
Linebacker Josh Bynes, who earned first-team Pre-Season All-SEC Team honors from the media, said that although there is experience on defense, there is still room for improvement.
“Going into this year, we’ve got to step up our game,” Bynes said. “We can’t have games where we give up so many yards. We put a big emphasis on getting to the ball. That’s what we’ve got to do, starting with camp, is getting guys to the ball.”
The Tigers also have two key defenders returning who missed significant playing time last season.
Defensive back Aairon Savage was granted a sixth year of eligibility following an injury before the start of last season and safety Zac Etheridge, who was injured against Ole Miss last year was cleared to play earlier this week.
“Everybody has an extremely high level of regard for Zac as a player and a member of our team,” Chizik said. “We’re excited about the prospects of having him back.”
Savage said he has had plenty of time to think about his injury and he is ready to get back on the field and patrol the secondary for Auburn.
“To think about everything I’ve been through and the injuries, I just want to get out there and make plays,” Savage said.
Offensively the Tigers lost quite a bit out of the backfield. Quarterback Chris Todd, who passed for 2,612 yards and 22 touchdowns, and running back Ben Tate, who rushed for 1,362 yards and 10 touchdowns, are gone.
Left Tackle Lee Ziemba said the team could not replace Tate, but Mario Fannin and Onterio McCalebb are capable of picking up the slack and when teamed with prized recruit Michael Dyer will give the Tigers a potent rushing attack.
Ziemba is also impressed with what he as seen from quarterback Cam Newton.
“I drive by the practice field on Saturdays and he is out there throwing at a net or has some receivers out there with him,” Ziemba said. “He is working hard at learning the offense and becoming a vocal leader of this team.”
Should the Tigers offense and defense continue to improve from last season, Auburn might just prove doubters wrong, including the media who selected Auburn to finish third in the Western Division behind Alabama and Arkansas.
