Started By
Message
Dismissal of Johnson Is a Bad Sign for Auburn
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:20 am
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:20 am
Well, Ellis Johnson is out at Auburn, and I think it's a bad sign. Yes, they gave up a lot of points down the stretch, but it's not like they played a bunch of nobodies offensively. In that stretch, the Tigers played Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Georgia, and Alabama, Texas A&M, and South Carolina.
Dumping Johnson looks like a panic move on the Plains. First, the fact that Gus Malzahn already feels pressure to shuck a coordinator can't leave a good feeling with Tiger fans. Second, it's not like this defense was great to begin with. It returned 6 starters, but the whole unit--especially defensive line--is undersized, and the secondary lacks experience.
Third, part of the reason why Auburn is struggling on defense is the revolving door of coordinators on that side of the ball. If you think this isn't the kind of thing that can eventually get you run out of town, just ask Will Muschamp. This will put Auburn in the position of having its fourth DC in five years. Any kind of consistency in scheme, performance, or recruiting will be difficult to maintain in such an insecure environment.
It's not like everyone was crying about Ellis Johnson's performance last season, when the unit had better talent and improved scheme over the previous season. The Johnson fire seems to be a combination of a panic move and damage control, and it seems like a sign of insecurity on Malzahn's part.
Dumping Johnson looks like a panic move on the Plains. First, the fact that Gus Malzahn already feels pressure to shuck a coordinator can't leave a good feeling with Tiger fans. Second, it's not like this defense was great to begin with. It returned 6 starters, but the whole unit--especially defensive line--is undersized, and the secondary lacks experience.
Third, part of the reason why Auburn is struggling on defense is the revolving door of coordinators on that side of the ball. If you think this isn't the kind of thing that can eventually get you run out of town, just ask Will Muschamp. This will put Auburn in the position of having its fourth DC in five years. Any kind of consistency in scheme, performance, or recruiting will be difficult to maintain in such an insecure environment.
It's not like everyone was crying about Ellis Johnson's performance last season, when the unit had better talent and improved scheme over the previous season. The Johnson fire seems to be a combination of a panic move and damage control, and it seems like a sign of insecurity on Malzahn's part.
19
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:22 am to NaturalStateReb
Got to keep up with big brother in Bama.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:22 am to NaturalStateReb
Rats. Sinking ship.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:23 am to NaturalStateReb
If auburn gets will muschamp they could be scary
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:26 am to circlerebel17
quote:
If auburn gets will muschamp they could be scary
They said the same thing about Ellis Johnson. It didn't matter that he just went 0-12, he was a good DC and we should all be terrified. Which is the same thing they said about the guy from the Falcons.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:26 am to circlerebel17
It's a panic move and probably not a very good one. Auburn had key injuries and suspensions on defense this year. It won't matter who is coaching defense it won't get better until they recruit better on defense (which they are doing) and can keep them on the field.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:27 am to NaturalStateReb
It's not a panic move, it's a power move.
Gus could have kept Ellis and could have justified doing so. I don't think he has confidence in Ellis, however, and in a shifting conference where offenses are blowing up, Ellis isn't the obvious choice for any program.
Gus wanted to show that we weren't waiting around for rejuvenation and that he wants to return to competing for the SEC and beyond next season. Getting a big time DC to take that job would certainly show that that is where our focus is, and we're committed to it.
I was panicking after UGA. But I think it is pretty clear that given our bad defense, Gus was going more conservative than he wanted to try and give us a shot. Obviously that was a disaster, and a lot of that is on Gus. He decided it wasn't fair to do that to this team in the Iron Bowl, opened it up, and let out best players shine. Nonetheless, the defense we were putting out there just couldn't bolster our offensive output.
Ellis wasn't terrible, he just isn't up for this particular task.
Gus could have kept Ellis and could have justified doing so. I don't think he has confidence in Ellis, however, and in a shifting conference where offenses are blowing up, Ellis isn't the obvious choice for any program.
Gus wanted to show that we weren't waiting around for rejuvenation and that he wants to return to competing for the SEC and beyond next season. Getting a big time DC to take that job would certainly show that that is where our focus is, and we're committed to it.
