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8.04.2008

Practice Three (8/4)

Hey everyone. Practice has been pushed back to 4:15 p.m. today. I'll be there to provide all the necessary information. As an added bonus, I may try to post my first-ever HABOTN video this evening. I have a sweet camera and some sweeter video-editing software, so maybe I can make miracles happen.

See you around 7.

Here is what You Need To Know about today's business:
  • Practice lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes. It was sunny, but a gentle wind kept things tolerable.

  • CB Aairon Savage went down with a knee injury. He was on his way to diagnostics the last time I saw him. Savage was in pain. Coach Tommy Tuberville said he didn't have any additional information about the situation.

  • Tuberville said S DeRon Furr's status "has not changed," but declined to elaborate on what that even means. S Zac Etheridge, who was involved in the fracas that ended Furr's last practice appearance Saturday, said players were trying to prove a point. Etheridge insinuated that Furr has been loafing and that teammates were trying to correct that behavior.

  • Here's the quote from Etheridge: "It was just setting an example to the freshmen. It wasn't nothing but bumping heads. It's just showing them we're here to work and get to the championship."

  • Freshman DE Jomarcus Savage humiliated OT Lee Ziemba during one rep of pass-rush drills. Savage took three steps toward Ziemba, faked inside, faked outside then rammed directly into Ziemba's chest. Ziemba fell on his back. Cockroached. Ziemba played much better before and after that play, but it was a pretty special performance by Savage.

  • OT Ryan Pugh played particularly well in pass-rush drills. OG Tyronne Green and DT Sen'Derrick Marks played basically to a draw with each player winning his fair share. It's fun to see those two go at it.

  • OC Tony Franklin said afterward that he's been very impressed with WR Chris Slaughter so far.

Auburn added a pair of commitments today. The newcomers are cornerback David Conner of Batesville, Miss., and junior-college wideout Cameron Kenney.

Kenney is the bigger name of the two. He's playing this season at Garden City (Kan.) Community College and has a really wide array of skills. He kicks field goals, punts and even played defensive back last season.

Auburn now has 22 commitments. They are listed below.

HIGH SCHOOL
LB Harris Gaston, Birmingham (Bessemer Academy)
WR Brandon Heavens, Birmingham (Bessemer Academy)
QB Raymond Cotton, Mobile (Faith Academy) ... though he's moving this summer
DT Terrence Coleman, Mobile (Williamson)
DE Jamontay Pilson, Greenville (Greenville)
TE Philip Lutzenkirchen, Marietta, Ga. (Lassiter)
TB Rodney Scott, Cross City, Fla. (Dixie County)
LB Jonathan Evans, Mobile (Blount)
WR Travante Stallworth, Leesville, La. (Leesville)
WR Ladarius Perkins, Greenville, Miss. (St. Joseph)
OL Andre Harris, Hampton, Ga. (Lovejoy)
WR LaVoyd James, Mobile (Williamson)
OL Aaron Moore, Frisco, Texas (Centennial)
DE Donald Ford, Odenville (St. Clair County)
LB Brandon Jacobs, Lilburn, Ga. (Parkview)
LB Jamie Collins, Meadville, Miss. (Franklin County)
DB Reggie Taylor, Fort Valley, Ga. (Peach County)
CB Davis Conner, Batesville, Miss. (South Panola)

JUNIOR COLLEGE
*LB Eltoro Freeman, Alex City (Miss. Gulf Coast CC)
*DE Wilfred Journet, Lafayette, La. (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
*DL Nick Fairley, Mobile (Copiah-Lincoln CC)
WR Cameron Kenney, Dacula, Ga. (Garden City Community College)
* signed with Auburn out of high school in Feb. 2007.

My first attempt at a practice video.

EDIT: I upgraded the quality. It's about 50% better now.



Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.

45 Comments:

Blogger ADP said...

When do the pads go on?

2:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have they set a time for the Saturday scrimmage?

2:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Pads are strapped on today...Phred. BOOM!

2:50 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Yes. Shoulder pads today. Full pads tomorrow, I believe.

3:05 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

As far as the scrimmage, I'm not sure it's open to the public. I'll find out today ...

3:06 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

How're we lookin'?

5:48 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jay you got some skillz with the camera! Either that or the software is making you look real good! :)

6:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm lovin the action video keep up the good work.

7:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JGT, great work with the video.

Thanks for making a place for AU fans to get the inside scoop on the team.

Much appreciated.

7:05 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Sorry it looks so pixelated. It doesn't play like that here on my computer. I'll produce one with higher resolution tomorrow.

7:13 PM  
Blogger scott,will not,from tucson said...

SWEET!

7:32 PM  
Blogger Scott M. Brannan said...

pretty nice vid JG.

hope aairon is ok with the knee.

from your initial post about furr/etheridge, it's nice to see a sophomore step up in a leadership role to push his teammates. i would've thought a kid who was here in jan & went through the spring & summer would have a clue at this point even if he is a freshman.

7:45 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm very excited about Jomarcus Savage, I think he may turn out to be the star of last years recruiting class.

Also, if Aairon Savage is out for the year we are in trouble. I'm not sold on Ryan Williams being around all year and if we have true freshamn at corner we might have Montae Pitts in '04 all over again.

8:10 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

It's a serious issue if Savage is seriously injured.

8:11 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

Jay G. - the vid is groovy dude. Rivals ain't got nothin' on you jack.

8:17 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

I can't believe Savage goes down on Day 3. Dang. I hate it for him much worse than the team. Anxious to get an update when you have one. Man o Man. That sucks.

8:27 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No offense but i was expected much worse on the first video. I'm impressed, and it will also be good to have someone out there with a camera that knows the offense/deffensive lineman exist.

Do you know if aairon savage got hit, rolled on or did it while in coverage?

8:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LIFE is over if Sacage is out

8:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Savage is a staple back there behind Powers and Etheridge. Aairon's done. ACL torn. Hopefully ZE can play some corner some. Don't see why not. He's got the most underrated skill set out there.

8:49 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

we still have walter mcfadden. I don't think etheridge is going anywhere. If that's true a freshman or ryan williams (but i agree with Bill) will have to play nickel.

8:55 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I think the plan (if Savage is seriously injured) would be to slide McFadden in there. He has some experience and he's not a bad player.

I saw some pretty good stuff out of Harry Adams today, No. 14. I can't imagine a kid who came in as a wideout two months ago could play in the SEC right now, but he has instincts. I haven't seen much of D'Antoine Hood ... just because I've been on the other side of the field.

8:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

McFadden showed some promise last year. Great wheels and scrappy. What about slade? Where does he fit into the picture now.

Savage is outie. Trust me.

9:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

JGT...nice video and report. really appreciate that you look at the linemen.

Dang! The position with the least depth gets the first bad injury.

Crudup....sounds like you heard it from a close source.

9:22 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

I haven't heard anything about Mike Slade so far. It's still early, though.

9:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Great job with the video. The sounds was great too.

11:32 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Excellent coverage. Thanks for the video, it is much appreciated.

6:56 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Thanks for the love. I'll keep it going, though I won't be attending every single practice.

I've got a Meet The Teacher event Wednesday night, my daughter is headed into first grade, and ... that's going to be a tough call.

Also, the scrimmage is going to be closed closed closed. No media. No nothing.

8:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1st grade! Right there with ya, buddy. Man, the years just creep up on a man.

9:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, Phred. We talked about that yesterday. I feel we were still in better shape considering Ryan Williams is likely to not be eligible. There's going to be two freshmen out there. Just need to score more points.

9:41 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It sounds like someone ordered a Code Red on Furr.

10:19 AM  
Blogger AUnMobile said...

Jay,
Great Video and Pratice Update. Could you please update us on Savage later....

10:56 AM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Will do.

11:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

No way that it's as much fun as going to an AU practice but, you gotta go meet the teacher. This is a big step for a first grader and she will remember that you were there. It also helps to meet the teacher in the younger grades just in case an issue crops up.

12:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Call me an idealist, but I'm not ready for Auburn to be another Thug U. on the football field.

It started with all the chop-block stuff last year. Then Zeimba tried to cripple one of the D lineman (Coleman) in Spring drills. Now the DBs are giving "code reds" to a freshmen.

Then, there's the quote from starting SS Zac Etheridge:
"It was just setting an example to the freshmen. It wasn't nothing but bumping heads. It's just showing them we're here to work and get to the championship."

