The Auburn Defense Prepares for "Amen Corner"

photo by Julie Bennett of AL.com sports

It is no secret what the next chapter of Auburn's schedule means. Auburn is now 6-2 and is only two TDs from being undefeated this season.  Of course, I consider the game in College Station against Texas A and M a week from Saturday to be the beginning of Auburn's quest to navigate "Amen Corner" successfully. I really believe that the early kickoff will favor the Auburn Football team. 

Video courtesy of Justin Ferguson & SEC Country

Here are some of my views on the Auburn defensive unit going into the game with the Aggies:

Auburn is now 14th in the USA in total team defense. They are allowing 302.8 yards a game and 15.6 points a game which ranks 11th in the USA.

Auburn has 25 sacks for this season and Jeff Holland leads the team with 8 sacks. I expect Jeff Holland and Nick Coe to continue to perform well coming from the edge. Derrick Brown continues to harass opposing QBs and seemed to be in the backfield on every play in the Arkansas game. I would watch for Dontavius Russell at defensive tackle. I have noticed that he is often double teamed which allows an Auburn linebacker to make a play. I counted at least 27 tackles by the defensive line against Arkansas which is much higher than average in the SEC.

The linebacker unit is led by Deshaun Davis who has 19 solo tackles and 21 assists and Darrell Williams who has 17 solo tackles and 21 assists. Tre Williams has been injured, but was able to play a few series in the Arkansas game. This line backing unit is one of the best in the SEC when they are all on the field together. 

In the secondary, Javaris Davis and Tray Matthews were not able to play in the Arkansas game.  I hope that both players are back by the Texas A and M game. Their leadership will be needed in future games. Nick Ruffin, Daniel Thomas, and Jamel Dean have played well in their absence and have made some key tackles and provided good pass protection. 

 I commend Kevin Steele for building and directing this Auburn defensive unit. Here is the current Auburn defensive depth chart.

BUCK 

Jeff Holland , junior 

Paul James III , redshirt-junior 

T.D. Moultry, freshman

NOSE TACKLE 

Dontavius Russell, redshirt-junior 

Byron Cowart, junior 

Tyrone Truesdell, freshman

DEFENSIVE TACKLE 

Derrick Brown , sophomore 

Andrew Williams, redshirt-junior

DEFENSIVE END 

Marlon Davidson , sophomore 

Nick Coe , redshirt-freshman 

Markaviest Bryant, freshman

STRONG-SIDE LINEBACKER 

Darrell Williams, junior 

Richard McBryde, redshirt-sophomore

MIDDLE LINEBACKER 

Deshaun Davis , redshirt-junior 

K.J. Britt, freshman 

Chandler Wooten, freshman

WEAK-SIDE LINEBACKER 

Tre' Williams, senior 

Montavious Atkinson , junior

NICKEL 

Daniel Thomas , sophomore 

Jeremiah Dinson, redshirt-sophomore 

Jordyn Peters, freshman

BOUNDARY CORNERBACK 

Javaris Davis, redshirt-sophomore 

Jamel Dean, redshirt-sophomore 

John Broussard Jr., redshirt-freshman

STRONG SAFETY 

Tray Matthews, redshirt-senior 

Nick Ruffin, senior 

Jeremiah Dinson, redshirt-sophomore

FREE SAFETY 

Stephen Roberts, senior 

Daniel Thomas , sophomore 

Jason Smith, redshirt-senior

FIELD CORNERBACK 

Carlton Davis, junior 

Traivon Leonard, freshman

Keep the faith and War Eagle!