Auburn Football: Will Muschamp, New Auburn Defense 101

Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 2, 2013; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp talks with linebacker Ronald Powell (7) during the first quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

When the Auburn football program opens spring practice Tuesday, the defensive players will hit the field for the first time with Will Muschamp leading the unit.

Muschamp was hired in December to replace Ellis Johnson, who was fired following the Tigers’ 55-44 loss to Alabama in the regular season finale. The former Florida head coach was present during Outback Bowl preparations, and sat in the booth during the game, but Charlie Harbison was the acting coordinator and ran the defense leading up to and during the bowl game.

While Muschamp will be leading practice for the first time this week, his players and the rest of the new defensive staff have already worked hard to install the new system during meetings.

“The NCAA allows us to meet with them and go over football and talk in terms of film,” Muschamp said recently. “And (we can) watch film and go over football — schemes and things. You’re able to do a lot more now than two years ago by what rules allow. But you play football with a helmet and shoulder pads on, and that’s what I’m waiting to see.”

Simply, Muschamp has done a lot of teaching, but it’s now time to see how much the players have learned and where the coaching staff must go from here to prepare for Louisville in the season opener September 5.

“A lot of it has to do with scheme, terminology, being able to understand (things), not thinking, but reacting when you get on the field,” Muschamp said. “That’s a huge part of being a good football player — being able to play fast and not have to think about your assignments, but react to your assignments. For guys, the more they hear it, the more reps they get at it mentally and physically, helps them be a better player.”

We’ll get more into the X’s and O’s that go with the scheme and terminology before the 2015 Auburn football season begins in September, but with spring practice beginning this week, let’s take a simple look at Will Muschamp and the new Auburn defense.

Next: Will Muschamp's Base Defense: The Multiple 4-3

Will Muschamp’s Base Defense: The Multiple 4-3

The easiest way to explain Will Muschamp’s style of defense into a simple term is “Multiple 4-3,” which is how I’ve labeled it regularly throughout articles and columns since Muschamp was hired in December.

But what does Multiple 4-3 mean?

Under former defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Auburn ran a 4-2-5 base defense with four defensive linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs (one of which was the linebacker/hybrid “Star”).

Muschamp’s base defense is a traditional 4-3, with four defensive linemen (two defensive ends – one called “Buck,” one defensive tackle and one nose guard), three linebackers (a strong-side outside linebacker, also known as SAM, a weak side outside linebacker/WILL, and a middle linebacker/MIKE), four defensive backs (two cornerbacks and two safeties).

This doesn’t mean a 4-3 looks the same all the time – the Tigers will line up in an Over front, an Under front, Okie, 40, and many others which also include four down linemen.

However, the wrinkle Muschamp has added is the hybrid defensive end/linebacker “Buck” position makes the “multiple” because he can put his hand in the dirt as a fourth defensive lineman, or stand up and become a fourth linebacker.

Those familiar with the Florida Gators in recent seasons will remember that Dante Fowler, Jr. played the “Buck,” and had nine sacks in 2014. By contrast, Auburn’s Kris Frost and DaVonte Lambert shared the team lead with 3.5 sacks each last season.

Being “multiple” is very valuable because a defense can show a lot of defense looks to the opposing offense with the same personnel on the field. Simply put, an offensive coordinator has a more difficult predicting what defense a team will play if they can line up in a 4-3 or a 3-4 with the same 11 players on the field.

Next: The Differences Between Will Muschamp and Ellis Johnson

Oct 5, 2013; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson before the game between the Auburn Tigers and the Mississippi Rebels at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Shanna Lockwood-USA TODAY Sports

The Differences Between Will Muschamp and Ellis Johnson

Shortly after he was hired as the Tigers’ new defensive coordinator, many Auburn football fans took to various message boards to discuss how much better Muschamp will be in 2015 and beyond than Ellis Johnson was over the last two seasons.

Some fans brought up the switch from the 4-2-5 to the Multiple 4-3, believing that Muschamp’s “X’s and O’s” are favorable to Johnson’s.

And while Coach Boom certainly is one of the game’s best when it comes to designing a defense, some careful observation will show a dirty little secret: Muschamp runs some very similar schemes to Johnson, especially when the Tigers are in a Nickel defense.

