The preseason hype continues to build for the SEC favorite Auburn Tigers.

CBS Sports analyst Gary Danielson, who will call the Tigers’ game against Louisville Saturday, visited practice this week, and he told The Opening Drive on JOX FM Wednesday that he thinks the 2015 team is “much more talented” than the 2010 national championship team.

“What I saw was, from one to 85, a much more talented football team than even the team that won the national championship,” Danielson said, via 247Sports. “That team, you know, rode a great Heisman Trophy quarterback [Cam Newton]. But this team – is top to bottom – more athletes on the field, more defensive linemen, more defensive backs that can run, better technique. The discipline and the coaching, top to bottom, more competition at every position.

“Maybe, you know, a couple of spots that have a bit of worry. One would be running back because they don’t have a lot of experience at that position. And the second being that their quarterback behind, Sean White, is a nice prospect, but Jeremy Johnson just can’t afford to take a lot of hits at that position, so I think that may handcuff the way Gus (Malzahn) wants to run his offense. That’s probably what struck me most watching them out there.”

For me, Auburn’s running game and quarterback aren’t the concern. It’s the defense and just how quickly Will Muschamp can right the ship. The good news is the Tigers’ defense doesn’t have to be elite; it can be even average within the conference and still make a championship run, assuming the offense is averaging around 40 points per game.

Auburn’s 2010 team was highlighted by, really, two players — quarterback Cam Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley. And if the 2010 team taught us anything it’s that having an elite defense isn’t necessary for going undefeated and winning a national championship.

You can listen to Danielson’s interview on JOX here.