AU 2012 defense same as, if not worse than, 2011 ‘clown show’

Auburn defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is pictured on the sidelines during a NCAA college football game against Clemson at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

AUBURN — For all of the criticism Gene Chizik has received and in many ways deserves for Auburn’s offensive woes this season, the defense was almost as bad a counterpart in the program’s 3-9 record and worst season in 60 years.

Chizik, a former defensive coordinator at Auburn and Texas, hired Brian VanGorder from the Atlanta Falcons to run his defense this year after the departure of Ted Roof. The move was initially thought to have been a great decision, but the results say otherwise.

Chizik was fired on Sunday less than 24 hours after suffering the second-most lopsided loss in Iron Bowl history, a 49-0 loss to rival No. 2 Alabama. Chizik spoke for less than six minutes after Saturday’s disastrous display and both VanGorder and offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler did not appear after the game.

The Tigers were outscored 150-21 in their last three SEC games, including shutouts by Georgia and Alabama, and allowed those final three conference opponents to score touchdowns on 16 of their 18 first-half possessions.

Auburn allowed 28.3 points per game this season, ranking 66th nationally and 9th in the SEC – barely improved from last season’s program-worst 28.9 points.

The Tigers allowed a school-record 420.5 yards per game, including a program-record 671 yards allowed against Texas A&M, and gave up an SEC-worst 197.6 rushing yards.

“I think the people in football have a lot better opportunity to look at where Auburn football is right now and have respectable conclusions,” VanGorder said two weeks ago. “I know what’s going on. I certainly know what it takes. I know where we are. It’s real. (…) You may not know all the reasons why we’re not winning games. People in the business can look at it  and it makes more sense.”

After narrowly losing to LSU 12-10 on Sept. 22, safety Demetruce McNeal said the defense had improved from 2011’s “clown show.”

“Last year we put on kind of a clown show, a lot of guys not doing their work and not doing their job,” McNeal said on Sept. 23. “This year we just detailed our work. Guys have really focused on that. They did it and you see the outcome.”

The display of defensive intensity against LSU did not reappear in the final eight games and McNeal, the team’s second-leading tackler (90), lost his starting job the final two games.

The secondary had great success against the best receivers in the conference, containing Arkansas’ Cobi Hamilton, Ole Miss’ Donte Moncrief and Vanderbilt’s Jordan Matthews.

However, the 222.9 passing yards allowed by Auburn (44th nationally) can be somewhat misleading since conference opponents were usually ahead by so much, passing was no longer necessary. The Tigers were 101st in defensive pass efficiency (145.7) and had just two interceptions – tied for worst in the nation.

A lack of consistent pass rush with a subpar season from defensive end Corey Lemonier (5.5 sacks) and an injured Dee Ford (six sacks) allowed opposing quarterbacks to find comfort in a conference renowned for its great defensive linemen.

In the final month of the season, VanGorder stated the defensive players needed to get bigger and stronger.

“I’m from the school of big. I think that I’m right in that,” he said two weeks ago. “It’s a heavyweight game. It’s for big people, strong people. We’ve got to improve in that area.

“We still have a long way to go. A lot of physical and mental development to take place here. We’ve improved the culture. It’s got a long way to go. Auburn deserves a great football program.”

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs agreed, which is why Chizik and likely VanGorder as well – won’t be back next season.