Tuesday practice chatter
TUESDAY AFTERNOONPost No. 1,173 Hey everyone. A few players were made available prior to the Tigers' Tuesday evening practice. The theme was quarterbacks. I'm sure you're happy to hear that. Let's just get to it: - It's clear to me that Kodi Burns believes he has accomplished enough to be named the team's top quarterback. Though he remains diplomatic with his answers about the so-called quarterback race, Burns is brimming with confidence these days.
11Being a leader is what I'm doing best," he said Tuesday. ``When I walk out there on the field, the offensive guys look me in the face and know we can get it done."
- Burns on the plusses of having a clear No. 1 guy during the summer: ``The advantage is the extra work. If you have one guy established, you're going to be that guy. The No. 1s will go with the No. 1s all the time. It would be a lot easier if you have one guy to get your timing and your cohesiveness down."
- I've never seen a quarterback pooped on more than Neil Caudle in 2008. His offensive coordinator sold him out. Caudle never had a shot. When the team's fortunes soured in October, Auburn coaches considered activating Barrett Trotter, then a true freshman, rather than Caudle. Nevermind that Caudle was in his third college season.
``I know we were a little bit desperate, but it was kind of disheartening for that to happen," Caudle said Tuesday. ``I think it all worked out in the end. This is a new year."
- The three healthy scholarship quarterbacks (Burns, Caudle, Trotter) split reps evenly during Saturday's scrimmage.
- Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn says he's grading each quarterback's performance on a daily basis. Those grades apparently are not being shared with the players.
Trotter on his Saturday scrimmage grade: ``Couldn't tell you."
Trotter on if he finds that annoying: ``You'd like to know. At the same time, either way, you know, you're going to keep working hard and doing what you're going to do. Hopefully it wouldn't affect that much of my work ethic. I'm going to work hard either way."
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Schedule update
 Hey everyone. I have nothing to report right now, but that will change shortly. Your Auburn Tigers will hold their eighth spring practice this afternoon. Players will be available prior to that engagement. A soccer game being held in Montgomery featuring an up-and-coming striker may delay the arrival of practice information this afternoon, but I'll still be hustling to keep you informed. AS FOR THE HABOTN BRACKET CHALLENGE: Someone won. It wasn't you. The end. AS FOR THE HOTTIE BRACKETS: Oughtn't we wait until after spring drills before getting involved with that? That's just a suggestion.
Video report, 4/6
MONDAY AFTERNOONPost No. 1,171I have disabled auto-play for this video. If you've been living in Pakistan and somehow forgot to view the video at its freshest, please don't hesitate in catching up below:
Post-practice reaction, 4/5
 Hey everyone. Here are a few other note-worthy things we learned today. - Marcus Jemison has, in fact, been moved to linebacker. He's 6-foot-2 and weighs 205 right now. He wants to add 20 pounds before the season starts. He'll be playing behind Craig Stevens on the strong side.
``It was the coach’s idea because of the way I come up from safety and throw my body at a guy when I hit him," Jemison said. ``He liked that and then I have a nose for the ball. He said that’s the way I’ll get on the field quickest, so I’m with it. As long as I’m playing, I’m with it."
- Eltoro Freeman, previously known as Stevens' backup on the strong side, has moved to weak-side linebacker. That's a permanent thing. He played that position in high school and junior college, so it should be a straightforward transition.
``The move went real good for me. I've been playing what I wasn't used to," Freeman said. ``One day, Coach (Ted) Roof gave me a couple reps at Will linebacker and he liked the way I was playing so he was like 'OK, Toro, this the fit for you.' So then I went on in the starting rotation."
- I thought Kodi Burns threw really well today. His motion still seems funky to me -- like he has too much weight on his front foot after throwing -- but he was pretty accurate today. Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn told him so during practice.
- Former Prattville High tailback Justin Albert missed the 2008 season, his first at Auburn, while rehabilitating a repaired knee. He has drawn praise for his work this spring. ``I never sat out of a football game. And I love playing, I love competition and I was kind of frustrated. I was like, 'Aww, man.' I wanted to be out there, but I couldn't. So I just fought through it, fought through it and this year I get my chance."
- Gus Malzahn on The Quarterback Race: ``We don’t have a lot of our offense in now. It’s the base offense. After they get that down, we’ll start getting to the other stuff. But they’re competing hard. We went live with them again today. I think that’s the way you can evaluate the quickest. We’re going to find out what’s inside of them and how they compete."
- Mario Fannin looks bulkier ... because he is. The tailback said he's up to 230 pounds, which represents a 10-pound increase from his 2008 weight. It's all muscle. Still, he's not really satisfied.
"I kind of bulked up on my own. That's one thing coaches took into consideration because they saw I wanted (that) as far as a personal preference -- to get bigger and at the same time be fast. That's something they recognized something I was to do. Now it's a matter of losing a couple of pounds to get that speed back."
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Video practice report, 4/5
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Initial practice observations, 4/5
Hey everyone. Auburn is in the midst of a two-hour practice. Beat hacks were allowed to watch approximately 30 minutes. Here are the things I noticed: - Eltoro Freeman was working exclusively at weak-side linebacker. That's a change. He had been working exclusively behind Craig Stevens on the strong side and some of you marveled that Spencer Pybus was in position to start at WLB. Might wanna adjust those depth charts.
