Auburn update, 8/14

Hey everyone. It's a busy time on the Plains these days, so let's get to a few items that have caught my eye.

• We spend so much time talking about how Pat Sims wasted time with lackluster effort for a few years, but we somehow overlook Tez Doolittle's situation. He's out with an Achilles' strain, though it seems like some people are questioning the severity of that injury. I'm not sure what the deal is, but Doolittle needs to get moving soon. He's again falling out of favor with line coach Don Dunn.
  
• Tyronne Green is a good player. Period. If he wasn't playing behind all-conference guys like Tim Duckworth and Ben Grubbs, Green would be starting. And playing well. He has good size. His feet are moving more quickly these days. He competes consistently. Green will be quite useful next season.
  
• Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but coach Tommy Tuberville has been more animated than usual during the past week. He's taken time to chide a few players for lack of hustle -- Tuberville often watches practice without saying a word to anyone -- and has asserted himself more than ever on the practice field. I'm not sure why he's doing that, but it's been an interesting twist. Maybe he's trying to eradicate complacency? I haven't sensed that out of the kids.
  
• It doesn't appear that Courtney Taylor's knee problem is serious. He returned to the practice field two days after banging his right knee during a drill, and expects to be ready for the season-opening game against Washington State. I suspect Taylor will wear a brace on the knee for a while.
  
• I've heard some Auburn fans handicapping the team's schedule lately. One thing I'd found is that AU folk don't consider South Carolina a major obstacle. I think that will be one of the team's three most challenging games this season. The Florida game also comes at a bad time in the schedule. Some people insist Florida won't be strong. I disagree.