One of Auburn's biggest points of emphasis this spring didn't come on offense or defense.

Instead, the Tigers made special teams a focal point of their 15 spring practices, particularly when it came to kick and punt coverage.

"We weren't very good in the punt cover or the kickoff cover (last season), so that's really been our focus," Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said.

Auburn finished last season dead last among FBS teams in kickoff coverage and ranked 109th in punt coverage. The Tigers allowed opponents to average 27.2 yards per kick return on 25 attempts last season, with one touchdown, while also allowing 11.43 yards per punt return, including one touchdown.

It was the most glaring issue for Auburn throughout last season, and something Malzahn wanted to be sure to address this offseason.

First, Malzahn reassigned the special teams coordinator position on the staff, with tight ends/H-backs coach Larry Porter assuming the role from running backs coach Tim Horton, who reclaimed the role of recruiting coordinator that Porter held last season.

Then, throughout spring, Auburn spent more time doing live special teams reps -- more so than the Tigers have done in prior years under Malzahn.

"I think that has been a really good thing for us," Malzahn said.

While special teams has generally been a strength for Auburn in recent years largely thanks to the excellence of kicker Daniel Carlson, the Tigers fell off last season, particularly in its coverage units. The low points came against LSU and Arkansas in back-to-back weeks in October.

Against LSU, Auburn allowed a game-changing 75-yard punt return touchdown to DJ Chark in the fourth quarter as Malzahn's team underwent a 20-point collapse in Death Valley. The following week, Arkansas' De'Vion Warren had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown late in the third quarter of Auburn's 52-20 win in Fayetteville.

"I know we've gotten better, and a lot of that has been an attitude," Malzahn said. "It's been good for Coach Porter to kind of evaluate everything. We're in a good spot with the coverage units, at least with information that we have through the live work going into the fall."

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.