Turnovers, making Cook throw among defensive keys

Auburn had a performance to forget on defense last weekend against Penn State, but its about to face an opponent that can get them back on track.

The Missouri Tigers aren’t exactly an offensive powerhouse, so there’s plenty of opportunity for Auburn to get back on track defensively and right its (many) wrongs. There weren’t really any positives from the team’s blowout last week, though, so there’s a lot of work to do if the team definitively wants to beat Mizzou.

Here are four defensive keys Auburn should look to follow if it wants to get a win in Jordan-Hare on Saturday:

Don’t get fascinated with big weapons

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It was Auburn’s mission last week to limit wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley, and it did that job decently — it just allowed other wide receivers to beat them far worse than Tinsley did, and that can’t happen again.

The biggest weapon Mizzou has in its receiving corps is sophomore Dominic Lovett, who is currently averaging just over 17 yards per reception and has caught two touchdowns for Missouri thus far. Auburn should look to limit him, but it also shouldn’t get distracted by him, either, lest Missouri’s other receivers have a field day like Penn State did the week prior. If the Tigers keep a steady eye on Mizzou’s other ball-catchers, they should be alright.

Seriously, generate pressure

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It doesn’t matter if you’re Nathan Peterman or Patrick Mahomes — pressure is the ruin of any quarterback, and a complete lack of it is where all of them will kill a defense. Auburn’s pitiful performance from its defensive line and edge rushers is what allowed Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford to complete 73 percent of his passes for 9.4 yards per attempt.

Brady Cook is another quarterback that won’t make things happen outside of his comfort zone, and so bringing the pass rush is an absolute must if Auburn wants to…