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
Will Muschamp, the new defensive coordinator of the Auburn football team, has led his unit to a top ten ranking ten times in 12 seasons as a head coach or DC. Which unit was his best?
As the Auburn Tigers continue spring practice, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and the rest of the Tigers defensive coaches are in the process of installing a new system.
Muschamp was hired to breathe new life into a unit that ranked amongst the SEC’s worst in 2014. The Tigers allowed 398.8 yards per game last season, and a staggering 487.7 yards on average across the team’s last seven games against FBS opponents – five of which the team lost. Auburn also allowed 31 points or more in each of those seven games.
Based on his track record, Muschamp appears to be the right man for the job.
At LSU, Muschamp won an SEC title and National Championship. In his first stint as defensive coordinator of the Auburn football team, Muschamp was a finalist for the 2007 Broyles Award, given annually to the nation’s top assistant coach, thanks to his role leading the SEC’s best defense. That year, the Tigers ranked sixth nationally in total defense, pass defense and scoring defense.
In 2008, Muschamp’s first season as the defensive coordinator of the Texas Longhorns, Brian Orakpo won the Lombardi Award, Nagurski Trophy and Hendricks Award and Sergio Kindle finalist for Butkus Award and Hendricks Award. The following season, the Longhorns won the Big 12 and played in the BCS National Championship Game.
His performance as a defensive coordinator at LSU, Auburn and Texas made Muschamp an attractive hire as the head coach of the Florida Gators. Though things didn’t work out from a won-loss standpoint in Gainesville, Muschamp’s teams consistently ranked among the best defensively in the SEC.
In fact, Will Muschamp has led a defense ranked in the nation’s top ten statistically in every year he has been an SEC defensive coordinator. In 12 seasons as either a head coach or coordinator, Muschamp has fielded ten defenses ranked in the nation’s top ten.
But what teams were the best of the best? Let’s take a look:
Next: 4. 2006 Auburn Tigers
4. 2006 Auburn Tigers
The 2006 Auburn football season was the first for Will Muschamp as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. That year, Muschamp’s unit held opponents to 13.9 points and 292.3 yards per game, both of which ranked in the nation’s top ten. The Tigers allowed just 21 touchdowns all season – the eighth fewest of any team in the country.
Overall, the Tigers were 11-2 with two shutouts (34-0 vs. Mississippi State and 27-0 vs. Arkansas State). They lost to Georgia (37-15) and Arkansas, who won 27-10 with the help of a plucky, innovative first-year offensive coordinator name Gus Malzahn.
Arguably the most memorable game for a Will Muschamp-coached Auburn defense was the 7-3 victory over LSU in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Muschamp’s unit held LSU to 311 total yards, only 42 of which came on the ground. Auburn also held LSU to 1.8 yards per rush and star running backs Justin Vincent and Ally Broussard managed just 16 yards apiece. On the game’s final play, Auburn stopped LSU at the five-yard line to seal the win.
Another great game was a 27-17 upset victory over No. 2 Florida. Quentin Groves was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week and National Defensive Player of the Week for his three-sack performance. He also forced a fumble and the Tigers forced three turnovers in the game. In 2006, Groves had 9.5 sacks and was named a first team All-SEC defensive end.
Auburn also beat Alabama 22-15 in Tuscaloosa to extend the Iron Bowl winning streak to five and defeated Nebraska 17-14 in the Cotton Bowl to cap off the season.
2006 LSU at Auburn:
Next: 3. 2012 Florida Gators
3. 2012 Florida Gators
Will Muschamp’s best team during his four-year stint as head coach of the Florida Gators was the 2012 squad that finished 11-2 and played in the Sugar Bowl. It should come as no surprise that it was also Muschamp’s best defense while he was in Gainesville.
The Gators ranked fifth nationally in both scoring defense (14.5 points per game) and total defense (287.5 yards per game) and held opponents to just 94.9 rushing yards on average. Muschamp’s defense allowed only seven passing touchdowns all season, which were the second fewest in the country, and the Gators allowed only 32 points in the fourth quarter all season. Florida ranked second nationally in pass efficiency defense (95.55) and seventh in turnover margin (plus-15)
The Gators beat three top ten opponents in 2012. Florida beat No. 4 LSU 14-6 in October, dominated 9th ranked South Carolina 44-10 two weeks lates and beat rival Florida State 37-26 on the road to cap an 11-1 regular season against the nation’s third toughest schedule.
Also, before most of America knew who he was, Florida held eventual Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel to 173 passing yards and 60 rushing yards in a 20-17 Florida win over Texas A&M. Johnny Football was responsible for only one rushing touchdown.
CBSSports.com and the league’s coach named Muschamp the SEC Coach of the Year. Only a 17-9 loss to Georgia in Jacksonville cost Florida a spot in the SEC Championship Game and out of consideration for a spot in the national title game.
2012 Florida vs. LSU Highlights:
Next: 2. 2009 Texas Longhorns
2. 2009 Texas Longhorns
Will Muschamp’s second best defense to date was the unit that led the Texas Longhorns to the 2009 Big 12 title, a 13-0 regular season and a spot in the BCS National Championship Game.
In 2009, the Longhorns allowed only 73 rushing yards, which not only made them the nation’s best rushing defense, but the best rushing defense in a three-year period from 2008-10.Overall, the Longhorns ranked third in total defense (251.9 yards per game), 12th in scoring defense (16.7 points per game) and 19th in pass defense (179.6 yards per game).
Led by Thorpe Award finalist and consensus first team All-American safety Earl Thomas’s eight interceptions, Muschamp’s ball-hawking defense had 25 picks and forced 37 turnovers (tied with Ohio), both of which led the nation. Opponents converted just 26.5% of the time on third down, which also ranked tops in the country.
Among the season’s most memorable games were a 16-13 victory over No. 20 Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout in which Aaron Williams injured Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford and Texas forced two interceptions to seal the victory. Texas also earned an impressive 41-14 win over No. 13 Oklahoma State and a 13-12 victory over Nebraska in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Halftime adjustments:
Next: 1. 2003 LSU Tigers
Will Muschamp’s Best Defense: 2003 LSU Tigers
In only his second season as a defensive coordinator, Will Muschamp’s 2003 LSU Tigers unit was the best he’s ever coached.
The stingiest defense in the nation, the Tigers allowed only 11 points per game in 2003. No team scored more than 24 points (LSU beat Arkansas 55-24), and only one other scored more than 14 (the Tigers lost 19-7 to Florida). Overall, the Tigers allowed just 19 touchdowns all season, which were the fewest in the nation.
Want to talk about impressive numbers? LSU also allowed just 252 total yards per game, which led the country. The Tigers were second nationally in passing efficiency defense (89.8) and ranked third overall in rushing defense. The 67 rushing yards the Tigers allowed on average were the fewest by any Southeastern Conference team in the 2000s and the team’s 44 sacks set a school record. LSU led the SEC in every major defensive statistical category.
In the 2004 Sugar Bowl, Muschamp’s defense held Oklahoma’s Heisman Trophy winning quarterback to 102 yards with two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown by Marcus Spears) on 13-for-37 passing. He was sacked four times. The Sooners gained just 154 total yards and averaged only 2.2 yards per play.
The 13-1 Tigers beat Oklahoma 21-14 to capture the BCS National Championship. It was LSU’s first national title in 45 years.
2003 BCS National Championship Game:
Next: Will Muschamp, New Auburn Defense 101
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