In terms of its on-field performance, Auburn has definitely regressed over the last two seasons. After reaching the 2013 BCS National Championship Game and finishing with a 12-2 mark, the Tigers slipped to 8-5 two seasons ago and fell to 7-6 last year.

Regarding the coaching staff, Gus Malzahn has been a constant over the last three seasons. But the same can’t be said about Auburn’s defensive coordinator, as the Tigers are on their third since 2014.

Will Muschamp replaced Ellis Johnson for the 2015 season, but the former Florida head coach has moved on to be the head man at South Carolina. In comes Kevin Steele, who arrives on The Plains after just one season as LSU’s defensive coordinator.

Obviously, the Malzahn-Muschamp marriage didn’t work, and a change had to be made after the Tigers were next-to-last in the SEC in total defense in 2015 following a ninth-place finish in that category a year earlier. But if quarterback play is any indication, defense wasn’t their only issue last season.

Nevertheless, despite Auburn’s struggles with the passing game in 2015, the Tigers have retained offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. The biggest change on offense for AU has been at co-offensive coordinator/receivers coach, where one former Tigers QB has replaced another.

Dameyune Craig left Auburn for LSU 11 days after helping Malzahn land a top 10 group of wideouts. After less than a month with Arizona State, Kodi Burns returned to The Plains to replace Craig. Burns coached running backs and receivers at Samford and Middle Tennessee, respectively, over the last two seasons.

What will be new in 2016?

The biggest new thing for Auburn this season will be the addition of Steele, who has faced Auburn while coaching at LSU, Alabama and Tennessee. He enters 2016 having spent six years as a defensive coordinator in the SEC and ACC.

Steele had a rough go of it as Baylor’s head coach, finishing 9-36 — including a 1-31 mark in conference play — with the Bears from 1999-2002. He’s also coached at Clemson and Florida State, along with three other schools and has NFL experience as an assistant with the Carolina Panthers.

Expect Steele to go with multiple schemes at Auburn. His tendency is to run some 4-3, a little 4-2-5 and will possibly go with a 3-4 look by standing up some ends and linebackers.

Using Carlton Davis and company, look for Steele to go with man coverage on the outside with a good amount of coverage help over the top by the safeties. Rudy Ford, who led Auburn and finished third in the SEC with 118 tackles last season, could be even more productive playing in Steele’s system.

Steele will be Auburn’s fifth defensive coordinator in six seasons. Ted Roof capped the last of his three-year run in 2011 and was followed by Brian VanGorder in 2012. Johnson was the Tigers’ DC in 2013-14, and Muschamp replaced him for 2015.

Better/worse in 2016?

Steele has had his moments as a defensive coordinator. His group at LSU finished fifth in the SEC in total defense last season, which wasn’t bad. But he was also Clemson’s defensive coordinator when the Tigers surrendered 589 total yards in West Virginia’s 70-33 Orange Bowl romp five seasons ago, so there’s that.

But there are reasons to be hopeful entering the 2016 season. In addition to returnees Ford and Davis, Steele has decent talent on the defensive line, led by Carl Lawson, Montravius Adams and Byron Cowart.

Losing three starting linebackers from last year is obviously a concern. But Steele is getting a fresh start, and he has enough pieces in place for at least an improvement over what Auburn has done on defense the last couple of campaigns.

Coincidentally, the Tigers kick off their season on Sept. 3 against one of Steele’s former teams — Clemson — which features QB and 2015 Heisman Trophy candidate Deshaun Watson. It’s a daunting season-opening test, but we’ll see right away if Steele and company can handle it.