By Matt Smith
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

Eight starters return on offense for head coach Gus Malzahn, making the sky the limit for a unit that was playing as well as any in the country at the end of 2013.

Not since Tennessee in 1998 has an SEC champion defended its title. In order to match that rare feat, Auburn will have to replace two first-round NFL Draft picks and a Heisman Trophy finalist, while at the same time navigating a treacherous schedule.

Eight starters return on offense for head coach Gus Malzahn, making the sky the limit for a unit that was playing as well as any in the country at the end of 2013. The defense was brilliant for most of the BCS National Championship Game loss to Florida State, but some key losses, due to both graduation and injury, provide some cause for concern heading into the fall. Lets look at 10 pressing issues for the defending SEC champion Tigers.

1. What will the run/pass split be?

72 percent of Auburns plays last year en route to the national title game were runs. With a new quarterback, a dominant left tackle and a returning 1,000-yard rusher at running back, it made sense for Malzahn to stick to his tried and true philosophy. Now, Nick Marshall returns under center as a more seasoned passer, and Greg Robinson and Tre Mason are off to the NFL. Add on the return of the freakish Sammie Coates and junior college star Dhaquille Williams at wide receiver, and you have the makings of a vastly improved passing attack. Auburn wont magically morph into Baylor, but expect closer to a 65-35 split between rushes and passes in the Tigers quest to defend their SEC title.

2. How will Shon Coleman fare replacing Greg Robinson?

Robinson was the consensus top left tackle in the country last season, earning All-American honors and being selected No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft. Coleman, a 22-year old sophomore, thus has big shoes to fill, but the challenge of replacing an All-American is nothing like the one Coleman faced when he battled leukemia and missed three seasons. The tools are all there for Coleman, a former four-star recruit with a unique blend size and athleticism. The inexperience factor at such an important position is a concern, however. Improved pass protection from Coleman would help expedite the development of the Tigers passing game as a whole.

3. How significant of a loss is Alex Kozan?

Unfortunately for Auburn, its a big one. The returning starting left guard injured his back in an offseason weightlifting session and will be lost for the season. Chalk it up to bad luck that seemingly always happens to teams defending titles, but Auburn must find a replacement for their 2013 Freshman All-American. If Patrick Miller wins the right tackle spot after losing it in the middle of the last season, sophomore Avery Young should kick over to the left side and move inside. Young is versatile enough to play four different positions on the offensive line if needed, so it seems natural to give him the first crack at replacing Kozan.

4. Was Tre Mason mostly a csystem running backd?

The term csystem quarterbackd has long been used in college football. But that rarely applies to running backs. However, if theres a place where it can be used, its in Malzahns offense. From Darren McFadden to Ben Tate to Onterrio McCalebb to most recently Mason, Malzahn running backs always blow up the stat sheet with a heavy emphasis on the running game. Spinning it forward, should we not expect any drop-off from Mason to seniors Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant? Statistically, there most likely will be, as the passing game numbers should increase. But in terms of efficiency, history shows that a Malzahn running game is going to work no matter who is carrying the ball.

5. Is there a secret weapon on offense?

Coates, Williams and Ricardo Louis garner the most attention, but tight end C.J. Uzomah made two critical touchdowns last season, one to complete a comeback against Mississippi State and the other to tie the Iron Bowl in the second half. The senior had just 11 catches last year, so while hes clearly one of the offenses most respected players, his name doesnt generate much sizzle nationally. A Malzahn offense is never going to produce a Mackey Award winner at tight end, but expect Uzomah to again be looked to when the Tigers are in need of a big play. Does Auburn play for the national title last year without Uzomahs clutch plays? Probably not. Keep an eye on the return Jaylon Denson as well. The junior wide receiver started 2013 strong, but injured his knee while the Tigers were still off of the national radar.

6. When, if ever, will we see Carl Lawson this season?

The biggest piece of news to come from the clichxc3xa9-fest known as SEC Media Days was that the sophomore defensive end would be lost for at least a significant portion of the season after tearing his ACL during the spring. Lawson produced 3.5 sacks as a true freshman last season and was expected to replace first-round NFL Draft pick Dee Ford in the starting lineup. Whether or not he plays this season may be determined by more than just Lawson himself. If youngsters like DaVonte Lambert and Elijah Daniel perform adequately, the cost of wasting a year of eligibility on Lawson for four or five games might outweigh the benefits of his presence.

7. How will a reshaped secondary hold up?

Cornerback Chris Davis, immortalized after the Iron Bowl, has moved on, as has safety Ryan Smith. Returning starting cornerback Jonathon Mincy will miss at least part of the opener after an offseason arrest. Uncertainty surrounds converted wide receiver Trovon Reed, who moved to cornerback after never quite clicking on offense, and safety Joshua Holsey, who tore his ACL last October. How good is junior college transfer Derrick Moncrief? Expectations are high after a strong spring for the safety, but carrying over practice field performance to SEC stadiums is no easy task.

8. Are the special teams losses replaceable?

Three-year starters Cody Parkey and Steven Clark both bid farewell to The Plains after very solid 2013 seasons. The Tigers now turn to a pair of redshirt freshmen 3 Daniel Carlson at kicker and Jimmy Hutchinson at punter. They were among the best at their respective positions coming out of high school, but there is less correlation between rankings and collegiate success at special teams positions than any other. Both primary returners are gone as well, as Mason (kickoffs) and Davis (punts and missed field goals by in-state rivals) leave a very high bar for their replacements, most likely wide receiver Quan Bray in both roles. A drop-off is inevitable from the unit as a whole, but just how much of a drop-off could go a long way to determining the fate of the 2014 Tigers.

9. How do the Tigers deal with being the hunted instead of the hunter?

Theres a reason the last 15 SEC champions have failed to defend their title. Its REALLY hard to defend a title. The Tigers were playing with house money for most of the season after going 3-9 in 2012. Despite being 10-1, Auburn was still a double-digit underdog at home to Alabama. Now, there are giant orange and blue targets on their backs as they embark on their title defense. Nick Saban, Mark Richt and Les Miles havent done it. Urban Meyer never did it. Can Malzahn finally end the 16-year drought without a repeat SEC champion? If he does, its time to talk about Malzahn as perhaps the best coach in college football.

10. How will Auburn finish in the 2014 season?

The Tigers are clearly both and SEC and national title contenders, but there are too many landmines on the schedule for Auburn to replicate last years success. Theyll squeak by Kansas State, but Mississippi State, who nearly upset Auburn in both 2010 and 2013, will finally earn its signature win under Dan Mullen on Oct. 11 in Starkville. Expect no better than a split in the two late road trips to Georgia and Alabama, who both have been stewing all summer for another crack at Auburn after infamous losses last season at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The Tigers could sneak into a major bowl (College Football Playoff bowl, BCS bowl, or whatever you prefer), but the call here is for Auburn to land in the Capital One Bowl for the first time in nine years against Big Ten West champion Iowa.