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3.03.2008

News of the day, 3/3

Hey everyone. I've got a sick kid and we're headed to the GP soon, so let me get a few ideas out there.

Auburn has canceled its Tuesday morning practice in anticipation of inclement weather. Those of you waiting breathlessly for a full-fledged update on Tuesday are out of luck. I'll try to parlay a few remaining items of interest into something useful.

We're 1/3 of the way through spring drills right now. Here are a few things that have caught my eye:

The play of Jake Ricks: I know Jake. I usually don't notice Jake on the field. That hasn't been the case this spring. Ricks looks like he has made some significant progress during the past eight months and has learned how to apply his skills on the field. His interception in the scrimmage was pretty incredible. CB Jerraud Powers crushed WR James Swinton as he caught a pass, knocking the ball up. Just before the ball landed, Ricks dived and snagged it with one hand.

Granted, it was one play. It was an outstanding play and provides a nice complement to his improved pass-rush work.

Tony Franklin's evaluation plan: He was saying on Sunday night that grades really don't do a whole lot for him. He said he's trying to determine which quarterback can win. That's it. He wants a winner. I like that. I always thought Franklin's predecessor, Al Borges, put a little too much credence into statistical markers. It was weird to me how Borges could watch an entire scrimmage and have almost no opinion on players' performance until AFTER he watched footage. I mean, dude, what were you doing on the field? Playing Nintendo DS?

Franklin had some pretty strong things to say moments after the scrimmage. At least you know he's watching.

The play of Neil Caudle: I really believe he's a better quarterback than Kodi Burns right now, but he is not showing that right now. Caudle was intercepted twice in the scrimmage. He was picked twice more during practice Sunday. You know how Eddie Gran has basically a zero-tolerance policy with fumbles? That's how Franklin is with interceptions. I think Caudle is on the verge of playing his way out of the lineup. It may be too late already.

Chris Todd's situation: What a mess. He told us last week that he suffered a Grade 3 shoulder separation during his next-to-last game for Hutchinson (Kan.) C.C. last year.

Here are the basics. He has, by definition, suffered damage to multiple shoulder ligaments. The first is the "AC" ligament, which isn't a huge deal. That happens somewhat regularly. "Grade 3" means there also is damage to the coracoclavicular ligament, which can be a very big deal.

The problem there, in simple terms, is that the coracoclavicular ligament almost always lengthens as it heals. That's not a huge problem for you and me. For a quarterback, though, it can be a bad thing. The shoulder is "looser" and the power generated for a throw isn't totally transferred to the ball because things are slightly jumbled around in the shoulder. That's probably why Todd complained last week of a "weak" throwing shoulder. He can't get the same zip on the ball because his shoulder is, in a sense, less efficient than it used to be.

Can he get better? Sure. Surgery used to be the standard treatment for Grade 3s a decade ago. A significant number of those patients didn't make huge gains compared to patients who didn't undergo surgery, so there is dissent in the medical community about which path is more useful: surgery or therapy. Doctors so far have advocated therapy for Todd. He's scheduled to meet with an orthopedic specialist in Birmingham this week for a re-assessment.

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

32 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shed a tear 'cause I'm missing you. I'm still alright to smile.

4:58 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

All we need is just a little patience.

5:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

What does "sad woman take it slow 'cause the lights are shining bright" mean?

7:31 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

My guess is Axl was not sober while writing that lyric.

9:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

jay, if you think caudle may have played himself out of the starter, do you think he also played himself out of #2 and does that mean you think furr will be that #2 guy?

10:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Other rappers diss me, say my rhymes are sissy. What, what, why, what, why, why, what, why, why. Be more constructive with your feedback.


I figured since we were quoting lyrics I would pull some from New Zealand's #1 Rap/Folk duo.

10:31 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

So basically you are saying his shoulder is pretty much shot, like a pitcher who has "thrown his arm out"? Not to be confused with a "knocked down shoulder" of course.

10:52 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I'll get to each of these questions ...

a.) Caudle will be the No. 2 guy unless Chris Todd's shoulder improves. DeRon Furr isn't in the picture right now.

b.) I'm so glad Flight of the Conchords was picked up for a second season. HBO has the cajones that other networks lack.

c.) I don't know enough about Todd's shoulder to forecast the next two seasons of his career. He's in a tough spot right now.

8:07 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think he is a great choice for the #2 spot, but just for the record I must say that I have a small issue with an injury prone QB named 'caudle'(coddle).

