The latest from practice

Hey everyone. I have finished transcribing some interviews, including an epic chat with Walt McFadden, and my story for tomorrow.

So let's see what we learned today.

• I saw LB Eltoro Freeman walking in a boot. Gene Chizik, as expected, had no comment on Freeman's prognosis or availability.
  
  
• You'll love this. How about OT Lee Ziemba talking about penalties: ``They’re killing us. We’ve got to stop committing those errors. It’s all about the fundamentals. If you do the fundamentals right you’re not going to commit those penalties."
  
  
• Walt McFadden on problems he had early in his career: ``(David Gibbs) told me I was going to the NFL. Most coaches tell you that cornerbacks have to tackle. He still had that NFL mentality. He said: 'You don't get paid to tackle.You guard guys.' When I started guarding guys, Coach Tub jumped on me for not tackling. I didn't know who to listen to. It kinda got to me. Coach Tub said I wasn't going to play until I started tackling. Gibbs was telling me I didn't have to tackle. I was doing what my coach told me. It set me back."
  
  
• TB Onterio McCalebb said he felt "real good" at practice today. He's been dealing with a high-ankle sprain.
  
  
• QB Chris Todd on today's emphasis at practice: ``The big thing is looking at all the details, fixing the little mistakes that kind of hurt ourselves on. And we made that a point today, and we’ll continue to do that, just not making mistakes and putting ourselves in bad situations.
  
  
• Gus Malzahn on the effect of (players) taking two days off: ``I think it helps a lot -- we have not had any off time at all to get our guys to mentally refresh. We had some tired guys, there’s no doubt, physically and mentally. As far as coaches, probably the same way. Anytime you’re playing a very good opponent the more time you have to prepare -- that will definitely help."
  
  
• McFadden told reporters last week that he thought A.J. Green and Julio Jones were the two best receivers in the league ... but that he liked one more than the other. Now he's coming clean: ``I like A.J. Green. He reminds me of a Randy Moss-type of receiver. Randy Moss -- I'm a big fan of his. I compare those two as receivers, so I kind of have to slide toward A.J. Green."

Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University

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