Since when was it the players' job to administer discipline?

That happens in the NFL among professionals. Much like it does on your or my job.

But not at the college level - not these days.

The slippery slope in Auburn is getting more slippery by the moment I'm afraid.

12:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1. the chop blocks last year were blown way out of proportion. I thought it was fairly obvious ramsay and Ziemba got crossed up on thier blocking assignments. I honestly think it was ziemba's screw up (watch Bosely cut his man as well).

2. Fights happen in practice all the time the media coverage these days is much greater so you hear more about them.

3. Some people players probably need to be policed by other players. If the coaches aren't allowed to hit them the players might as well, the coaches are right there if it gets out of hand.

4. We need to be worried if someone on the team starts slangin' coke in the parking lot not over a couple of fights in practice. (georgia also has thier fair share of issues right now)

2:27 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

code red ... players shouldn't discipline ... yada yada.

I can't believe how much is being made out of something that probably should have happened. All I have heard all day is "if it were my son I would be talking to CTT" "if it were my son I would be thinking about a law suit"

Holy Buttercups Batman!!!

That's what is wrong with folks nowadays. If it were MY SON, I'd say "Boy, you better man up and get your butt back out their on that field. If something happens that shouldn't happen, I'll take care of it. But in the mean time, you had better act like a man and face your trouble. If you are wrong, admit you are wrong. If you are right, stand up for yourself. But DO NOT walk away cryin' and quit. Now get your tail out there."

Just the way I see it.

3:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thank you, Phred, for saying what I wanted to say. I'm not worried about kids fighting when they're wearing helmets. Furr's been in fights and have proven he's very physical and scrappy. How could anyone be disappointed by Zack's comments on discipline and sense of urgency to run in ATL?

3:17 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

What time is practice today? I was thinking about driving over.

3:39 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Random thoughts...

a.) I think a "code red" is a big deal. This is Year 10 for me on the Auburn beat and I've never seen one administered before.

b.) Is it reasonable for things like this to happen? Your call. I'm tempted to say yes just because I know how football works.

c.) DeRon's helmet was pulled off during the altercation. Nobody had pads on. Furr was in harm's way without a doubt.

3:40 PM  
Blogger Jay G. Tate said...

Practice starts at 4:30 allegedly.

3:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for the words of support, JGT.

I'm getting bar-b-qued everywhere else today.

4:00 PM  
Blogger AUnMobile said...

Jay,
how many fights have there been since pratice started Saturday? how many will they have in the next 28 days.... i just think this is being blown out of proportion due to the fact that he has not returned.... Hurt Feelings is what i think is at play here!!! just my .02 cents

4:14 PM  
Blogger ADP said...

Mr. Sens ... I'm not bar-b-queing you, I just completely disagree and believe that you are totally over-reacting like it seems most of the media world is right now.

Here is my point. It's been the rule in sports pretty much since sports started. If you are going to walk around like you are a bad boy, and you are going to talk like you are a bad boy, then you dang well better be prepared to BE a badboy, because somebody is going to call your hand.

OR you can act like you know your place and try to learn something from somebody who has been doing it longer and better than you.

4:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Code red" is something a poster in here eluded to. Have we adopted "code red" as the real problem here? Or, are we just wanted a story out of this practice scrap?

Wasn't it Furr who had already taken it upon himself to body slam a fiesty LB, Merrill Johnson, to the turf in spring practice? Talk about an introduction.

Look, I wasn't there. I don't know what happened. All I know is Jay and every other beat writer claimed they saw nothing at first. Now there's a story here that seems to deserve all the he said she said mess.

C'mon...

5:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Mr. NON-sensible, you deserve a barbecuing for your slanderous comments and Chicken Little alarmism. Your comments here and at your blog about the mistaken blocking assignment and the spring scuffle are ridiculous if you knew anything about the people involved. Then to paint those and the Furr incident as somehow indicating AU football is "thuggish" is simply hyperbolic nonsense.

"Thuggish" is a coke-dealing, pit bull-pimping linebacker. "Thuggish" is multiple players in a bar fight and vandalizing/destroying private property.

Auburn under Tubs is simply nowhere close to being ThugU and to paint it otherwise is not idealism, but rather some perverse combination of foolishness and paranoia.

12:30 PM  

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