Auburn has made a home-run Defensive Coordinator hire in Will Muschamp. The former DC at LSU, Auburn, and Texas is one of the best defensive minds in college football and will look to improve on the Tigers’ opportunistic but underperforming defenses of the past few years. Here is an early look at a position-by-position breakdown inside of Muschamp’s 4-3 defensive scheme. 

Defensive End:

The DE position will receive an immediate boost with the return of a healthy Carl Lawson to the lineup. He will be a difference maker from the start. Other returning playmakers include Elijah Daniel, DaVonte Lambert and Gimel President.  These athletic bookend DE's will thrive in a scheme that includes many stunts and delayed blitzes, as Muschamp’s scheme does.

Defensive Tackle: 

This may be the most problematic position on the Auburn defense for 2015. Auburn will be graduating Gabe Wright, Ben Bradley, and Angelo Blackson, all of whom made many plays on the front line. They will look to Montravius Adams to become the main playmaker at the DT position. They will also look for newcomers to step up. Players such as Devaroe Lawence, Dontavius Russell, and Brian Walsh will need to become playmakers on the inside on the Defensive Line.

Linebackers:

Auburn is returning most of, if not all of its playmakers at Linebacker. Players such as Kris Frost, Cassanova McKinzy, Anthony Swain, and Justin Garrett are all returning. Plus keeping Tre Williams off the field could get increasingly difficult considering his size and ability. There will be plenty of large, fast playmakers in Muschamp’s linebacker driven defense. Watch highlights of the 2007 Auburn-Florida game to see Muschamp’s defense at its best.

Secondary:

This is without a doubt the youngest unit on Auburn’s football team. Only Jonathon Mincy graduates from the secondary, leaving playmakers in Jonathon Jones and TJ Davis at the Cornerback position. Role players such as Mackenro Alexander and will likely step into Nickel-back roles and try to make plays there. Also, don’t be surprised if Robinsen Therezie makes the move from the Ellis Johnson created STAR position to his more natural position of CB.  At Safety, it’s the same story. Only graduating Jermaine Whitehead from that unit, playmakers such as Rudy Ford, Joshua Holsey, Stephen Roberts and Derrick Moncrief to lock down the middle of the field.

After looking at the 2015 Auburn defense on a position by position basis, there are some very obvious strengths, but also some glaring weaknesses  and questions. Who will step up at DT to play alongside Montravius Adams? Who will win the Mike linebacker job?  How well will Carl Lawson perform coming off a lost season? The Auburn family will most certainly be watching throughout spring and fall practices to see the answers to those questions.

War Eagle!