Scrimmage notes, 8/11

Hey everyone. I'll have to run this out in stages.

STAGE ONE

• The scrimmage was closed to reporters.
  
  
• The offense "won" the scrimmage. The coaches have a scoring system that rewards points for various accomplishments.
  
  
• Neil Caudle, Kodi Burns and Chris Todd appeared to split time with the first-team offense. Tyrik Rollison and Clint Moseley split time with the second-team offense, though it sounds like the young guys garnered significantly more snaps than The Big Three.
  
  
• Why would coaches, who ostensibly are searching for a starting quarterback, play the young guys more than The Big Three? Maybe they already have their No. 1 in mind.
  
  
• Onterrio McCalebb played a couple of series. He scored a touchdown. He also broke off a long (30+ yards) run.
  
  
• Ben Tate had one carry.
  
  
• Someone here mentioned earlier that D'Antoine Hood, recently shifted from cornerback to safety, is out with an ankle injury. That has not been confirmed (or denied), but Gene Chizik said Hood did not participate tonight. Draw your own conclusion.
  
  
• Antonio Coleman said he thought the No. 1 defense was better than the No. 1 offense, but that the No. 2 offense was better than the No. 2 defense.
  
  
• Ted Roof seemed angry afterward. Maybe he was ready to break down scrimmage tape. I don't know.

STAGE TWO

• Onterrio McCalebb: ``I scored. I'd say it was 30 yards. I broke through a hole between the tackles, took it outside and got away from some people. I started to feel my rhythm. I know where the holes are going to be. I get to it. After that I get past everybody and it's a wrap. I'm gone."
  
  
• Ben Tate: "I did well. I didn't mess up. I only got the ball one time. (Etheridge) came through the hole. He was unblocked. It was a draw. I drug him for a few yards."
  
  
• Emory Blake on his long touchdown catch: "It was a deep post route and Clint Moseley threw it up and it was a good pass, I didn't have to break stride at all. I just went and the last thing I stretched my arms out and caught the ball."
  
  
• Chris Todd: "Everybody had two drives to do some good stuff and we kind of knew that going in."
  
  
• Chris Todd on when Gus Malzahn will make a decision at quarterback: "That's a great question. I'm in the same boat you guys are. I don't know. We'll wait and see."
  
  
• Kodi Burns on his (brief) appearance: "My day was pretty solid. I didn't get that many reps. We were rotating five guys. The young guys got a lot more reps than the older guys. At the same time, if I had to evaluate myself? I did a pretty solid job."
  
  
• Tyrik Rollison: "I thought I did a pretty good job out there. Being surrounded by a whole bunch of college guys and this being my freshman year, it was kind of hectic. I wasn't nervous but I guess the change of speed from high school in college, that's a big step. The speed out there was like crazy."

STAGE THREE

• "Confirmed" touchdowns:
  • McCalebb run
    
  • Eric Smith run
    
  • Philip Lutzenkirchen pass from Tyrik Rollison
    
  • Emory Blake pass from Clint Moseley

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

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