2014 SEC Teams with real or perceived issues on defense

[jbcarol]

Nobody's happy with the defensive performances this season at South Carolina, but the same can be said at other places around the conference, or the country for that matter. The Gamecocks aren't alone. Texas A&M has seen its fair share of struggles that has its defensive coordinator under the microscope. Auburn has had a rough go lately too, though Gus Malzahn showed support for Ellis Johnson. Still, fans want results and they haven't been good for the Gamecocks, who are last in the league in scoring defense (32.7 points per game).

Links to articles on defensive struggles at South Carolina, A&M, and Auburn.

[jbcarol]

Four of Kentucky's last five opponents have scored at least forty points against the Cats' languishing defense.

Though Kentucky's late fall swoon is disheartening, it actually should have been fairly predictable to all but the most wide-eyed optimists of the Kentucky fan base. Saturday's horror show at Neyland Stadium was Kentucky's eighth game in as many weeks.  Of those eight consecutive games, seven were against Southeastern Conference opponents. Kentucky simply does not possess adequate depth on the roster to forge through that type of meat grinder at this stage of Mark Stoops' rebuild.  Thus, faced with the rigors of physical SEC football for all those weeks, players began to drop.  Crucial players like Blake McClain, Za'Darius Smith, Fred Tiller, Reggie Meant and others missed time with nagging injuries.  Others were banged up and limited, but persevered.  Mark Stoops is not an excuse maker, and would tell you that a football team has to find a way to compete regardless of the natural attrition inherent in the game.  But at some point, particularly in the early stages of building a program in an unforgiving league, there is a harsh reality to face...

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  5 hours ago
Take two: Better DC job, Auburn or A&M?  http://es.pn/12nNxvW

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  4 hours ago
Auburn DC search extends to bowl season http://es.pn/1zG9RLN

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  · 
Most important hire of Sumlin tenure at hand; Muschamp a hot topic among Aggies: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/aggies/article/A-M-dismisses-Snyder-as-defensive-coordinator-5923649.php?t=087baee070b087cae0&cmpid=twitter-de ... via @HoustonChron

[jbcarol]

Adam Sparks @AdamSparks  ·  8 hours ago
#Vandy HC Mason on firing of DC Kotulski-"Very close friend, mentor. Few coaches have impacted my career & knowledge of def schemes as much"

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks.com @gogamecocks  ·  21 hours ago
Notebook: Spurrier has not closed door on Muschamp, staff changes http://scne.ws/7lpl79

[jbcarol]

Patrick Brown @patrickbrownTFP  ·  5 hours ago
Auburn managed to get two defensive backs onto the All-SEC coaches team while finishing 13th in the league in pass defense.

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  6 hours ago
Salary pool for Auburn assistants ranks 3rd nationally, could rise with new defensive coordinator http://ow.ly/FHlMs

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  42 minutes ago
Sumlin on defensive coordinator search: It's not about rush hire, it's about right hire; & on interim DC Mark Hagen: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2014/12/sumlin-its-not-about-a-rush-hire-at-defensive-coordinator-its-about-the-right-hire/ ...

[jbcarol]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  14 minutes ago
Will Muschamp 'will have ownership' over possible changes to Auburn's coaching staff http://s.al.com/wA88XXM

"We've got a solid defensive staff," Malzahn said. "Will will have ownership for that. We'll get together."

[jbcarol]

Jon Solomon @JonSolomonCBS  ·  3 hours ago
Auburn has 6 straight years ranked 60th or lower in total defense. Last top-25 defense: Muschamp's No. 6 unit in 2007.

[jbcarol]

Mark Schlabach @Mark_Schlabach  ·  15 hours ago
Here's Jimmy Sexton tonight. Oh, sorry, it's Will Ferrell

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  8 hours ago
Muschamp effect: Five Auburn players to watch in new scheme http://es.pn/1Ai74bI

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  · 
Kevin Sumlin: We want to get the right guy, regardless of time: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/aggies/article/Sumlin-willing-to-take-time-to-hire-defensive-5951722.php?t=6d7f39ca09b087cae0&cmpid=twitter-desktop ... via @HoustonChron

Sumlin fired Mark Snyder two weeks ago and has been tightlipped since about his coordinator search, although the Aggies were quite interested in the services of fired Florida coach Will Muschamp...

[NoNC4Tubs]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  5 hours ago
Take two: Better DC job, Auburn or A&M?  http://es.pn/12nNxvW

A&M has far better facilities!! 

