News of the day, 8/21

Hey everyone. Practice has ended. The big news, if you want to call it that, is signee Nick Fairley has been ruled academically ineligible. Coach Tommy Tuberville said Fairley will enroll at Copiah-Lincoln (Miss.) Junior College this fall.

Fairley was one of the two Mobile-area kids implicated in a grade-changing operation during the summer. The other player, cornerback Ryan Williams, was cleared by the NCAA before fall practice began.

Two other players with Auburn ties, 2007 signee Wifred Journet and '06 signee Raven Gray, also play at Copiah-Lincoln.

As I wait for practice to end, let me go through a few guys who really caught my eye during the first two weeks of practice. I can't watch anything now -- the press can watch only the first 15 minutes of practice (stretching) -- so I might as well get these thoughts out there before they become old:

• WR Robert Dunn: Looks quicker to me. He hit the peak of his jumps more quickly. His routes look sharper. He gets open more often. His hands are a step below Rod Smith and Chris Slaughter, but that's not a problem per se. Dunn looks like a break-out guy at slot receiver right now. He'll make an impact. Don't look for true stardom, though, because slot receivers aren't focal points in Al Borges' offense.


• RT Lee Ziemba: He looks like a first-team guy right now, which is amazing considering he's 18. He has a decent idea of how to use his feet. He's strong enough. He's mean enough on the field. Once he learns to be patient on pass protections, Ziemba will be a consistent asset. He's already a good run blocker.


• LB Craig Stevens: He's been shifted from the weak side to the strong side, which is such a different set of responsbilities. Stevens' goal now is to shed blocks and funnel running plays toward the middle of the line. His long arms provide a useful advantage. I attended all but one of Auburn's first 20 practices and I never heard a coach yell at Stevens. That tells me he's in position and handling business.


• CB Jerraud Powers: I wasn't sold on him initially because he's 5-foot-9 or so. Powers' value is undeniable now. He's an outstanding cover man who rarely gets out of position. His jumping ability and acceleration aren't notable, but he knows how to use the skills he has. Lack of concentration never is an issue. I look at Powers as the new Karibi Dede -- a guy who can think along with an offense and help teammates do the same in real-time. He's very valuable.


• WR Chris Slaughter: I know. You've read a ton about him already and, at least officially, he may not play. I don't buy it. Slaughter has outstanding hands, perhaps the team's best. Personality may be an issue with him. Slaughter admits to being a disrespectful guy while in high school and I can see that in him. Yet his year at military school amended many of those habits. I think he expects to be the best player on the field. Some likely interpret that as bravado. I think that's just who he is. I believe he'll turn that energy toward self-development and emerge as an excellent receiver. His time will be sooner rather than later.
  

Auburn sort of will hold a scrimmage on Wednesday afternoon. Tuberville said the only thing different will be a no-hit edict on the tailbacks. With Carl Stewart (hamstring) and Mario Fannin (groin) ailing, the Tigers need to preserve their two healthy tailbacks. Brad Lester and Ben Tate currently aren't reporting any physical problems.

Maybe it was the newspaper jinx. Kicker Wes Byrum missed the hit-or-run attempt during practice Tuesday -- a day after making headlines for winning the job. The shank earned extra running for the whole team. Until then, Byrum had performed admirably in "pressure" situations.

TE Tommy Trott said Auburn has made major changes to the tight-end sets this season. Offensive coordinator Al Borges has expanded the number of plays associated with the team's three-tight sets, which was a goal-line exclusive last season. Not now. It's a regular set now. I don't know if this optimism will translate into more catches at tight end, but Trott sure is excited about it.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp bristled at a question today about LB Tray Blackmon's relatively small size. The sophomore is listed at 6 feet and 225 pounds.

"I think that's a position where you have to have great instincts," Muschamp said. ``Zach Thomas was 5-9, 230 pounds and he had great, great instincts. He saw it before it happened. I wasn't ever around Sam Mills, but they said the same thing. People want to harp on size. At that position, to me, as important a quality as anything is instincts – guys that find the ball, field blocks, see blocks, see the carrier, understand the counter. Those are the guys that play that position well. Regardless of size or speed, they see it before it happens and it's hard to coach that. It's an innate ability."