HOOVER, Ala. – Last year defense was Auburn’s weak link.
In 2014, the Tigers’ defense gave up an average of 398.9 yards of offense per game, including 12.3 yards per catch. 
Heading into the 2015 campaign, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn turns to new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to bring the defense up to speed while he looks to extend the reign of the Tigers’ prolific offense with a new quarterback. 
Muschamp returns to the sidelines after a rocky debut as a head coach at Florida despite establishing the Gators as one of the top defensive teams in the conference. 
Malzahn said he is looking forward to having a former head coach to bounce ideas off of as one of the youngest coaches in the league. 
Muschamp has already brought his trademark passion to the defense.
“It’s a different atmosphere at practice,” said senior linebacker Kris Frost. “As far as our defense is concerned, we are all excited. We feel like we have a new breathe of life in us … I’ve never see it so positive before, with everything circling around the team.”
On the field, Muschamp has a talented group of returners to develop, including senior defensive back Jonathan Jones, who was named to the 2015 Jim Thorpe award watch list. 
In 2014, Jones finished with six interceptions, good for ninth nationally and fifth-most in a season for a Tiger. Jones is confident of his ability to contribute the defense and sets high individual goals for his final season. 
“My goal for this fall is to not give up any completions…and that includes more interceptions,” Jones said. “Our first job is to make sure [opponents] don’t complete the ball, and I definitely want to improve on that and not take a step backwards.” 
After the departure of former quarterback Nick Marshall, junior Jeremy Johnson finally gets his opportunity to step into the starting job. 
“My approach is just to stay humble,” Johnson said. “I’m blessed to be in this situation…I’m just ready to lead my team each and every game, and just try to be ready every game.” 
Although this is his first year as the starter, Johnson heads into 2015 with a start in each of first two seasons and the confidence of his coach.  
“His coaches and his teammates have a lot of confidence in him, and he’s earned that,” Malzahn said. “I really appreciate the way that he responded to not being the starter the last couple of years, when he could have started for the majority of the teams, and the way he’s really responded is really something special.”
Johnson will not have to do it by himself with a receiving corps that features its leading wideout from last season, senior D’haquille Williams.  
In 2014, Williams spearheaded the Tigers’ passing attack with a team-leading 730 total receiving yards, five touchdowns and 73 yards per game. 
“We have probably the best wide receiver in the country right now (Duke Williams), but not only him, we’ve got Ricardo Louis and Melvin Ray,” Johnson said. “I’ve just got a lot of weapons around me, and like I said, those guys are going to make a lot of plays for me this year, so I feel very, very good about it.”