However, awbern is "All-In".......

[NoNC4Tubs]

AL.com sports @aldotcomSports  ·  6 hours ago
Salary pool for Auburn assistants ranks 3rd nationally, could rise with new defensive coordinator http://ow.ly/FHlMs

Looks like the Muschamp hire puts awbern at #2........ 

[jbcarol]

Despite coach Steve Spurrier saying there was no reason to expect changes to his defensive coaching staff, at least before the Dec. 27 Independence Bowl, speculation has run rampant that changes were coming on the defensive coaching staff. Specifically, many among the fan base seemed convinced the Gamecocks were on the verge of hiring former Florida coach Will Muschamp to take over their defense and make changes on the staff.

"That's the business," defensive line coach Deke Adams said with a shrug.

South Carolina has the nation's 13th-highest paid assistant coaching staff with an annual combined salary of $3.33 million. Each assistant coach makes at least $255,000 per year.

"Part of (the speculation) is some of the salaries of some of the guys who are getting jobs now," Adams said. "It's just that type of business. It is what it is. We know what it is when we get in it, and I still I wouldn't rather be doing anything right now than coaching football."

South Carolina finished the regular season 13th in the SEC in total defense (433.6 yards allowed per game) and 12th in the league in scoring defense (31.2 points allowed per game). The gnashing of teeth that comes along with those numbers is inevitable.

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  6 hours ago
Kevin Sumlin: Search for defensive coordinator has 'picked up speed' (Aggies Blog): http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2014/12/sumlin-search-for-defensive-coordinator-has-picked-up-speed/ ...

A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said he's staying the course on making what he considers the right hire for defensive coordinator, nearly three weeks after he released Mark Snyder from his duties.

"It's not about time, it's about the timing of the person and the process, and getting the right guy," Sumlin said Thursday during a pre-bowl press conference at Kyle Field. "We're getting closer than we were a few days ago. ... The process has picked up speed recently and is going really, really well."

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN  ·  Dec 18
South Carolina fans are rightfully bummed about the season, but they're wrong if they think Spurrier didn't make an effort to land Muschamp.

[jbcarol]

Glenn Guilbeau @LSUBeatTweet  ·  Dec 22
LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis wants Will Muschamp money - about $1.7 million a year up from $1.3 mill.:
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2014/12/22/miles-vague-possibly-losing-defensive-coordinator-chavis/20790005/ ...

Could one of the teams looking for a DC snatch him up?

[jbcarol]

GoGamecocks.com @gogamecocks  ·  11 hours ago
Gamecocks' defense gets the job done http://scne.ws/7xmg7G

SHREVEPORT, LA. — Miami star running back Duke Johnson got his yards Saturday – 183 total. The Hurricanes, as a team, finished with 422 yards.

The South Carolina defense did its part to keep the numbers off the scoreboard, holding Miami to a pair of first-half field goals and forcing the game's only two turnovers.

"When you can make stops like that in the critical zone and hold a team to field goals, it definitely boosts the defense's morale," sophomore linebacker Skai Moore said. "We rallied around it and keep preaching that we can't let them score. Bend, don't break. That's what we did."

While South Carolina's offense sputtered at the game's onset – three drives resulted in 83 yards, two punts and a missed field goal – the Hurricanes recorded drives of 65 and 69 yards. The net result was a 6-0 lead for Miami.

"It showed them that we could stop them," defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward said. "The plays they got to get down there, we were not in the right place. The guys, as they say back in old football, bowed their necks and held them to field goals."

The Gamecocks, allowing 31.2 points per game in the regular season, held the Hurricanes to 21. USC recorded its fourth multi-sack game of the season, dropping freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya twice in the first half.

The defensive effort was done without the services of two starters. Senior captain J.T. Surratt missed his first start of the season – and first in 25 games – with an undisclosed stomach ailment. A concussion sidelined redshirt freshman David Johnson after five consecutive starts for him a defensive end.

USC rotated eight defensive linemen, with defensive tackle Gerald Dixon Jr. and linebacker Jordan Diggs recording the sacks.

"Sacking him early was a big key," Ward said. "We felt like if we could get to him early, we had to do it with pressure or four down linemen, it would affect him. We actually did it with four down linemen, and that was a big plus for me calling the defense."

Kaaya finished the day 19-of-33 for 236 yards and a touchdown. USC turned sophomore linebacker Jonathan Walton's second-quarter interception into three points.

Walton praised the defensive line's play.

