4.12.2010

Auburn practice report, 4/12

Hey everyone. Practice has ended. Here's what we have learned.

  • Assistant coach Jeff Grimes (right) on the difference between last spring and this spring: ``At this point last year you’re just trying to get to the point that everyone knows who they’re blocking and they understand what the play is. You don’t have a lot of time to talk about the details in terms of the technique. You’re trying to do that as you go but until they understand the what, it’s difficult to get to the how. We’re doing a whole lot more how at this point with the guys who have experience."

  • Jonathan Evans is now in the No. 1 spot at strong-side linebacker. He works along with Joshua Bynes (middle) and Craig Stevens (weak side) on the first team. Eltoro Freeman still is working behind Bynes.

  • Gene Chizik on how he'll administrate the A-Day game considering ESPNU will be televising it: ``I don't know what type of format we're going to have. Again, I think that will go along with today and what we come up with in terms of injuries, where we are as far as how many bodies we have for the game. We're going to through that actually today to see what type of format we're going to have. It's great that it's going to be an ESPNU game and just the excitement of the crowd. Our players need it. They're ready for that, they're ready for something different."

  • Mario Fannin was asked to predict his A-Day MVPs. He chose T'Sharvan Bell and Demond Washington on defense, Cam Newton and Darvin Adams on offense.

  • Onterio McCalebb (left) provided an intriguing answer when asked about his pick for MVP: ``I'd have to say myself. I go out there and work hard every day, do what I have to do to get things down part. The No. 1 thing I'm working on right now is blocking. That's gotten a whole lot better from last year."

  • Grimes praised G John Sullen for getting in better shape and playing well lately.

  • Anthony Gulley Morgan said he decided to change his name some time ago, but the official paperwork was received only recently. He spent most of his life with an adoptive family (the Morgans) and his name change reflects his tight relationship with them. They're all from Brantley.

  • Bynes (right) had a funny answer when asked about the differences between Jonathan Evans (sophomore) and his older brother Chris, who started at middle linebacker a few years ago. Bynes said the younger Evans was not as smart ... before quickly reversing course. He said Chris Evans was "a wiz" and that his younger brother still has a lot of learning to do. Bynes wasn't being mean; he just misspoke in a humorous way.

99 comments:

  1. Speaking of beer....has anyone heard anything about Jhag's trip besides he's alive?

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  2. Holy Eltoro, Batman!!! I didn't see the Jonathan Evans thing coming. Great substance Jay G.

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  3. Love the Bynes bullet, Jay G. That is a good example of what I think some reporters my try to make a major story out of. Bynes says Chris Evens is a moron. Film at 11:00. People sometimes make mistakes. Good reporters get clarification. Bad ones get beat up behind the buses by Urban Meyer.

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  4. Harry,

    Plead not guilty. Fired cops do not testify. Super win! Congrats.

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  5. PF, I'm just logging in after the weekend. Is there a Harrison story I missed out on?

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  6. It is great to see we aren't sucking at baseball.

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  7. He posted a question on the last thread after Jay G wraped it up.

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  8. Digger, thanks for the Tubby info on the previous thread. Tubby Tech is going to be an interesting experiment this next season.

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  9. Yep, it's not guaranteed, but very likely, that if the officer doesn't show up to your court date, the judge will dismiss it.

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  10. Anonymous12:45 PM

    Thanks for answering earlier, Jay G.

    Over/under on the crowd size Saturday?

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  11. Will Eltoro Freeman ever become the player he was hyped to be?

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  12. Jay Jacobs is the best AD in the SEC. Just sayin'.

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  13. Last time I showed up at an A-Day game, we went undefeated that fall.

    Just sayin'.

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  14. I see Tubby Tech as 6-6 next year.

    Other predictions for Sir Tubs?

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  15. Anonymous12:49 PM

    Players highly hyped rarely pan out at Auburn (and other places too).

    It's tradition. Why mess with it now?

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  16. Jet, given the new information you just provided, I blame you for thee events leading up to 2008

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  17. Anonymous12:52 PM

    Here's Texas Tech's schedule:

    SMU
    at New Mexico Texas
    Open Date
    at Iowa State
    Baylor
    Oklahoma State
    at Colorado
    at Texas A&M
    Missouri
    at Oklahoma
    Weber State
    Houston

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  18. Texas Tech is like soccer.

