Lofty expectations can cripple a player’s confidence, especially when the preseason hype reaches Heisman levels.

Luckily for Auburn, Jeremy Johnson’s three interceptions in Saturday’s opener against Louisville didn’t cost the sixth-ranked Tigers and the coaching staff isn’t panicking after the quarterback’s worst career outing.

“Jeremy’s going to be fine,” offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said after the game. “I’ve got as much confidence, if not more, in Jeremy than I had before the game. Jeremy was pressing. He was trying to make some plays. That happens. He did make several uncharacteristic decisions of himself. He knows that cost us and we can’t do that.

“There’s nobody more disappointed and ready to atone for their mistakes than Jeremy, and I think the best thing is you learn from your mistakes in a win, it’s a lot more fun than learning from them in a loss.”

All of Johnson’s interceptions came on bad reads, ill-timed decisions into coverage against blanketed receivers. He was hesitant from the pocket and finished 11-of-31 for 140 yards.

Known for his accuracy as Nick Marshall’s reserve each of the past two seasons, for the first time Johnson seemed rattled.

“I was just trying to make the big plays too early in the game,” Johnson said, according to ESPN. “That’s a mental mistake by me. I’m going to learn from it. I know that’s not me and I know I could have performed a lot better.”

There were some good throws, too. Johnson’s 9-yard bullet on a slant to Duke Williams during Auburn’s first possession set up a touchdown on a keeper and his 36-yard touchdown strike to Ricardo Louis was arguably his best heave of the afternoon.

Johnson had another scoring toss to Jason Smith for 56 yards, but it was wiped out by a penalty.

Auburn takes on Jacksonville State (1-0) this weekend in a tune-up prior to a road trip to Baton Rouge. Johnson will need to work out the kinks in his game before facing off with LSU’s elite secondary.

“He’ll be fine and I look for him to bounce back and have a great game this weekend,” Lashlee said.