I was panicking after UGA. But I think it is pretty clear that given our bad defense, Gus was going more conservative than he wanted to try and give us a shot. Obviously that was a disaster, and a lot of that is on Gus. He decided it wasn't fair to do that to this team in the Iron Bowl, opened it up, and let out best players shine. Nonetheless, the defense we were putting out there just couldn't bolster our offensive output.
Ellis wasn't terrible, he just isn't up for this particular task.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:27 am to NaturalStateReb
You are fricking retarded
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:28 am to NaturalStateReb
Being undersized really wasn't the problem for the defensive line. No pass rush was a much bigger problem and that was partly because of Carl Lawson's inury
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:29 am to NaturalStateReb
Gus could find a Big 10 school to hire him? Weak...
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:29 am to Stonehog
quote:
They said the same thing about Ellis Johnson. It didn't matter that he just went 0-12, he was a good DC and we should all be terrified. Which is the same thing they said about the guy from the Falcons.
You're a troll, but none of us were exhilarated by Ellis Johnson. He was a guy we (Gus) torched in a championship game. We knew he was a solid DC and that he could hopefully hold serve while the offense overpowered opponents. We did that for a while, but it didn't hold up.
Van Gorder was different, because he had NFL experience and we all remembered what he did at UGA. I don't know how his disaster has anything to do with Gus.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:29 am to NaturalStateReb
No, it means we're not fricking around and we're going to keep looking for the right situation. I'm not super worried about separation pains considering he was a "from the box" coordinator.
I'd imagine Auburn's decisiveness to make a move here commands a lot of envy from other certain fanbases.
I'd imagine Auburn's decisiveness to make a move here commands a lot of envy from other certain fanbases.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:29 am to circlerebel17
I actually disagree with the OP. I don't think EJ was very strong and bringing in somebody else I think will improve the unit. The key is just getting someone to stay for awhile and offer some consistency, that part I agre with. They'll recruit the talent, no doubt.
If they get WM, they could be nasty. Nobody in the SEC really has an answer for their offense when its clicking. Their D is the only thing that held them back these past two years IMO.
If they get WM, they could be nasty. Nobody in the SEC really has an answer for their offense when its clicking. Their D is the only thing that held them back these past two years IMO.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:29 am to beaver
their was issues between players and the D coaching staff. Johnson as well as Cheese had to be fired. No matter the results on the field.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:30 am to NaturalStateReb
Appreciate your interest in the program.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:31 am to NaturalStateReb
Preciate your interest in our program. No way we should give up 55 to an offense that scored 10 on OleMiss, 14 on Arkie, 13 in regulation vs LSU. You score 44 against Bama and you are supposed to win.
Auburn people want the change. We just need an average defense
Auburn people want the change. We just need an average defense
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:34 am to Pettifogger
quote:
Getting a big time DC to take that job would certainly show that that is where our focus is, and we're committed to it.
And what if he isn't able to? What then? It seems to me like Gus would have been ready to announce who the DC was going to be before he let EJ go. I'm still of the opinion, that with Gus's offense, they will never have an elite defense. Just look at the BIG12. Great offenses but meh defenses.
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:35 am to NaturalStateReb
Oh yeah, Ellis Johnson was paid 800,000 per year for putting a garbage product on the field for the last two years, and now he will be paid almost 2 million more for doing nothing. You have to excuse me if I don't shed a tear for him
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:37 am to Lg
quote:
And what if he isn't able to? What then? It seems to me like Gus would have been ready to announce who the DC was going to be before he let EJ go. I'm still of the opinion, that with Gus's offense, they will never have an elite defense. Just look at the BIG12. Great offenses but meh defenses.
I keep seeing this from Alabama fans. You act like there is no middle ground between elite defense and abysmal defense.
We're not going to field a 9-6 defense, we know that. But EJ is a top 30 coordinator getting top 60 results. It's natural to want a top 10 coordinator to try for top 30 results, isn't it?
Posted on 12/1/14 at 9:37 am to Lg
How do you know that Gus isn't ready to announce who the new DC is? Also, no one is asking for an elite defense, just a serviceable one.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News