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  19. Anonymous12:54 PM

    My predictions:

    SMU - W
    at New Mexico Texas - W
    Open Date
    at Iowa State - L (revenge of Paul Rhodes!)
    Baylor - W
    Oklahoma State - W
    at Colorado - W
    at Texas A&M - L
    Missouri - L
    at Oklahoma - L
    Weber State - W
    Houston - W

    7-5

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  20. I'm open to your suggested conversation topic, PF.

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  21. Sensi, I see Baylor as a loss and OSU as a toss up.

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  22. OK State is an L. aTm is a W.

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  23. A&M looked a bit more solid towards the end of last year. I think Franchione has them moving in the right direction.

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  24. edit: Mike Sherman. Oops.

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  25. Thanks JGT. So what do you make of Eltoro's position? Is he the 4th best linebacker on the field or is he just not suited for strong side?

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  26. Anonymous1:00 PM

    Ok. State lost a lot, ya'll. Baylor maybe. Ok. State will probably take a step back for a year.

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  27. i hope you guys are right, authoritative figures make me nervous. I will be essentailly lying, but they don't know that I dont guess

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  28. Eltoro Freeman=Tray Blackmon

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  29. I don't recall making a topic suggestion.

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  30. Heard on JOX that Rick Stansbury(Miss State) could be heading to Clemson

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  31. Eltoro = Tray? Not convinced that is the case.

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  32. Anthony Gulley Morgan = Class Act

    Morgan Family for cultivating a relation ship with Anthony = Class Act to the 10th power.

    As someone who has had people step in my life and help me in parental ways who weren't my parents, I have mad, mad respect for families that touch lives like Anthony's (and my own).

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  33. I just caught up on the comments from the weekend. I would like to issue a big thank you to all the Hotties who talked soccer instead of golf.

    Playing golf is fun, but I hate watching it. I don't mind highlights on Sportscenter, as long as they keep it to a minimum.

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  34. Seanzie, I hope you are right

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  35. The Evans thing is a bit of a surprise. Even more surprising that Stevens is on the Weak side. Eltoro No. 2 at MLB? Interesting. If that is the case there is your reason why he isn't in the starting line up.

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  36. Congrats to AU on the series win over LSU!

    In other baseball news, it appears that it will be a long season for the Birmingham Barons. Tonight they are trying to avoid a five game sweep at the hands of the Carolina Mudcats. Maybe Carolina is just good.

    In even more baseball news, my son's team (8-year-old Braves) is kicking butt. I hope saying that doesn't jinx them tonight!

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  37. I don't think Freeman will ever be the football player Blackmon was. Of course I hope I'm wrong.

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  38. Blackmon wasn't ever that good ehyou.

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  39. I didn't say he was.

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  40. He did contribute to wins at times though.

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  41. Tuberville should be able to win 7 or 8 at Tubby Tech fairly easily. That is about where the program was before Leach got there.

    My guess is that there is potential for a Terry Bowden year here. Bowden won early because the offense already knew how to run, the defense was solid, and he was able to kick start the passing game. Something similar could happen at Tubby Tech, although being undefeated seems unlikely and it is very likely that the offensive passing game drops off over the next few seasons. It will be interesting to see.

    I am sure Tuberville can win at Texas Tech, but winning the Big 12 would be tough. His best chance might be sooner than later.

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  42. Well whatever happens at Texas Tech....it has nothing to do with Auburn. I liked Coach Tubs, thought he was an ok coach. Not sad to see him go, but I wish him well at his new job.

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  43. Blackmon had a few games where he was outstanding, one of them was against Florida.

    ElToro appears to be very iffy. He isn't Raven Gray, but he seems to be significantly underachieving. I love Bynes and Stevens. Those guys are better than I thought they would be. But they are not close to being the best linebackers we have had in recent memory. Sell your ElToro stock now.

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  44. Man you guys are nuts. It's always rough the first year for some guys coming from JuCo, the Bull was hurt for the first half of last year. If he sucks this year, then write him off but he still has 2 years to blossom into a solid contributor.

