Growth and improvement have been the foundation for the success of this year's Auburn football team.
From game one against Washington State in August, this team has continued to get better and better each week, eventually earning a chance to play in the BCS National Championship game against No. 1 Florida State.
Going into the 2013 season, Auburn was trying to rebound from a program-worst 3-9 record, which featured one of the worst defensive teams in Auburn history.
When defensive line coach Rodney Garner was hired away from Georgia to return to his alma mater at Auburn, he had one goal: Help bring physical toughness back to The Plains.
Since the first game against Washington State, the defensive line has improved greatly and laid a foundation for Garner to build on for the future.
"I've seen tremendous growth from these guys thus far," Garner said during the BCS National Championship Media Day session. "I think they have really bought in to what we are asking them to do."
This season Auburn has improved from being ranked No. 100 in rush defense in 2012 to being ranked No. 64 this season, giving up 164 yards per game.
"For us defensively, it all starts upfront," said senior defensive end Nosa Equae. "Our main concern is stopping the run, and when it's time to get after the quarterback we need to get after the quarterback and affect him as well."
A big reason for the improvement in 2013 has been the emphasis Garner has placed on being the most physical team in the country, and that emphasis has made this team a much more physical team than they have been the past few years.
"Without a doubt," said defensive tackle Gabe Wright. "Guys are much more physical, and it all goes to show the level of confidence that coach Garner had in us. He played in the league and understands the physicality that it takes. He has had a big hand in our growth and improvement this season."
It was not always easy for Wright with Garner. When Garner first arrived it was tough for Wright to listen to the changes he needed to make to become the player Garner wanted him to be.
"I can tell you the transition from Gabe Wright to me was a very difficult one for him," Garner said. "He probably thought I was crazy at first, but he embraced it and I think he has definitely improved from a physicality stand point."
This season Wright has doubled his tackles for losses from 2012 from 4.5 to 8.5 this season, and Garner credits this to him being a more physical player.
"He's always been a very talented kid that has a lot of athletic ability for a defensive lineman," Garner said. "But the physicality part of it was not something he embraced before, so I have definitely seen him grow in the physicality department and take his game to another level. If he can continue to grow in that area he can be a very good defensive lineman."
Now just days before playing for a national championship, Wright is thankful to Garner for being tough on him, and his fellow defensive linemen.
"I can't talk enough about the guy because he stayed on me," Wright said. "He's had his weeks with me, Montravius (Adams), Carl (Lawson) and even with Dee (Ford). I think that's what I like most about the guy he treats all his players the same."
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