Holding a fifth straight opponent to 14 points or less is not cause for a lot of celebration for Auburn's defense.

The only team yet to allow 15 points or more in a game this season, No. 12 Auburn (4-1, 2-0 SEC) has raised its own expectations to where merely limiting teams to two touchdowns or less is not sufficient.

"We wish it would be lower than that," safety Tray Matthews said. "That's how crazy our defense (is). We get mad they get a first down, they get 20 yards. We get so down on ourselves it makes us come back even hungrier."

After the defense struggled to close out games late last season, defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has instilled a heightened level of urgency and accountability this season. The emphasis is no longer about merely being good, as in allowing six opponents to 14 points or less last season, but in how to reach greatness, like ranking in the top 10 nationally in both total defense and scoring.

"Coach (Steele) always preaches that we're not what we want to be," cornerback Javaris Davis said. "Everybody takes that, put a chip on their shoulder. We got to continue to grow each week and get better and we still have a long ways to go."

Making Auburn's defensive play all the more impressive this season is the Tigers are doing so having lost four starters from last season to the NFL, including Carl Lawson and Montravius Adams, and don't appear to have a clear cut first-round NFL talent.

Jeff Holland, who leads the team in tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (3.5) and is credited with 10 hurries, and other defensive linemen might prove to be such players, but among the seniors most early NFL draft projections don't have Tre' Williams, Matthews or Stephen Roberts going above the later rounds even though they're three of Auburn's top six tacklers.

"It's really just a team defense," Malzahn said. "Talked about how are you going to replace Carl? How are you going to replace Mon? Well the message has been as a collective group and that's what they've done.

"It's been somebody new just about every game, but obviously Jeff, when it's pass situations, is really coming on and playing at a high level. I think it's just more of a unit. The second year with coach Steele, understanding his expectations, the scheme and everything that goes with it. He's allowing our guys to play fast too and I think that's important."

Steele, who has had a press conference for each of the past two weeks, credited the defensive line during a postgame radio interview on Saturday.

"It starts and ends with our defensive line," Steele said in the radio interview. "They've a very, very talented group. They have tremendous work ethic. They're very good football players. Rodney (Garner) does a great job coaching them. We keep them fresh in the rotation; we play a lot of people. ... They play with discipline and technique."

After the latest stalwart performance by the defense in the 49-10 win over Mississippi State, Malzahn wasn't aware Auburn, which is allowing just 11 points per game, was the only team to hold all opponents to so little scoring in every game so far. He said there was a difference beginning in the spring and credited players with knowing Steele's system.

"They're playing extremely hard; they're playing with that edge," Malzahn said. "That's a great stat and hopefully we can keep building upon that."

James Crepea is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @JamesCrepea.