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  45. It's cool Sean. We don't judge man-crushes around here.

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  46. Seanzie, the players beating him out were not so nearly as hyped.

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  47. And Eltoro was a JUCO. I don't know for sure, but he should have 1 or 2 seasons left after this.

    There is a difference between JUCO prospects and high school prospects. JUCOs are expected to be able to compete. Ask Gayden and Mosley.

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  48. I'll concede that he was injured last year and hold off on the bust label.

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  49. He earned the starting spot in the spring and was only limited due to injury. He had a couple of huge games for us in the middle of the season. Don't know what else you want from the kid, Steve.

    It's not a man crush, it's called being pragmatic and not jumping to conclusions based on inconclusive evidence.

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  50. As much as I was upset with the way Tubs left Auburn bare without much depth and a lack of talent IMO, I really think he will do well at Texas Tech. That is probably a perfect fit for him. He will win a Big XII title if he stays 8 years there.

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  51. ElToro won a starting job last season because he had a pulse, which was the major requirement for a linebacker last season. He may be a decent contributor, but the star status he had coming from JUCO hasn't shown up yet.

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  52. I don't blame Tuberville for the lack of talent. As we saw last season and will see this season, we have talent.

    There was definitely a depth issue, although I am not sure you can blame the HC for that. Stuff happens.

    I blame Tuberville along with the administration for creating an unhealthy environment. It became very plain that there was a major rift between the staff and the administration. You have to lay the blame on Tuberville and Jacobs there.

    And no, I don't think Franklin was the problem. I think he lacked the people skills to deal with a bad environment.

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  53. Everyone- I apologize.

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  54. Steve, you've finally said something I can agree with. Congrats.

    He hasn't reached star status yet, but he still has plenty of time left.

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  55. A-Day crowd ... based on the fact that it likely will be sunny and nice ... 35,000.

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  56. A-Day Crowd will be around 45,000 IMO, but I won't be one of them.

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  57. Eddie - drop and give us 50.

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  58. I will be there. I've got to get some kind of football fix to hold me over between now and August.

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  59. It's hard for me to care about Football at this time. Too many other great things going on that can be done or followed. I'll start wanting it late July.

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  60. I like short pants weather

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  61. I call it No Pants Weather

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  62. Must...not...say it...aarrgghhh...panty length?

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  63. Pants on the ground?

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  64. Pants on the ground is kinda crass.

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  65. Clothes on the ground.

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  66. Mega Piranha on "SyFy" is crass.

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  67. stop, drop, and roll....

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  68. Puppet Hour comes early.

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  69. JayG, I watched bits of that this weekend. Many lolz.

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  70. I'm too sexy for my shirt.

    Since that sort of thing is frowned upon here in the office, I guess I have to keep it on. Stupid societal rules.

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  71. Megan Piranha is mega-hot, though.

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  72. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  73. Hmmm, seems like short posts work well.

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  74. Has the thread hopping.

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  75. Maybe we should limit the posts to ten words of less.

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  76. I have added pictures and quotes to the main blog entry.

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  77. Two slices of Nature's Own Honeywheat
    1 slice Borden Singles Pepperjack
    1 slice Velveeta Slices
    1 Tablespoon Breakstones salted butter at room temperature

    Put cheese between bread, slather outside with butter, and cook on Le Crusette Grill Pan until cheese is melted and bread has deep grill marks on either side.

    Grilled Cheese Goodness

    Variations: use aged sharp cheddar and sweet sheeps milk cheeses instead of grocery store processed slices.

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  78. My grilled cheese recipe is similar. I do Hvarti and Colby-Jack. Brush the bread with olive oil and coat the pan with butter.

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  79. I used to do lots of butter in the pan, but that just created a smokey and/or soggy mess if the heat wasn't perfect. This castiron grill pan has changed my approach. Still use a good bit of butter, but I feel like it's cooked into the bread better, and gives a great crunch.

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  80. Fradejas SEC PotW, by the way.

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  81. I've found the perfect temp on my gas range, I turn it on, leave it sit until the butter melts and then throw in the sammiches.

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