News of the day, 10/30

Hey everyone. It's just another day at the Athletic Complex: DE Quentin Groves said he's moving to strong-side linebacker. Check below for witty and insightful analysis of this BREAKING development.

Peace be with you for visiting the HOTTEST Auburn blog on the 'net.

As I reported above, Groves said today that he is moving to strong-side linebacker. That's the position Groves needs to play in the NFL, so it's probably a good move for him. As I have discussed before, Antonio Coleman and Sen'Derrick Marks have been at least as productive as Groves this season. Moving No. 54 to linebacker allows Auburn to get more high-impact players on the field concurrently.

This also signals some other things. The injury to LB Craig Stevens obviously is significant. Also, LB Merrill Johnson is either hurt or in the doghouse. Johnson was a starter to begin the season, but coaches don't seem enthusiastic about getting him back on the field. Tuberville said the other day that Johnson is 100% healthy. Draw your own conclusions.

Here is your "Tuesdays with Tuberville" segment that you've been waiting for all day:

*On scaling back practice this week: "We're not cutting back on anything -- we're just cutting back on time. They guys are mentally and physically tired."

*On LB Craig Stevens: "He will not play."

*On OT Ryan Pugh: "He didn't practice."

*On TB Tristan Davis: "Tristan is out running. He is not hitting anybody. He wants to play. We're taking it day by day with him."

*On Tennessee Tech and its coach Watson Brown: "I like what they're doing on offesne. They have some guys who can run and they're trying to take advantage. He's a good coach. You're got to respect a guy who goes home to where he's from."

*On Quentin changing positions: "He'll just be on the tight-end side. It's just a ... different scheme. He's probably better blitzing (while) standing up. This will help him on the next level -- getting him film of being a stand-up guy."

*On Antonio Coleman: "He's very strong for his size. He could do a lot of what Quentin does. He has the speed. He works very hard at making himself better."

*On Tuberville's claim that practice included some fistfights: ``When competition starts, tempers flare. It reminded me of two-a-days."

*On Mario Fannin's role: "Mario needs to carry the ball a little more."

*On the team's options to handle kickoffs: "We're looking at several guys."

*On Kodi Burns role this weekend: "We're looking to go in all-out with our first-team guys. We're like to get (Burns) in as much as we can this week. It depends on how we play."

Here are your top defensive producers from the Ole Miss game. Players are given points for doing significant things correctly. They are docked points for missing assignments, missing tackles, penalties or loafing.

Here is the full rundown of point distribution.

FROM UM GAME:
DE Antonio Coleman -- 30
DT Pat Sims -- 25
LB Tray Blackmon -- 23
CB Pat Lee -- 19
DE Quentin Groves -- 15
CB Jae Wilhite -- 14
S Eric Brock -- 10
S Zac Etheridge -- 6

SEASON OVERALL:
Coleman -- 153
LB Chris Evans -- 145
CB Jerraud Powers -- 142
Etheridge -- 136
Pat Lee -- 135
DE Sen'Derrick Marks -- 132
Groves -- 110

NUMBER OF DOUBLE-DIGIT PRODUCTION GAMES:
none -- 9
Coleman -- 8
Etheridge, Marks, Brock -- 7
Powers, Evans, Lee -- 6
LB Craig Stevens, Groves -- 5
Sims -- 4
S Aairon Savage, Wilhite, Blackmon -- 3

Here are your team defensive goals for the AU-UM game.

Win: YES, 17-3
Allow 13 pts or less: YES, 3
Allow 3.3 yards per carry or less: YES, 3.2
Allow 5.0 yards per pass or less: YES, 3.2
Create at least 3 turnovers: NO, 2
Allow no big plays (defined as 15+ rush or 20+ pass): YES on run (0); YES on pass (0)
Allow no TDs inside "red area": YES
Force opponent to convert less than 30% on 3rd down: NO, 43%

Ole Miss' YAC (yards after contact) number was 21. That's a season low.

For the few fans who are into the women's basketball team, the Tigers' situation is not looking good. Reserve guard Re-Re Hobbs has torn her left Achilles tendon and is our for the season. Starting center Keshonda Carrier is out for at least half the season due to academic suspension. Hard times for coach Nell Fortner.

The men's team is not looking all that great, either. F/C Josh Dollard is out for the year because of what Auburn described as a "medical condition" while F Quan Prowell has been suspended for at least six games. Not a lot of depth remaining.