Auburn coach Gene Chizik has been called "The Will Muschamp before Will Muschamp."
Saturday, the two former Auburn defense coordinators will meet as No. 24 Auburn (4-2, 2-1 SEC) faces Florida (4-2, 2-2 SEC) at 6 p.m.
"They are very talented," Chizik said. "There is speed everywhere. On the defensive side of the ball, they are physical. They're big and they have a great plan. Let's not lose sight of who their two losses are to."
It will also be Chizik's first chance to defeat his alma mater as a head coach.
"It's not about me," Chizik said. "This is about another great SEC week for Auburn and another great opportunity for our team. That's the way I see it."
While both the Tigers and Gators enter Saturday after suffering rough losses last week, Florida has braved through two consecutive challenges after starting the season 4-0.
The Gators have had no success against the SEC West the past two weeks. After suffering a 38-10 loss at home to No. 3 Alabama, Florida traveled to No. 1 LSU and was beaten 41-11.
Florida also lost something more than the game against Alabama: senior quarterback John Brantley.
True freshman Jacoby Brissett will start against Auburn, his second start of the season.
Against LSU, Brissett had a below-average performance. He threw for 94 yards, completing eight of 14 passes. While Brissett threw a touchdown, he also threw two interceptions.
The Gators are known offensively for their speed, mainly from senior running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, two of the fastest players in the league. Demps even won the 2010 national championship in the 60-meter dash in indoor track and field and 100-meter dash in outdoor track and field.
"Here's the thing about this offense," Chizik said. "Regardless of who is at quarterback, they've got incredible speed at their tight end and wide out positions and their tailback position."
Demps' speed has allowed him to average 8.3 yards per carry in 2011, gaining 324 total yards on 39 attempts. He also has four touchdowns to his credit.
Rainey, however, has been the primary back this season.
Despite having only two touchdowns, Rainey has 467 yards on 87 carries and is also the team's leading receiver. On 16 receptions, Rainey has 245 yards and two more scores.
The Gators' running attack is crucial week in and week out considering the team ranks 98th overall in passing yards.
And Florida's defense had been complimented nationwide before allowing 801 yards in the last two games.
The Gators defense allows an average of 291 yards per game. With only 115 of those coming on the ground, Florida has been able to stop the run game effectively. Sophomore running back Michael Dyer averages 113.2 yards per game.
Although Auburn's passing offense has struggled recently, Chizik showed full confidence in junior quarterback Barrett Trotter.
"I expect him to play well, but I expect everybody around him to play well with him," Chizik said. "Barrett is our quarterback today, and he is our quarterback on Saturday. For us to be productive offensively, it has to be a complete team effort."
Chizik said he will use Kiehl Frazier when the Tigers are looking for different ways to score and get first downs. He also said the decision on junior wide receiver Emory Blake, who hasn't played since being injuried against South Carolina, will be made at game time, and senior left guard Jared Cooper will not play Saturday. Redshirt freshman Chad Slade will start in Cooper's place.
The similarities of Chizik and Muschamp are too numerous to ignore, but they could not be more opposite on the field.
While Chizik usually remains content on the field, Muschamp is known as being vocal, jumping around and breaking clipboards. He's more similar to intense assistant coach Trooper Taylor.
Chizik's first tenure on the Plains was from 2002-04 when he served as the defensive coordinator. Following Auburn's perfect season in 2004, he was hired by Texas coach Mac Brown as the Longhorn's defensive coordinator.
Muschamp arrived on the Plains in 2006 as the Tigers' defensive coordinator. Two years later, when Chizik took the head coaching job at Iowa State, Muschamp was hired as his replacement.
While at Texas, Muschamp was named the coach-in-waiting by Brown. However, a head coaching offer from Florida enticed him away from Texas.
"Ironically, we have had similar paths," Chizik said. "But he's a great football coach, and I think his accomplishments really speak for themselves as an assistant and the great defenses that he has had pretty much wherever he has been. He has had a lot of success, and that is not by accident. He does a great job."
Not only will Saturday be the first time Muschamp will return to Auburn since resigning, but it will also be the first time he and Chizik will coach on the same field simultaneously.
"It's going to be an exciting week, and I'm extremely excited for our fans," Chizik said. "It's going to be a great game atmosphere. I want to urge our great fanbase to come out and do their thing as they normally do. They know how important they are to us, especially in games like this."
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