The Nickel, after all, is a (GASP!) 4-2-5 alignment that features five defensive backs instead of four. As offenses have evolved over the years and more teams go away from utilizing traditional tight ends and fullbacks and spread the field with more wide receivers, it’s become necessary to field more defensive backs.

Also, because many offenses (such as Auburn) have spread opponents out in order to run, you see less defensive coaches inserting a third corner as a Nickel back and instead relying on a safety to play close to the line of scrimmage – similar to the (GASP!) “Star” position Ellis Johnson preferred.

Simply put, from a schematic standpoint, the 2015 Auburn defense will often look like the 2014 Auburn defense. The biggest changes will be seen in the demeanor of the two coaches.

Ellis Johnson is an old school coach – and the key word is “old.” Johnson is one of the best defensive minds in football, but he is also in his sixties, and Muschamp is just 43. By age alone, Muschamp has an advantage in terms of being able to relate to his players and communicate with them. In fact, the defensive staff as a whole is much younger this season compared to last.

Another difference is where they choose to coach on game days. Ellis Johnson preferred to coach from the box, as many defensive coordinators do because it allows them to get a bird’s eye view of the offense instead of relying on a coach in the box to communicate with them down on the field.

Muschamp has always directed his defense from the sidelines. It’s a matter of personal preference for the coach, and one isn’t necessarily better than the other, but coaching from the field gives Muschamp the opportunity to both motivate his players with his fiery and intense personality and also communicate with them directly instead of relying on position coaches.

Here’s an example of Muschamp’s fire and intensity in the locker room at halftime – not even on the field during the game – from his most recent gig as a defensive coordinator:

Beyond his high-energy personality, however, there are a few specific things that Will Muschamp brings to the Auburn defense:

Next: The Philosophical Pillars of the New Auburn Defense

Nov 16, 2013; Columbia, SC, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp and Florida Gators linebacker Darrin Kitchens (49) celebrate a South Carolina Gamecocks missed field goal in the second quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

The Philosophical Pillars of Will Muschamp and the Auburn Defense

There’s a lot of talk about how much improvement the Auburn defense can make in 2015 compared to the 2014 unit that finished in the bottom half of the SEC in total defense, and Auburn football fans have thrown out their own goals and projections for 2015.

One term that’s often been mentioned is “Top Ten Defense,” as in Will Muschamp has produced a top ten defense statistically in ten of his 12 seasons as a defensive coordinator or head coach.

Auburn allowed more than 389 total yards per game last season, which ranked 61^st nationally. The nation’s best defense statistically was Clemson, who allowed 260 total yards per contest, and Florida and Michigan were ninth and tenth with 311 total yards allowed on average.

Of course, that means for Auburn to be a top ten unit, they’ll need to shave nearly 80 yards per game off their average from last season.

Can they do it? Maybe. Muschamp is a helluva coach with a terrific track record, but here’s what they’ll need to do to have a chance.

(Note: these are my own “Philosophical Pillars” based on my knowledge and research of Muschamp’s career and as gathered through interviews, clinics, etc. To my knowledge he does not have any specific list of philosophical points of emphasis.)

Next: Pillar No. 1: Stop the Run

Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Auburn Tigers defensive linemen Montravius Adams (1) chases down the ball carrier in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports

Philosophical Pillar No. 1: Stop the Run

First and foremost, Will Muschamp wants to make his opponent one-dimensional. As a defense, if you can limit your opponent’s weapons by taking something away, it’s much easier to win.

For Muschamp that starts by stopping the run.

“In our league and our division, you better win the line of scrimmage or you will not have a chance,” Muschamp said in his introductory press conference in December. “In terms of that, you must be able to stop the run with most of the teams we are going to face and stay away from explosive plays. When they are getting chunks of yardage down the field, it is hard to defend and change the vertical field position in the game.”

In years past, some of Muschamp’s specific team goals have including things like “hold opponents to 3.3 yards per rush” and “no 15-yard runs” among others. The new Auburn defense is sure to have some similar guidelines.

Simply, Muschamp will take his chances by allowing the vast majority of college quarterbacks to beat him through the air since very few QBs have elite arm strength and pinpoint accuracy.

