aubiefifty 17,488 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 decaturdaily.com Matthews expects Auburn's defense to be better in 2017 | Auburn Sports Josh Vitale For The Decatur Daily 6-7 minutes Auburn defensive back Tray Matthews (28) expects the teams defense to be even better this season in defensive coordinator Kevin Steele's second season. [BUTCH DILL/ASSOCIATED PRESS] Tray Matthews has heard ever since last season ended about how Auburn had a top-10 defense in 2016. About how much that defense improved in its first year under coordinator Kevin Steele. All of that is good, the senior safety said last week at SEC Media Days in Hoover. But it also no longer means much of anything. “We did some great things last year, but that was last year,” Matthews said. “We can’t worry about things that happened in the past. We’re focused on the future.” Steele’s first defense on the Plains was the best Auburn has had in 10 years dating to 2007. The Tigers’ mark of 361.9 yards per game allowed ranked 28th nationally, which was up from 71st in 2015. Their mark of 17.1 points per game allowed ranked seventh nationally, which was up from 45th in 2015. Matthews expects more in 2017. “Our defense will be aggressive. We’ll be physical, we’ll be fast and we will be hungry,” Matthews said. “We’re a very good team. We want to be great. We have the components to do that. We have the culture to get that done.” He knows there are areas the defense can improve, too. Auburn’s ranked 88th nationally with 17 turnovers forced and scored only one defensive touchdown — Montravius Adams’ 13-yard fumble return at Mississippi State on Oct. 8 — in 13 games. Matthews said Steele emphasized both during the spring and summer. The Tigers have to replace a number of talented pieces — Adams and Carl Lawson on the defensive line and Josh Holsey and Rudy Ford in the secondary — but they also return seven starters from last year’s breakout unit. “I really like where our defense is right now. They're so much further ahead,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “They had that edge, they had that confidence, and I think we've got a chance to be really good on defense.” Last year, sitting in the same third-floor suite at The Wynfrey Hotel he was Thursday, Malzahn said he thought the 2016 Tigers had a chance to have “one of the better defenses we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Back then, Auburn was coming off a 2015 campaign during which it ranked as one of the worst defenses in the SEC. This year, given the 2016 success, any claim that Auburn will “be really good on defense” isn’t nearly so hard to believe. In fact, it’s become the expectation. “I believe we will perform up to expectations,” Matthews said. “We’re not buying into the hype, and we’re not thinking about any of that other stuff in the news. We’re ready to play football.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auburn defensive back Tray Matthews (28) expects the teams defense to be even better this season in defensive coordinator Kevin Steele's second season. [BUTCH DILL/ASSOCIATED PRESS] Tray Matthews has heard ever since last season ended about how Auburn had a top-10 defense in 2016. About how much that defense improved in its first year under coordinator Kevin Steele. All of that is good, the senior safety said last week at SEC Media Days in Hoover. But it also no longer means much of anything. “We did some great things last year, but that was last year,” Matthews said. “We can’t worry about things that happened in the past. We’re focused on the future.” Steele’s first defense on the Plains was the best Auburn has had in 10 years dating to 2007. The Tigers’ mark of 361.9 yards per game allowed ranked 28th nationally, which was up from 71st in 2015. Their mark of 17.1 points per game allowed ranked seventh nationally, which was up from 45th in 2015. Matthews expects more in 2017. “Our defense will be aggressive. We’ll be physical, we’ll be fast and we will be hungry,” Matthews said. “We’re a very good team. We want to be great. We have the components to do that. We have the culture to get that done.” He knows there are areas the defense can improve, too. Auburn’s ranked 88th nationally with 17 turnovers forced and scored only one defensive touchdown — Montravius Adams’ 13-yard fumble return at Mississippi State on Oct. 8 — in 13 games. Matthews said Steele emphasized both during the spring and summer. The Tigers have to replace a number of talented pieces — Adams and Carl Lawson on the defensive line and Josh Holsey and Rudy Ford in the secondary — but they also return seven starters from last year’s breakout unit. “I really like where our defense is right now. They're so much further ahead,” coach Gus Malzahn said. “They had that edge, they had that confidence, and I think we've got a chance to be really good on defense.” Last year, sitting in the same third-floor suite at The Wynfrey Hotel he was Thursday, Malzahn said he thought the 2016 Tigers had a chance to have “one of the better defenses we’ve had since I’ve been here.” Back then, Auburn was coming off a 2015 campaign during which it ranked as one of the worst defenses in the SEC. This year, given the 2016 success, any claim that Auburn will “be really good on defense” isn’t nearly so hard to believe. In fact, it’s become the expectation. “I believe we will perform up to expectations,” Matthews said. “We’re not buying into the hype, and we’re not thinking about any of that other stuff in the news. We’re ready to play football.”
