Roof eager to begin duties with AU

AUBURN — New Auburn defensive coordinator Ted Roof is well aware of his new boss’ pedigree.

Gene Chizik rose through the coaching ranks through the defensive pipeline. It’s tough to see him not having at least some input into Auburn’s defense in 2009, Roof said.

And that’s just fine by him.

“Coach Chizik is the head coach and he has the right to involve himself and be involved in every aspect of the program, which most head coaches do and I’m sure he will as well,” Roof said in a teleconference Wednesday. “I look at it as a real plus to have a guy with a defensive background that Gene has and all his expertise that he brings to his staff and to the table.

“I’m looking forward to working with him.”

Roof, a linebacker as a player and primarily a linebackers coach in his early coaching days, said he and Chizik have yet to make a decision as to whether he will be in charge of a certain position when Chizik’s staff of assistants is completely filled. Two spots on defense remain, with James Willis, who coached linebackers under Tommy Tuberville, as the only current defensive assistant on board.

Auburn still needs an offensive line coach as well.

“Coach Chizik is the head coach and those are going to be his decisions,” Roof said. “I’m just looking forward to getting started, getting down there and getting to work.”

Roof, who will arrive in Auburn today, outlined his defensive philosophy on the 10-minute call. It didn’t stray from the norm of most defensive coordinators’, as Roof said Auburn must stop the run first, make sure tackles and be sound in basic fundamentals.
“You’re only going to be as good as your base defense,” Roof said. “When you get in that thunderstorm, you’ve got to have a place you call home.”

In his one year at Minnesota, Roof transformed the country’s worst statistical defense into the 79th-best in the country. He lamented the fact that the Golden Gophers, who started the season 7-1 before losing five straight games, fell off at the end, but was pleased with the improvement he was able to inspire.

He’ll now be in charge of one of the perennially top units in the nation, but will be without two key pieces, as defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks and cornerback Jerraud Powers have both declared for the NFL Draft.

“I heard that those young men decided to declare for the draft, but I think that it was huge for our defense that Antonio Coleman is coming back,” Roof said. “He’s got a national reputation and we’re excited about his future.”

Roof said Chizik contacted Minnesota coach Tim Brewster shortly after the Golden Gophers Insight Bowl loss to receive permission to speak with Roof. Chizik and Roof met Sunday night and the deal was finalized Tuesday afternoon.

Roof said he has fond, but painful memories of playing against Pat Dye-coached Auburn teams. Roof said he spoke with Dye, but the former Auburn coach had no influence on Roof coming to Auburn.

“Back when they were running the ‘bone, they were the most physical football team that we played year in and year out,” said Roof, who played at Georgia Tech. “When you got done playing Auburn it felt like somebody had taken a rubber hose and just beat you with it.

“As a football player you always respect the physical teams, the teams that hit you in the mouth.”