Tre Williams Arkansas State.JPG

(JULIE BENNETT)

When Kevin Steele was introduced as Auburn's newest defensive coordinator on Jan. 5, the final question of his introductory press conference was about the Tigers' corps of linebackers -- a unit that was losing all three of its starters to graduation.

Linebacker was a perceived area of weakness for Auburn heading into this season, but on that day, Steele didn't express any concern about the unit's lack of experience.

"When you start talking about players and position groups, you need a full folder on it," Steele said in January. "We've got time for that. We don't kick off till September. With offseason program, spring practice, it's just fair to the players before you start assessing them to say we have this, we don't have that, is let the process go through.

"The key is we have the right guys on the field when we kick it off in the fall."

With only one player returning with significant experience at linebacker for Auburn, questions remained throughout the spring, summer and into fall practices. When Auburn took the field for its season opener against Clemson two weeks ago, many of those questions began to be answered.

As linebacker Deshaun Davis put it after that game: "Auburn's linebacker corps is back."

Maintaining that play and production was crucial, though. Doing it in the season opener is great, but being consistent with that on a week-to-week basis is what the group will ultimately be judged by.

Against Arkansas State last weekend, the linebackers followed it up with another solid outing, which Steele described as a "nice job" against the Red Wolves.

"They've been good downhill and fitting on the run game," Steele said. "The pass game, they've done what we asked them to do. They've done a nice job. Now, are we where we need to be? No. They would tell you that. We've got a lot of improvement to go. A lot."

Against Arkansas State, Auburn allowed just 66 rushing yards and 1.9 yards per carry. That performance against the run was the second straight quality outing for Auburn in a row, as the team held Clemson to 151 yards on 44 carries (3.4 yards per attempt).

Defensive end Carl Lawson lauded the linebackers for their ability to fit the run gaps on a consistent basis, crediting new linebackers coach Travis Williams for the job he has done with the group since the offseason. It was a sentiment echoed by Steele this week.

"I really love to have any of those guys, man," safety Tray Matthews said. "It's just a great feeling to have some fast linebackers right there in the middle and on the outside."

One of the few poor plays among the linebackers came last weekend, when Tre' Williams had blown coverage in the passing game that resulted in the Red Wolves' longest play from scrimmage: a 68-yard pass down the middle of the field that set up Arkansas State's first touchdown.

So far through two games, Auburn's linebackers -- namely Davis, Williams, Darrell Williams and Montavious Atkinson -- have combined for 35 total tackles, with 12 apiece coming from the Williamses.

It doesn't matter who among the group, which should include graduate transfer T.J. Neal this weekend against No. 17 Texas A&M, is making the plays either. It just matters that the linebackers have stepped up to the challenge so far this year, answering one of the biggest offseason questions about the defense and easing any concerns about the unit's lack of experience.

"The biggest strength all around is we all nasty, got the same mentality, got the same drive of where we want to be," Darrell Williams said. "Everybody's buying into that and that's our strength. Our strength is our chemistry and our bond."