What can Auburn’s defense do to end late year slides?

(TNS) — Auburn’s defense has improved dramatically during Kevin Steele’s two years as defensive coordinator, but the group has done so despite ending each season with back-to-back subpar performances.

In 2016, Auburn was allowing 334.5 yards and 14.3 points entering the Iron Bowl, but losses to Alabama and Oklahoma saw those figures jump to 361.9 and 17.1 respectively.

Last season, the Tigers were allowing 303.3 yards and 16.4 points per game after the Iron Bowl but losses in the SEC Championship Game and Peach Bowl caused those stats to rise to 319.4 and 18.5.

The leaders of Auburn’s defense, coaches and players alike, are trying to ensure that doesn’t happen again in 2018 and see if there are any adjustments that can be made before the season that can aid the Tigers down the stretch.

“Our defense is very aware of that, and our leadership is aware of that. It’s something they talk about all the time: that we’ve got to figure out a way on that end to finish better,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said. “That’s just part of trying to take that next step and look at the areas you can improve on. That’s exactly what you hear from them.”

Middle linebacker Deshaun Davis and defensive tackle Dontavius Russell, who will likely be captains this season, each put the onus on the defensive players to focus on themselves.

“We know as a defense, we’ve got to handle adversity a lot better than what we have been doing,” Davis said. “A lot of times, when the offense doesn’t move the ball, our body language changes. A lot of things change on defense, and that shouldn’t be.

“As a leader, that’s something that I’m trying to correct. That’s something we as a defense are focusing on, just controlling the defense and playing the next snap. Not worrying about what’s going on the other side of the ball. Just controlling who we are.”

Auburn has allowed 28 or more points in the last two games of each of the last two seasons, but the offense has also scored more than 20 points in just one of those games, all losses.

Auburn failed to score 20 points in seven of its nine losses during the last two seasons, of which three were still one-possession games and a fourth loss was a one-score game in which the Tigers scored over 20 points.

“We got to finish,” Russell said. “We got to handle those adverse situations, the negativity that comes up in every season. It is a little piece of ‘let’s finish it, let’s improve.’ We have that talent … it’s just handle it.”

Though the players want to focus on their side of the ball, if the offense is struggling it does impact the defense, and vice versa, which raises the question of whether tactical changes can be taken when the offense is not as effective.

Steele could elect to be more aggressive in such instances, either by blitzing more or by having corners take bigger risks in trying to jump routes and create takeaways. Such changes would likely have to be installed before the season.

Malzahn isn’t imploring any adjustments though and made it clear he’s been thrilled with Steele’s work.

“I’m real pleased with Kevin,” Malzahn said. “You look, I think we were 80th (71st total, 54th scoring) on defense before he got here, and the next two years we’re in the top 10 or right at it. He’s one of the best in the business, and I’m very pleased and we’re very fortunate to have him as our defensive coordinator.”