Following a loss to Alabama in the Iron Bowl in which they surrendered 55 points, Auburn has fired defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson. Johnson joined the Tigers in 2012 and built a defense that helped carry the team to the national championship game last year, but many around the program felt that the defense regressed this season.
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According to media reports, the loss to Alabama was the final nail in the coffin. 55 points is a lot to give up to anybody, regardless of how good the team is, and any team would be upset after they scored 44 points and lost a football game.
For the season, Auburn ranks near the bottom of the SEC in scoring defense and total defense. The Tigers have given up at least 30 points in their last six conference games, four of which have been losses. It has been a steep drop-off for Auburn, which was ranked in the top 10 for most of the early part of the season, even cracking the top five for a few weeks.
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Malzahn weighed in about the firing by releasing a statement that read, "At this time I felt it was best for our program to make a change with our defensive coordinator. Ellis is a true professional and I would like to thank him for his contributions at Auburn."
Johnson was gracious about his dismissal, saying he understood why it happened and thanking Malzahn and Auburn for the opportunity.
There is no official lead candidate to replace Johnson, but sources are already reporting that there is "mutual interest" between Auburn and Will Muschamp, who was recently dismissed as the head coach at Florida. Muschamp previously spent two seasons as Auburn's defensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007.
The highlights from Saturday's Iron Bowl are below.
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