- DE Hot Carter was helped off the field with what appeared to be a lower-leg injury. I can't judge the severity of that injury.
- TB/WR Mario Fannin was out there. That's the first time I've seen him participating since getting that protective boot last weekend.
- WR Philip Pierre-Louis was running routes and cutting, but he cannot jump at all. Assistant coach Trooper Taylor seemed dismayed after PPL failed to reach a ball that seemed within his grasp, saying: "Give me a receiver with arms longer than six inches."
PPL responded: "I still can't jump, Coach."
- TB Onterio McCalebb's jersey reads "McCaleb" ... I don't know if that's a jersey space issue or what.
- K Chandler Brooks is still wearing the yellow shoes.
- S Marcus Jemison, who blew out his knee in two-a-days, may have moved to linebacker. I saw him running there today. I'll see if that's a permanent thing.
Scrimmage video, 4/4
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Early scrimmage information, 4/4
 Hey everyone. We have no pictures, no video, no stats, no score. I'll still pass along the information I have about the Tigers' first real spring scrimmage. - I think the defense won. I think TB Onterio McCalebb fumbled during the final drive. I think Auburn's "scoring system" rewards five points to the defense for recovering a fumble and that five-point surge was the difference. I don't know that, though.
- I think Kodi Burns threw one touchdown pass.
- I think Neil Caudle threw one touchdown pass, possibly a long one, to Terrell Zachery.
- Gene Chizik told the offense to slow down at one point. Auburn's defense was having a difficult time gathering its pre-snap bearings. The head coach said: "Today, we weren't trying to fool anybody."
- Eltoro Freeman, the junior-college linebacker, may have played as the top option on the weak side today. Defensive coordinator Ted Roof neither confirmed nor denied that report. Freeman had been working exclusively on the strong side.
- Quarterbacks went live -- ie were eligible to be tackled -- at times today. That was done to help offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn make more keen personnel assessments.
- I think former Prattville High tailback Justin Albert had a good day. Several players mentioned him.
- Chizik confirmed that OL Kyle Coulahan has left the team ... ostensibly to concentrate on academics. I don't expect him to return.
- UPDATED WR DEPTH CHART
*"9" (formerly known as X): Tim Hawthorne, Quindarius Carr
*"2" (formerly known as Z): Terrell Zachery, Philip Pierre-Louis
*"5"(formerly known as Y, inside slot): Darvin Adams, Derek Winter
I'll update with more information as it becomes available. I'll have a video, but that won't debut until at least 3 p.m. CDT. Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
More detailed practice commentary
 Hey everyone. Let's get to business. MORE DB DEPTH ON THE WAY: As many of you have discussed, the (no city) Press-Register reported today that former LSU cornerback Phelon Jones is aiming to make the jump to Auburn. He requested and received his release from Les Miles. The next step, Jones' father said, is to request a scholarship from the Tigers. If you think a step is missing -- ie asking Auburn if that would be OK -- you and I think alike. WHERE IS GABE?: A few HOTTIES have emailed asking for the real story about Gabe McKenzie's "medical" issue. He has missed the team's first six spring practices and it seems likely he'll miss the other nine, too. Short answer: I don't know enough to write about it. AS FOR REACTION FROM CURRENT PLAYERS ABOUT FOOTBALL: We can do that as well. You're probably more interested in that. - Wes Byrum technically is the No. 2 kicker right now ... behind sophomore walk-on Chandler Brooks. Byrum still is trying to shake off the effects of a miserable 2008 season. "I kind of got lost with all my technique. I started changing around, fooling around with stuff that didn't need to be fooled around with. Once I started to change too many different things, I came apart. I've been working on the offseason on getting back to how I know I can do it."
- Byrum on his spring performance: "I'm not hitting the ball my best, I know I'm not. I'm knocking them through right now, but I'm not satisfied with the makes because they're not how I know I can kick. I know I have a lot more work to do."
- Assistant coach Tracy Rocker (defensive line) always mixes positive reviews with critical assements: "I think at times you see greatness. You're trying to break the up and down situation on defense. You see a great play, you see a bad play, you see a great play. If we could just be consistent for four to five straight plays, then there are things you feel good about. But I feel good about the process. It's going to take time."
- Special teams, at least during the past few years, wasn't a primary emphasis during The Tuberville Era. That's clearly changing. Auburn now has a dedicated special teams coach in Jay Boulware and the team is spending more time toward honing their efficiency there.
Here's what P Ryan Shoemaker had to say about Boulware: "He really is a hands-on coach. He likes to dissect film. He watches our technique. He dissects everything we do. It’s worked out very well for us. I think it really has helped out in some things. We’ve had technique issues and I like the way it’s going."
- We have a T'Sharvan Bell sighting. The redshirt freshman was one of Auburn's hyped 2008 signees, but missed two-a-days with a broken foot. That led to the inevitable redshirt season.