[jbcarol]

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  14 hours ago
Jonathan Walton: "For the first time this season, we could look in the quarterback's eyes and see he was shook."

[jbcarol]

Jim Kleinpeter @JimKleinpeter  ·  19 hours ago
5 #LSU asst FB coaches sign extensions, Chavis not among them @tigerdroppings, @dandydonlsu, @geauxlsu, http://s.nola.com/8GKq5UU  via @nolanews

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  48 minutes ago

I don't know who A&M's DC will be. But IF it is John Chavis ... what a coup for Sumlin and the Aggies.

[jbcarol]

Glenn Guilbeau @LSUBeatTweet  ·  2 hours ago
"I can tell you John Chavis was very productive for us. He had a great career at LSU," Miles said of DC John Chavis, apparently TA&M bound.

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  1 hour ago
John Chavis: "There's a great opportunity to win big" at Texas A&M (Aggies Blog): http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/01/john-chavis-theres-a-great-opportunity-to-win-big-at-texas-am/ ...



Well, that was a rush to greet Kevin Sumlin and John Chavis on the Easterwood tarmac. This is going to be a fun union.

John Chavis said he's looking forward to "creating a culture that's been at Texas A&M before on defense."

John Chavis: Certainly we've looked at A&M and the things that are happening here, and there's a great opportunity to win -- and win big.

Kevin Sumlin on hiring John Chavis: We're more than excited. We're excited and he's excited. And we're ready to get to work.

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN  ·  46 minutes ago

All 5 SEC West teams (sic) gave up at least 31 points, and 4 of the 5 gave up 263 or more rushing yards. So much for being able to stop the run.

[jbcarol]

C. John Chavis @CJohnChavis  ·  3 hours ago
@CoachJohnChavis is the "new" official Twitter for dad. Hopefully this stops the confusion. Spread the word.

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner @MikeBBonner  ·  6 hours ago
Sources: Manny Diaz expected to interview for Mississippi State's opening at defensive coordinator. http://on.thec-l.com/1IcFsrs

[jbcarol]

Brandon Marcello @bmarcello  ·  45 minutes ago
Charlie Harbison is out and Will Muschamp is looking for another assistant to add to his defensive staff. http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2015/01/auburn_safeties_coach_charlie.html ...

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN
Doing a little math, and taking into account the recent raises, the average salary for D-coordinators in the SEC is just under $1 million.
8:01 PM - 5 Jan 2015

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  23 hours ago

John Chavis' across-state-border appraisal of Texas A&M defense he's inherited: 'There's very good talent': http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/01/john-chavis-aggies-defense-owns-very-good-talent/ ...

A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis, late of LSU, has studied the Aggies' defensive roster enough to know this:

"There's good talent – very good talent," Chavis told the Chronicle after stepping off a private jet with A&M coach Kevin Sumlin on New Year's Day. "And I'm looking forward to getting the right pieces in place, and helping develop this talent."

Chavis inherits a handful of gifted underclassmen, starting with sophomore defensive end Myles Garrett and including the likes of defensive tackle Zaycoven Henderson, linebackers Otaro Alaka and Josh Walker and defensive backs Armani Watts and Donovan Wilson – among others.

A week ago in the Aggies' 45-37 victory over West Virginia in the Liberty Bowl, the Aggies' top two tacklers were true freshmen: Wilson with eight solo tackles and Alaka following with six solo. Meanwhile Garrett, who had to deal with offenses keying on slowing him over the second half of the season, finished the year with a freshman SEC record 11.5 sacks.

Certainly A&M had more than its share of troubles defensively – ranking outside the top 100 in total defense for a second consecutive season – why Sumlin snatched Chavis from LSU, to try and get those affairs in order. As Chavis said, he was eager to work with what he dubbed a "great offense" at A&M, and angling to get A&M's defense on the right track...

[jbcarol]

Michael Bonner @MikeBBonner  ·  13 hours ago

This is a tremendous place to develop players on/off the field and ultimately compete for championships -- Manny Diaz http://on.thec-l.com/1Bsnscj

[jbcarol]

Bill Martin @MSUBillMartin  ·  Jan 5
Fun fact of @Coach_MannyDiaz. All 4 of the current @HailStateFB LB in @nfl, including @KJ_WRIGHT34, were coached by him here at MSU.

[jbcarol]

ESPN: Fixing the defense is Auburn's top priority

They gave up 400 rushing yards to Wisconsin. That's right, 400 rushing yards, to a team who basically said we're not going to pass the ball in the second half. Auburn's defense knew what was coming, and they still couldn't stop it.

