Auburn's Chizik goes back to defensive roots

Auburn linebacker Eltoro Freeman's new position coach wasted no time pointing out his players' shortcomings. Since Gene Chizik's official title is head coach, he can afford to be blunt in assessing his new charges as the Tigers' defensive coordinator and linebacker coach for the bowl game. ''That's the type of guy I like. He isn't going to sugarcoat anything,'' Freeman said. ''That's one of the things he did in the meeting room (before the first bowl practice). He let everyone know where we were and how he felt about each and every one of us as a football player, the things we can work on.'' Chizik has gone back to his roots as a defensive coordinator after Ted Roof left for the same post at Central Florida. He'll handle those duties through the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia while also running the team and seeking successors for both Roof and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who's the new Arkansas State head coach. ''I'm doing a good juggling act right now,'' Chizik said. ''I can't put a percentage on it. Time management is something I'm trying to spend a lot of time trying to balance out right now. It's a challenge, but I'm making it work.'' He's taking over a group that ranks 11th in the Southeastern Conference in scoring and total defense. Chizik made his name as a defensive coach, though. He was Auburn's defensive coordinator for three seasons, including two Top-5 defenses and a group that yielded the nation's fewest points in an undefeated 2004 campaign. Then he followed that up as co-defensive coordinator on the next season's national title team at Texas. ''It's a part that you miss somewhat when you're a head coach, which some people do,'' Chizik said. ''But it's fun getting back in there with them. It's fun getting back in the meeting rooms. The grind of the film work and the practice film and things of that nature.'' The Tigers linebackers will just have to get used to the head man presiding over meetings. ''It feels kind of weird having him in the linebacker room,'' Jawara White said. He probably shouldn't get too used to it, though Chizik didn't totally rule out pulling double duty. ''I would never say never,'' he said, ''but right now that's not my aim.'' As for finding a fulltime defensive coordinator, Chizik said he has had ''enough time to have a really good idea of some candidates. ''There is a delicate balance there,'' he said. ''But I feel good about the knowledge of several guys who I feel would be the right fit for Auburn.'' Chizik said he doesn't have a timetable for hiring a successor to Roof, who he hired after arriving in Auburn three years ago. In the meantime, the Tigers linebackers don't seem to mind their new tutor. Jake Holland said Chizik is giving plenty of 1-on-1 intensity and brings a hard-nosed approach. ''I'm learning a lot fundamentally and it's really helping my game play,'' Holland said. ''He's really intense. That's the style of coaching I like. A lot of one-on-one coaching and that's really helping me.''