News of the day, 3/6

Hey everyone. Another day in paradise as Phil Collins would have said in 1989. It's Thursday, which means I'm getting excited about an ALL-NEW episode of LOST tonight. I want to know how Miles likes that breakfast Locke gave him two weeks ago.

I know. You want Auburn football. Here is some Auburn football for you.

Practice began this morning at 7:15 and lasted two hours. The defense seemed to play better during the final 11-on-11 drills. The DL outclassed the OL more frequently than I expected. Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads admonished the defense for being "a bad tackling team" and implored them to play with more attention to detail. So it goes.

OT Lee Ziemba said Thursday that he's "thankful to God" DE Antonio Coleman wasn't seriously injured during the scrimmage last week. Coleman and Ziemba were working against each other just before Coleman fell to the ground with temporary paralysis related to a neck injury. Coleman walked out of the hospital a few hours later and is expected to return to practice next week.

Some have suggested that Ziemba is responsible for the injury because he was using unethical techniques. Asked if he had done anything wrong during the play, Ziemba said: ``No. I was working hard ... high intensity level. That's what Coach Nall teaches."

Ziemba said he apologized to Coleman and added: "We're alright."

QB Chris Todd received an MRI scan in Birmingham earlier in the week that showed no structural damage. Physicians did find some "weakening" in the rotator cuff and some fraying in the labrum, Todd said, but he was given the impression that the new issues aren't problematic.

The real issue is the Grade 3 separate he suffered in October. Todd said in passing that he's only been rehabbing the shoulder for a month, which struck me as odd. I asked him a follow-up question on that issue. He indicated that, based on information he'd been given prior to his arrival at Auburn, he had been using improper rehab techniques that weren't eliciting improvement. He expects to resume a throwing program soon. He didn't provide a date.

TB Mario Fannin, who injured his left shoulder during the scrimmage last Saturday, remains in limbo. Coach Tommy Tuberville said the team's medical staff is considering which treatment plan is best: surgery or rehab. He said Fannin's situation is similar to LB Bo Harris', who underwent surgery in January. Fannin remains in a sling.

DE Raven Gray, the team's most high-profile signee, was on the practice field today going through some really light agility drills. The Enterprise native had offseason knee surgery and won't be cleared for contact drills until the fall. He wears No. 42.

Here are the results from 1-on-1 line drills today. Keep in mind that this drill favors the DL ...

Michael Goggans (49) vs. Jared Cooper (79) -- 49, 79
Luke Farmer (64D) vs. "Action" Jackson Timmerman (64O) -- E
Jake Ricks (91) vs. Mike Berry (66) -- 91, 91
Mike Blanc (93) vs. Berry (66) -- 66
Zach Clayton (98) vs. Bart Eddins (53) -- 53, E
**Nall says: "Bart, you have your arms out wide like it's a family reunion."**
AJ Greene (90, but wearing 94 today) vs. Andrew McCain (75) -- 90, 75, 90
Goggans (49) vs. Lee Ziemba (73) -- 73, 73
Sen'Derrick Marks (94) vs. Tyronne Green (71) -- 94, E
Blanc (93) vs. Jason Bosley (68) -- E, 68
Clayton (98) vs. Byron Isom (57) -- 57, 57
Antoine Carter (45) vs. Ryan Pugh (50) -- 45 **inside**, 45 **outside**, 45 **inside**
**Nall says to the defense: "Give someone else!"
Greene (90) vs. Pugh (50) -- 50
"L.A.," a walk-on (97) vs. Lee Tilley (74) -- 97
Ricks (91) vs. Kyle Coulahan (58) -- 91, E
Blanc (93) vs. Coulahan (58) -- 58
Farmer (64D) vs. Timmerman (64O) -- 64D, 64O
Marks (94) vs. Eddins (53) -- 94
Clayton (98) vs. Eddins (53) -- 98, 98, 53
Greene (90) vs. McCain (75) -- E, 75, 90
"L.A." (97) vs. Cooper (79) -- 97, 79, 79