AUpreacherman22 3,908 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 I think being better in 2017 is a reasonable expectation. I think the offense will help out a lot more. The 2 obvious keys are 1. We need a few guys to step up on the DL (especially pass rush) and 2. The Secondary has to stay healthy. We are good but thin back there. Any chance Smoke can skip his SR year and play for us this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,567 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 The pass rush from the DL is what I am most concerned about. We have got to get some push there from more than just one guy. Marlon is great, but we need to have multiple threats on the DL that are going to at least threaten a sack. If we don't it won't matter how good the DBs are, they can't hold coverage forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AuburnNTexas 7,242 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 With 7 returning starters and multiple players returning who saw significant playing time and second year in same system you would expect and improved defense even with some losses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McLoofus 35,182 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 1 hour ago, lkeel75 said: The pass rush from the DL is what I am most concerned about. We have got to get some push there from more than just one guy. Marlon is great, but we need to have multiple threats on the DL that are going to at least threaten a sack. If we don't it won't matter how good the DBs are, they can't hold coverage forever. I think we take a step forward in pass rush this season (no pun intended?). James has been getting some well-deserved love lately, and Holland is a freak athlete who's just been quietly learning the college game the last couple seasons. And Cowart might be a revelation at DT on passing downs. Makes a lot of sense on paper, anyway- a guy who is smaller and much more athletic than most DTs, but just as strong and capable of getting a push. Some unfounded optimism in that, for sure, but I think it not crazy to suggest that we might have the most *athletic* DL in the conference. Especially if we add Coe into the mix this season, although I hope we don't have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKEEL75 2,567 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 I do agree that there is cause for optimism, but in my opinion there were several times last year where we just could not get a push from our front 4 and that is even with Lawson & Adams in. Maybe that had to do with the scheme we were running. I just can't stand to see a QB sit back and have more than 4 seconds to get rid of the ball. I would really like to see a push from Cowart up the middle to cause some disruption but I hope he doesn't do what he would do at DE and take himself out of the run play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger 8,835 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Our pass rush with just 4 has seemed underwhelming for the better part of Gus' tenure. Dee Ford made some great timely plays, and Lawson and Adams were forces for us but as @lkeel75 said even when they were in there it seemed like it could have been more consistent. Also random and off topic, @lkeel75, I swear I thought your name was I-Keel75 but I just realized its L-Keel75 lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG 34,126 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 I am expecting a lot out of Tray this year. I imagine he will deliver. Going to need him to be a leader on the field just like he has been vocally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Knight 514 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 Not to be negative, but it seems like being better than the year before should always be the goal and or expectation. I will say that I agree having our coordinator for the second year should instill some confidence moving forward. Very excited to see us continue our very long journey back to being an Auburn defense we can be proud of. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFE12 9,192 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 2 hours ago, lkeel75 said: I do agree that there is cause for optimism, but in my opinion there were several times last year where we just could not get a push from our front 4 and that is even with Lawson & Adams in. Maybe that had to do with the scheme we were running. I just can't stand to see a QB sit back and have more than 4 seconds to get rid of the ball. I would really like to see a push from Cowart up the middle to cause some disruption but I hope he doesn't do what he would do at DE and take himself out of the run play. Yeah but if course there were all them times CL was getting double and triple teamed all while also being held without calls in several games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WFE12 9,192 Posted July 18, 2017 Share Posted July 18, 2017 1 hour ago, DAG said: I am expecting a lot out of Tray this year. I imagine he will deliver. Going to need him to be a leader on the field just like he has been vocally. Yeah man..He is pretty close with Reuben Foster and tries to adapt his game by his. If he can have some production in getting into the backfield and being a heat seeking missile like Foster was that'd great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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