When the Tigers finally got a "stop," holding Wisconsin to a field goal in overtime, it was the offense that let them down.

It starts in two areas:

Generating a pass rush...

Tackling better...

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  23 minutes ago

High potential, expectations with John Chavis-Texas A&M pairing http://es.pn/1yFntdf

A&M fans were hoping for a "home-run" hire when Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin began his search for a new defensive coordinator in late November.

Snagging "The Chief" from a division rival whom they have yet to beat or finish ahead of in the standings since joining the SEC qualifies as a grand slam.

Bringing John Chavis to Aggieland to revive Texas A&M's defense could have significant positive consequences in 2015 and beyond.

Chavis' résumé speaks for itself...

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  14 hours ago
Steve Spurrier not ruling out changes to Gamecocks' defensive staff http://es.pn/14L5kgQ

Steve Spurrier doesn't feel any pressure to make changes on his defensive staff, but that doesn't mean he won't at some point this offseason.

The Gamecocks finished 12th in the SEC in scoring defense this season and 13th in total defense. They gave up more than 30 points in seven of their 12 regular-season games and lost three games in which they blew two-touchdown leads in the fourth quarter.

"If I need to add a guy or two to the staff, I'll do it," Spurrier told ESPN.com on Friday. "There's still plenty of time to do that. Our coaches all know that. Our fans know that. When the time appears to be right and I think we can bring a coach in here that will really help us, then I need to do that. That's my job.

"We'll see what happens, but that's where we are right now. There is a possibility that we'll add a guy down the road here soon. If not, we'll go with what we've got."

"It's hard to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage only 14 times in 13 games, but that's what we did."

[jbcarol]

Spurrier promises faster, tougher team: 'We're going to do better'

With little interest in looking back on what he called "a tough year," Steve Spurrier instead was looking ahead Saturday afternoon.

"Circle Nov. 28 on your calendar," Spurrier told a sellout crowd at Colonial Life Arena. "I believe that night you can get back to saying, 'I am proud of my football team.'"

Instate rival Clemson comes to Williams-Brice Stadium on that day in hopes of building on the momentum started with last year's 35-17 win. Spurrier is hoping his Gamecocks can erase the memory of that game – and much of last season – forever.

"We didn't play worth a flip over there last year," he said. "I had one player on our team say, 'Coach, we've got guys on our team who don't even care.' I said, 'I know, I watched it.' We can't perform like that ever again. We will have some new players out there and show more effort and act like we care a little bit more."

Spurrier addressed the Colonial Life crowd at halftime of the men's basketball game against No. 1 Kentucky. He was joined on the court by Dylan Thompson, A.J. Cann, Pharoh Cooper, Gerald Dixon Jr., Sharrod Golightly, Jonathan Walton, Skai Moore and Elliott Fry. The Gamecocks finished 7-6 last season.

"We didn't do our part," Spurrier told the crowd. "Our commitment to you is we're going to do better this year."

The Gamecocks hosted more than 20 football recruits for official visits this weekend, and those players joined Spurrier in watching the game amongst a raucous crowd.

"I think all the players up there can see how important sports is here," Spurrier told reporters after his halftime appearance. "We think we are going to have an excellent recruiting class. Four years from now, we will find out if they're real good or not, but we have a chance to sign at least 30 guys. Hopefully, they will turn out."

...

"We have to be a faster, tougher team, we all know that," he said. "Hopefully, we can put a team out there that, when the game is over, the fans can say, 'Man, I like our team, proud of our team.' Obviously we couldn't say that at times last year."

[jbcarol]

From Chris Low:

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  44 minutes ago
Season report card: South Carolina Gamecocks http://es.pn/1uYMFLg

Defense: F. The Gamecocks were torched for 52 points and 680 yards in their season-opening loss to Texas A&M, and the flood gates would remain wide open the rest of the way. In fairness, South Carolina was plugging in a lot of new faces on defense, particularly up front, but rarely seemed to be in position, didn't tackle well and generated virtually no pass rush. At times, the Gamecocks almost looked disinterested, and it showed in their stats. They finished 13th in the SEC in total defense (432.7 yards per game) and 12th in scoring defense (30.4 points per game). Most glaring were the blown leads. They lost three games in which they squandered two-touchdown leads in the fourth quarter and gave up 34 or more points in six of their eight SEC contests.

