Dynamic Duo: Chizik & Roof

     While Auburn's defense has been questionable in the first half, you've got to love the way they've been able to make halftime adjustments. Unlike Tuberville's defensive coordinators, Ted Roof has done a great job of recognizing what offenses are trying to do and adjust to that in the second half...effectively shutting them down. In the second half, Auburn held Mississippi St. to 136 total yards and a touchdown while keeping Clemson to 160 total yards and a touchdown.

     The reason? Chizik and Roof. Let's break it down. Chizik: former Auburn DC during the 2004 13-0 run. Hired away to Texas as DC where they won the 2005 National Championship. Chizik was then hired as the head coach at Iowa St. (a job he had to take if he ever wanted to land the big one). He remained there for the 2007 and 2008 seasons before coming to Auburn. Roof: had a strong coaching career within the Duke program, specializing in linebackers. Served as Duke's head coach for 4 and a half years, and decided he was best as a DC. Almost left for Louisville, but instead headed to Minnesota as the DC. In just one year there, Roof improved one of the worst defenses in the country, to top-50 in the country. Roof was then hired to Auburn.

     With these two men collaborating at halftime, it's fun to see the result in the second half. In every game this year, the defense has come out in the second half with a better awareness and much more speed...flying to the ball. The defensive line has been able to get much more penetration while the linebackers are breaking up plays in the backfield. Savage and Ethridge seem to work together much better, eliminating any threat of the deep ball.

     This is all good news for Auburn, who's needed the defense to come up big in the second half to cover the offenses' struggles. But let's be honest, it'd be nice to see them play to their ability for four quarters.