AUBURN, Ala. — The standard mention of Auburn by any national media outlet usually includes two things — quarterback Cam Newton’s Heisman Trophy candidacy and the defense’s vulnerability, especially in the secondary.

“You hear the defense, basically the secondary, is making us weak,” safety Ikeem Means said. “We’re fed up of hearing that talk on ESPN, and that we’re weak links. We want to improve.”

There’s plenty of room to do so. After being torched for 428 passing yards by Arkansas, the majority of damage being done by backup Tyler Wilson and not Heisman candidate Ryan Mallett, the Tigers’ secondary is trying to get back to the basics.

“You note the positives, which there were some. You note the negatives, which there were many, and proceed to move on,” Auburn head coach Gene Chizik said. “You don’t belabor any of the points.”

• Auburn — 63rd overall, 367.86 — 108th pass, 266.1

• SEC/NCAA: Alabama — 2nd, 244.14 — 10th pass, 166.0

• SEC/NCAA: LSU — 3rd overall, 288.79 — 9th nationally, 182.7

• SEC: Georgia — 18th overall, 313.46 — 7th pass, 169.6
• NCAA: Texas — 10th overall, 302.92 — 8th pass, 172.0

• SEC: Auburn — 5th overall, 277.62 — 10th pass, 173.5
• NCAA: USC — 6th overall, 279.31 — 34th pass, 199.9

• SEC/NCAA: LSU — 1st overall, 252.0 — 18th pass, 185.0
• NCAA: USC — 30th overall, 336.38 — 110th pass, 276.2

• SEC: Georgia — 15th overall, 303.50 — 31st pass, 189.5
• NCAA: Ohio State — 23rd overall, 320.86 — 95th pass, 243.1

• SEC: Florida — 42nd overall, 346.0 — 57th pass, 212.9
• NCAA: Oklahoma — 8th overall, 278.92 — 9th pass, 170.7