11:26 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I hadn't really considered that play on words before. I'll now credit anonymous if I use that phrase in the future.

11:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Coddle....that's good. Sorry, I'll reamain anonymous so I, too, can make funnies around the town. I can make a lot of chums with that one. And it's true. The guy has a lot of talent but he simply can't do anything about it.

2:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I hate to say it, but I think Furr would be a HELLUVA WR. I'd love to have an athlete like him at QB. But he looks like the prototype WR in my book. And some day it will be a best seller.

On the flip side he would also by a monster of a free safety. He might give Junior a run for his money well before his junior year.

3:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That guy is good. Damn good.

Thanks

3:18 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Furr could be a great quarterback in this system. Once he gets that footwork settled, and there's a wide chasm between here and there, he could be a really good player.

4:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm just excited about that guy. I think he's going to be the traditional unheralded superstar. Pat White was one

5:30 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

well, I am glad to hear everybody coming around. Furr seems like a great athlete, and great athletes need to play.

But, does he remind anyone else of "the project" aka Jason Campbell? Maybe on of the anons was right with the idea of redshirting.

5:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm thinking if Kodi Burns can become a serviceable passer then the offense will be just fine. I just hope tony franklin isn't too stubborn with the whole pass first thing.

I'd be willing to bet that Deron furr will never play quarterback for auburn but will definately play and most likely start somewhere else. He seems like he would be plenty physical enough to play defense. 6' 3'' 215 lbs as an 18 year old... he could wind up anywhere but on the O and D lines

6:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not sure why you guys want Furr at any other position than QB. He is the future for us at that position and CTF loves him. You guys might need to get use to AU QBs coming in that size. There is a 2009 QB recruit from Mobile that is high on AU. Raymond Cotton- 6'4",217 lbs,4.7 40. Those stats are perfect for our new offense.

7:46 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wasn't Campbell the #2 rated QB in the entire country coming out of high school?

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yes, campbell was the #2 / 5-star guy coming out of high-school. i think the kid who went to miami was the #1 guy (can't think of his name) so i am not sure it is a fair comparison of moving furr / campbell in the same sentence (though i have no recall of talk to move campbell)........... not sure if i am the anon or not, but i did ask about whether caudle played himself out of the 2 spot. with that, i would think it would be best for furr to redshirt and take the year to lock down his passing fundimentals. i feel comfortable with burns, caudle and seeing if todd is healthy come fall. next year, let furr and trotter fight with caudle for the 2/3/4 spots

8:39 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I really like Jason Campbell, but DeRon Furr already is more assertive than Campbell As A Senior.

That was a big problem with Campbell.

Not a problem with Furr.

8:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

jay, that may be so, but its a long way till furr becomes a 1st round pick....

9:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I live in Georgia and watched Furr/Fortson put the team on their shoulders and carry it to the state AAA championship. The guy is a gamer. Needs some work on fundamentals, but will be great. I'm OK if we need him temporarily at WR just to get him on the field, but think he will beat out Burns at Qb in a year or 2.

9:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i really think Burns is going to tear it up this year

8:21 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Yea ... 5+ years to go for Furr.

9:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

jay, i hope you are right and furr is indeed a future 1st round pick

1:43 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

Anything going on today?

5:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree Jason Campbell was not very assertive and often gave the Eli Manning blank stare. That being said, the chances of furr being as good as campbell seem pretty slim. I just think that Burns will be ahead of furr for the next three years and by then Franklin will bring someone else in.

7:52 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

It's amazing how one season changes everything. Jason Campbell, an average quarterback at best until his senior season, now is considered the benchmark?

I have no idea if DeRon Furr can be that good. He has 5+ years to show all of us. Alls I'm saying is the kid has a TON of guile ... and those guys pan out more often than guys without guile.

9:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That single season landed him a #1 draft pick. Look at the list we have to choose from in the last 20 years (from most recent): Brandon Cox, Jason Campbell, Daniel Cobb, Ben Leard, Jeff Klein, Gabe Gross, Dameyune Craig, Pat Nix, Stan White, Reggie Slack, Jeff Burger. Who else are you going to pick from that list?

9:20 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To add: I guess you could make an argument for White, Nix, or Leard, but White didn't shine until his Senior season (like Campbell), Nix only started for a season, and Leard was sidelined for half a season with an injury. Plus, none of them got picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. That tends to raise a player's stock, don't you think?

9:23 AM  
Blogger Peter Frankenschmidt said...

GO Furr!

9:16 PM  

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