Here's what assistant coach Phillip Lolley (cornerbacks) had to say about Bell: "He was a quarterback in high school and he knows what offenses will try. He sees things that a lot of guys don't see because of what he was asked to do in high school; option, attacks, play action. He understands when guys cut their splits down, what routes they might try to be, progressing too and he's just a smart kid. He just picks up things very quickly."
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn UniversityQuestions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
A nice honor for Drew Smith
 Hey everyone. Drew Smith, a walk-on senior on the Auburn basketball team, today won a Brad Davis SEC Community Service Post-Graduate Scholarship. He was one of two SEC peeps (the other being South Carolina hoopster Brionna Dickerson) to get the scholarship, which is worth $6,000. Here is a run-down of Smith's accomplishments: Smith is a four-year letter winner for the Tiger basketball team and is on target to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences in May.
The Trussville, Ala. native has been an Auburn Academic Top Tiger and a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll for three years. He is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the National College Athlete Honor Society, the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Smith has also been the recipient of the Freshman Presidential Scholarship, the Valedictorian Scholarship, the Auburn College of Sciences and Mathematics Academic Scholarship. He received the Tiger basketball team’s Academic Achievement Award in 2008.
In the community, Smith has been active through his work as a four-year member of Auburn’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and participating in various other activities. He has served as a counselor and camp pastor for the First Baptist Church of Trussville’s Youth Retreat, been a mentor for children from Project Up-Lift and Boys and Girls Clubs, organized toy drives for Toys for Tots and took part in activities for youth at local YMCA camps.
Smith has also served on his Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ leadership team, taken part in canned food drives and participated in Coaches 4 Cancer. He founded and led a ministry for local students and the community at Auburn entitled, “The Backyard.” The award is named for Davis, an SEC official who died of cancer in 2006 at age 49. He was a cool dude who often served as the instant-replay czar at Auburn football games.
Video practice report, 4/2
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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 UniversityQuestions? Comments? Post directly to the blog below or email me at jgtate@gannett.com.
(some) Auburn ticket renewals go online
 Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't been around today. We held some meetings at Advertiser Headquarters and they demanded my undivided attention. We may be in talks with a corporate entity interested in sponsoring the HABOTN. That's all I can say about that. AS FOR TICKETS: Auburn finally has taken steps to streamline its ticket-ordering enterprise for some folks. I have included a screen grab from the new site above. Forms now are available online for - Tigers Unlimited Members who have made their contribution as of March 31st
- Active, full-time faculty/staff
- Retired full-time staff
- Faculty/staff who ordered football season tickets last year.
You can peep the new site here: Tigers Unlimited stuffThis is all part of a "go green" initiative. SCHEDULE UPDATE: Auburn is practicing now. I'll provide information and video around 8 p.m.
More commentary from Tuesday
 Hey everyone. As I noted in earlier comments, I will not be attending Gene Chizik's Clichéfest this afternoon. In lieu of that, please read some interesting things said by players on Tuesday. - WR Quindarius Carr on the spotty depth at his position: "There’s not that many out there. It’s a fast-paced offense so we’re constantly going back and forth. We don’t have that much of a break. We’re just getting into conditioning. There’s only like three or four of us. It’s alright so far."
**HABOTN NOTE**: Non-injured scholarship receivers is a group that currently includes Carr, Tim Hawthorne, Darvin Adams, Derek Winter and Philip Pierre-Louis.
- QB Kodi Burns predicting his run responsibilities in Gus Malzahn's offense: "The quarterback definitely in this offense has to be able to run the ball. I will run some in this offense as well. I don't know if it will be as much as last year, but the quarterback in this offense definitely has to run the ball."
- WR Tim Hawthorne on things that are different with this new group of coaches: "It’s too early right now, but, overall, there’s a lot more structure. The coaches know what they’re going to teach and they know what they want us to learn. They have a set plan. I guess it’s more comfortable that way."
- LB Josh Bynes on defensive coordinator Ted Roof and his linebacking background: "Look at him. He looks like a linebacker. (Hearty guffaws all around) He's got the big legs, big upper body. From working with him, he's been a very very good coach and he's doing the things possible to get us better on defense as linebackers. He wants us more physical and get us instead of just being there and being a guy getting blocked. It's about us making an impression on the offense that 'Yeah, we're going to come at you hard and come at you fast and come at you physical on every play.'"
- G Mike "Big Snacks" Berry on the Tigers' new offense: "Compared to the old offense, we're probably going to run the ball. Grimes, the first day we met him, he told us he wants us to be the toughest O-line in the nation. I'm glad we're getting back to running the ball."
Photo credit: Todd Van Emst/Auburn University
Radio Appearance Forthcoming
 Hey everyone. I will be appearing on WMSP's afternoon show, dubbed the "MAX Roundtable," this afternoon for two hours beginning at noon CDT. We'll be discussing Auburn and other stuff. Listen live in Montgomery on AM 740. Listen live elsewhere at www.sportsradio740.com.
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Hey everyone. A few players were made available prior to the Tigers' Tuesday evening practice. The theme was quarterbacks. I'm sure you're happy to hear that.
