Thursday practice report
Hey everyone. I am back from a series of interviews held with Auburn newsmakers. Let's have at it.- People were talking about TB Onterio McCalebb again today. CB Walt McFadden said: "He was like lightning today. You should have seen him."
We can't. Thanks, anyway. - Assistant coach Curtis Luper is high on sophomore TB Eric Smith. You may have forgotten him in your daydreams about Mario Fannin, Ben Tate or McCalebb. Luper told reporters to "ask Mike McNeil about (Smith); he hasn't tackled him yet."
- Assistant coach Phillip Lolley said the staff uses colors to designate depth-chart levels. The first team is "orange," the second team is "blue" and the third team is "white."
- Chandler Brooks, recently identified as the team's top spring kicker, seemed shocked to be in that position Thursday. He attempted to make the team in 2008, but didn't earn a call-back. Things changed in February. He also wears cheap, yellow cleats because "I don't have much money right now."
- Punter Clinton Durst, who caused an off-season stir by threatening to leave school if a scholarship wasn't offered, is back on the team without a scholarship. ``I made a few mistakes," he said.
- Assistant coach Tracy Rocker said the team no longer differentiates between strong- and weak-side ends. They're interchangeable. The top three ends, the orange group, includes Antonio Coleman, Hot Carter and Mike Goggans. The top inside group includes Jake Ricks, Mike Blanc (aka the Happy Haitian) and Zach Clayton.
Rocker also praised the hustle of redshirt freshman Derrick Lykes, who is trying to crack the inside rotation. I've heard this from a few people, so I think it's worth noting. - Luper is coordinating punt returns right now. Not sure why he'd be doing that since Jay Boulware is the special-teams czar. We'll check in that another time. Luper said Thursday that his finalists for the Big Job are: Neiko Thorpe, Ben Tate, Mario Fannin, Onterio McCalebb, Walter McFadden. He named them in that order.
- Someone actually asked WR Terrell Zachery about his weight today. I guess that's noteworthy. He is 205 pounds.
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Questions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
8:11 PM
50 Comments:
i love Auburn, substantially and with substance
Uno?
so, I guess I have to make the trip to A-Day to see McCalebb, or wait til fall. I'll try to be patient.
big corporate no drops
He is like greased lighting Just feel the breeze as he goes by
what is the word on Frenchy... did he regain his speed? I was pumped about seeing him play last year, too bad for me I blinked
New Sponsor for HABOTN..
Bryant Bank.
You and me both, DL.
Someone get Brooks some shoes.
Like predicting the end of the world you will never guess it.
would it break NCAA rules for a blog to donate cleats?
JGT - help my poor ignorant self.
Brooks top "kicker", is that FG, KO, or both?
DL,
Jay GT is not an Auburn supporter, therefore he should be able to buy Brooks some cleats with the lunch money donations you've procured for him.
THT you got yellow cleats too?
Can Mcneil even tackle?
I think someone at the MA is skimming the money before jay gets it.
I know of $719.34 in donation that were sent as cash but that is the last we heard of the money.
totally off topic but did anyone else see where the sham wow guy got busted with a hooker in Miami.
almost bit his tounge off. he belted her....
NICE GUY!!
I wasn't there the day Jay Boulware proclaimed Brooks as the No. 1 option, but I think that's for both K and KO.
This designation couldn't be less meaningful.
That won't stop me from writing about it tomorrow!
I really have enjoyed watching Ricks play. I thinks he's great. I hope he stays healthy.
DL, I loved the apron.
I have said this before, but I have reiterated my affection for said garment.
What they do under pressure is all that counts. anybody can hit them in practice.
Thanks... When is your birthday?
you should see the crap I have stacked up for you....
JGT- thanks for that reply. I'll read the article tomorrow
Jay, speaking of ticket ordering. Have you ordered us HABOTN pressbox passes yet?
Practice? Practice? We're talking about practice. Not the game. Not, not the game that I ... go out there and die for. Not the game. We're talking about practice.
JD, I'm working on that.
I have made a clerical error.
Luper was talking about ERIC SMITH being such a problem for Mike McNeil.
Sorry.
I'll amend that now.
MrTommyD=MrClutch700
nice work!
Can't get excited about mccaleb, can't get excited about mccaleb, oh forget it I'm excited.
I to wonder about Frenchy, I hated to see him get hurt last year.
And finally Poncho and Lefty is one of the best songs I've ever heard.
thanks THT
I think the fact that they are closing practices to the media, is going to help me temper my enthusiasm for what may be. Although some of the comments being made, once again, get me hyped. It's alot like what what Eddie Murphy had to say about a eating a cracker.
The rest of my night.
I gotta write this story on Brooks. Then I'll work on video.
I'd say video ETA is 10:15 or so.
yes mrtommyd, I too am trying to avoid the overwhelming optimism that I had last year ('73 and '75 also immediately come to mind). Optimism, at least for me as it relates to AU football, only leads to disappointment.
But how can you not be optimistic with the awesome HABOTN?!?
It's true THT. The thing is the wealth of information and experience that comes from this group is unlike any other. It's almost like having insider information what with the psuedo-stalkers and the pure bred AU sports fanatics, that just seem to "know things" WAY before anyone else. Then again what happens if they're all bs'ing?
34
Jay G
whats this about HABOTN press passes?
Do Texas residents qualify?
Luper told reporters to "ask Mike McNeil about (Smith); he hasn't tackled him yet."
There are lots of players Mike McNeil can say that he hasn't tackled yet/at all.
This, to me, says more about McNeil than Smith.
Jay. I myself had forgotten about Eric Smith. I was ticking off tailbacks to a friend and trying to come up with a running game. Eric didn't come to mind. Shame you can't see practice, cause I couldn't imagine him making that much improvement, but then again, nobody ran in our offense last year.
j-z... can I join the ACAC if I don't live in Autauga Co.?
Durst could have won us the LSU game last year, imo.
I kinda like the off limits practice. Gives us a lot to discuss but we really do not know if this bunch is actually jellin or falling apart. It will be interesting to see how they look in the fall as to how we think they look now.
How did we look last spring? Did we think we had a great spring? I do not follow PRACTICE that close so I do not remember.
Jet-frede beans and rice with Conecuh sausage last night and chicken kabobs w/bacon on the kabob tonight. I hope wife doesn't try to stick an apple in my mouth while I am asleep.
I might need to go back to the one lean cuisine and two slimfasts for lunch routine.
so... What about the Quarterback situation!? i hear NOTHING about this...
Steven, I hear the QB situation is a wonderful problem to have...
(Yes, I'm still bitter about that quote from last year)
I never thought Burns would make it this year. I just thought if healthy, Todd would be the starter but only until Trotter was ready. not sure why as I have never seen Trotter play but did not think he could do worse than those two last year.
Video will be up in about 10 minutes.
You'll get a rare glimpse of Shoemaker, the new kicker and Walt McFadden discussing the team's fastest players.
What up gang? Just checking in before I call it a night. Jay thanks for the practice report, I was anticipating it all day.
The only thing I want to hear about the QB situation is that we have one and he will be the guy full-time.
Video now up.
D.Miller...Yes, you can. The spring meeting is coming up soon. Hopefully, we'll score Chizik, Trooper or Luper to come speak. It's a good group of folks.
Jay thanks for the update on eric Smith. I've been meaning to ask you about him. glad to hear that he is still in the coaches good graces. He and Pybus are my darkhorse favs from the 08 class.
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