Hugh Freeze explains what he appreciates most about new DC Ron Roberts, why he fits

The SEC is known for having some of the most dominant defenses in college football. And that is why Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze brought in Ron Roberts as his new defensive coordinator. During a recent press conference, Freeze explained what he appreciates most about Roberts and why he’s a fit at Auburn.

“Yeah, I believe in creating negative plays on defense, stopping the run, and trying to take away what they do best. Their best passing plays, and I know Ron feels the same. He’s multiple, and he’s aggressive,” said Freeze. “And if you can get people behind the chains, it’s uncomfortable. Best plays caller, and you gotta be great on third down and in the redzone.

“We’re going to give up yards today to these offenses in most games. It’s just how you give them up and where you give them up. Ron’s a veteran. He’s trained most of the top defensive coordinators in the country. I really don’t fool with that side too much. I have great confidence in that staff that we’re putting together… A staple of Ron’s philosophy on defense is we’re going to work hard; hard work. I think that can sometimes overcome maybe some deficit in talent that we might have early on.”

Roberts, a 31-year coaching veteran, has been named defensive coordinator at Auburn, in mid December. Roberts has 11 years of experience as a collegiate head coach at Delta State and Southeastern Louisiana. Most recently, he was the defensive coordinator at Baylor for the last three seasons.

Freeze explains decision to hire Philip Montgomery as Auburn OC

Freeze hit the ground running in hiring his coaching staff, filling out every part of his new staff except for a wide receivers coach. Former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery was hired as the Tiger’s new offensive coordinator, and on National Signing Day Freeze explained what went into the hiring decision.

“Finding somebody who’s very similar offensively because I don’t really want to change kind of the philosophy of the offense and the things we do, and then someone who’s done it at a very very high level for a sustained period of time,” Freeze said.

Finding someone who meshes schematically is definitely one of the highest priorities in hiring a new coach. And if experience is one too, Montgomery definitely has that too, spending eight seasons at the high school coaching ranks before landing his first Division I coaching job with Houston. Montgomery spent five seasons coaching with the Cougars before becoming Baylor‘s offensive coordinator, spending two years in Waco before his latest eight year tenure as Tulsa’s head coach.