[jbcarol]

ESPN SEC @ESPN_SEC  ·  2 hours ago

Position that needs improvement: Texas A&M http://es.pn/1BzoPCC

Position to improve: Linebacker.

Why it was a problem: Depth was perhaps the biggest reason for the struggles because the Aggies ran thin on linebackers with actual SEC playing experience...

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN  ·  17 hours ago

Steve Spurrier is bringing in a colleague from years gone by, Jon Hoke, to help mend the South Carolina defense. http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/12279072/jon-hoke-coach-defense-south-carolina-gamecocks ...

Spurrier has reached an agreement with Jon Hoke, the last defensive coordinator he worked with when he was at Florida, to join the Gamecocks' staff, sources told ESPN.com.

Hoke is expected to be on campus Thursday and will oversee a South Carolina defense that plummeted to 92nd nationally in total defense this season (432.7 yards per game) and 89th in scoring defense (30.4 points per game).

Hoke, 58, has been an NFL assistant since 2002, most recently the defensive backs coach with the Chicago Bears. He was Spurrier's defensive coordinator at Florida from 1999 through 2001, replacing Bob Stoops when he left for Oklahoma.

To make room for Hoke, Spurrier will have to restructure his current defensive staff. At least one coach may be moved to an administrative role. Lorenzo Ward just finished his third season as South Carolina's defensive coordinator. He's been on the Gamecocks' staff for six seasons and previously worked under Ellis Johnson before taking over the defensive reins in 2012, when Johnson left for the Southern Miss head coach job...

[jbcarol]

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  15 hours ago

South Carolina's BOT will meet at 10 am Monday to approve hiring of Jon Hoke. http://www.gogamecocks.com/2015/02/05/677271/breaking-jon-hoke-lorenzo-ward.html ...

Board meeting postponed due to [yesterday's] shooting on campus.

[jbcarol]

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  1 hour ago

BOT has just approved hiring of Jon Hoke as co-DC in charge of "Please Lord, don't let 2014 ever happen again."

[South Carolina]

[jbcarol]

Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  22 hours ago

Assume he means the press conference, but .. RT @JoshatTheState Steve Spurrier (before he sits down): "OK, we're not going to be here long."

Tim Dominick @timdominickSC  ·  21 hours ago

New USC co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, along with head coach Steve Spurrier, talked with the media. #thestate

[jbcarol]

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN  ·  22 hours ago

DL coach Jerry Montgomery, month after being promoted to Oklahoma's co-DC, leaving for NFL

[jbcarol]

Ross Dellenger @DellengerAdv  ·  2 hours ago

Finally announced Chavis. #LSU RT @TexAgs: A&M's new defensive staff Full release: http://texags.com/s/16151

[jbcarol]

Brent Zwerneman @BrentZwerneman  ·  Feb 13
Sumlin's 2015 Texas A&M defensive staff comes with a slight twist -- Hagen shifts from LBs to DTs: http://blog.chron.com/sportsupdate/2015/02/sumlin-officially-announces-defensive-staff-hagen-movs-to

Mark Hagen, who coached linebackers last season, will now tutor the defensive tackles. New defensive coordinator John Chavis, late of LSU, will also coach the A&M linebackers in addition to running the defense. Terry Price, last year's defensive line coach, will now coach the defensive ends, and Terry Joseph will continue leading the secondary.

A&M opens spring drills on March 2, and for a second consecutive year will not hold a spring game because of the ongoing renovation of Kyle Field.

[jbcarol]

Seth Emerson @SethEmerson  ·  22 hours ago

Assume he means the press conference, but .. RT @JoshatTheState Steve Spurrier (before he sits down): "OK, we're not going to be here long."

Tim Dominick @timdominickSC  ·  21 hours ago

New USC co-defensive coordinator Jon Hoke, along with head coach Steve Spurrier, talked with the media. #thestate

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  21 hours ago
Fmr Gator/Bear Alex Brown says Spurrier-Hoke worked together better than Spurrier-Stoops: "They got along perfect. It's a great fit."

Josh Kendall @JoshatTheState  ·  2h hours ago
Have talked to Dom Capers, Lovie Smith, Gary Kubiak, Alex Brown about Jon Hoke. All have said "teacher" in first 3 sentences.

[jbcarol]

Chris Low @ClowESPN  ·  40 minutes ago

Auburn DE Carl Lawson has been cleared medically. With him in the lineup, Malzahn thinks Tigers will be able to rush the passer with four.