Next: Pillar No. 2: Create Favorable Matchups

Jan 6, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback Jameis Winston (5) is tackled by Auburn Tigers linebacker Cassanova McKinzy (8) during the first half of the 2014 BCS National Championship game at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

Philosophical Pillar No. 2: Create Favorable Matchups

As we’ve discussed before, Will Muschamp makes the best use of his defensive players, especially when it comes to matching them up to win one-on-one battles at the line of scrimmage.

In a recent SBNation article, Ian Boyd put it pretty well:

"“Muschamp attacks the weakest part of your line with his best athletes. He covers for it with a defensive backfield chosen for speed and coverage. He wants to be as versatile as possible, and he has a particular eye for using aggression to deny the chance to target his backfield.”"

Muschamp plays to the strengths of his players and puts them in a position to be successful. If all four defensive linemen can win their individual matchup – or at least neutralize their opponent by properly carrying out their responsibilities, the defense as a whole is in a great position to be successful.

In the early part of this SEC Network Film Room clip, Muschamp explains the role of Buck Dante Fowler, Jr., one of the nation’s most talented players from last season, and how he creates mismatches. Later, Muschamp discusses cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III, and how his elite ability as a cover corner allows Muschamp to be aggressive elsewhere:

Next: Pillar No. 3: Play Man-To-Man, If Possible

Jan 3, 2015; Birmingham, AL, USA; Florida Gators defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III (1) catches the ball for an interception to seal the game for the Gators against the East Carolina Pirates during the 2015 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Philosophical Pillar No. 3: Play Man-to-Man, if Possible, and Especially on Third Down

Will Muschamp’s defense will play man-to-man and they will play zone. They will play a lot of Cover 3 and Cover 1, and they’ll also mix in plenty of other things, but in a perfect world, Muschamp would prefer to play man coverage.

In the previous video, Muschamp explains that because he has an All-American at corner, he can be creative and aggressive when it comes to rushing the passer. Being able to lock down a receiver in man coverage offers the best possible scenario.

In the real world – especially considering that Auburn doesn’t have a future first round pick it can put on an island on the outside, the Tigers will need to play zone.

“From a standpoint of basics, fundamentals are never going to change,” Muschamp said at his introductory presser. “I am going to ask the kids every day to give me great effort, a great attitude when they hit the field and great energy. Those three things are on you as a player, and we will handle the execution and other stuff as we move forward. That is always my idea defensively and what we need to do.

“It is our job as coaches to identify with the players what they can do. If they can not play man coverage, you need to figure out how to play zone and stop them.”

On third down, especially in obvious passing situations, the Tigers will play man-to-man as often as possible – as much as 90% of the time. Why? So Muschamp can exploit the matchups up front in order to get to the quarterback and in turn force a sack or turnover.

Next: Independent Study

Nov 15, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp calls a play on the sidelines against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Independent Study

This post is far from complete when it comes to explaining Will Muschamp’s new Auburn defense. Throughout the spring and summer, we will revisit this post, add to it and go more in depth on certain topics. However, if you’d like to do some independent study, here are a few resources.

One incredible source of information and All-22 coach’s film, Jim Light Football, was recently shut down after numerous schools (including Auburn) sent Light cease and desist letters for posting their property online. Light offered a wide range of film, including a great deal that deatured Florida’s defense from Muschamp’s tenure.

With the site down (presumably for good), the next best option is to watch the television copy of games on YouTube. It’s much more difficult to see the entire field – and the secondary in particular – but you’ll be able to see the different fronts (alignment of the defensive line) and blitzes.

There is one full length video of Muschamp explaining secondary coverages and defensive back drills during a clinic talk held at the 2014 Nike Coach of the Year clinic in Louisville. The 75-minute video is for sale from Championship Productions, though there is a short preview available on YouTube as well:

Be warned, if you are unfamiliar with coaching lingo, this video can be very overwhelming.

Finally, it’s now 14 years old, but you can get Muschamp’s 2001 LSU defensive playbook online. Here’s a PDF version, and you’ll recognize several of the images used throughout this post.

Since Muschamp was the defensive coordinator in Baton Rouge, he’s been in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, the DC at Auburn and Texas and of course the head coach at Florida. Simply, it would be naïve to think that the 2001 LSU playbook is going to be 100% relevant today, but it’s a solid resource especially in terms of his philosophical foundation.

Next: Auburn Football: 2015 Spring Practice Preview

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Nicholas Ian Allen