Auburn football DC Ron Roberts has ambitious defensive goal in 2023

Auburn football fans are looking forward to the 2023 season after two mostly dismal seasons on the Plains. The recruiting wins earned by the new staff, led by head coach Hugh Freeze, has created excitement around the program again, but the true test will be the product seen on the field this fall.

Coach Freeze announced over the weekend that he plans to relinquish head play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery, though Freeze will still be highly involved, and last week defensive coordinator Ron Roberts explained that he has a plan to raise the bar for the defense this fall.

Several factors are contributing to Roberts’ approach to the Tigers’ 2023 defense, beginning with his so-called “havoc rate” which relies hugely on the amount of tackles per loss accumulated by the defense in each game, with quotes via Auburn Undercover:

"“We call it havoc — the havoc rate,” Roberts said last week. “We calculate tackles for loss, sacks, PBUs (pass breakups), interceptions, turnovers, any of that stuff. Our goal as a defense is always to work in the 20 percent category. That means on 20 percent of the plays, we’ve got to work to create havoc.”"

Equally important to Roberts’ plan will be the ability of the defensive players to play various positions and be flexible depending on the offense being played by the opponent. According to Roberts, the skill level in the SEC is too high to rely on one front for every game:

"“We’ll be multiple in what we do, but we will play with aggression. We will blitz. We will pressure. We will be an aggressive defense.”"

After the Auburn football team struggled in nearly every aspect of the game last season for various reasons, the idea of an aggressive defense that can compete with opponents like Alabama and Georgia is extremely appealing.