re: Fall Camp Discussion- Bo Nix Named Starting QB

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Versatility the key to Auburn filling vacant DT spot

ByJASON CALDWELL 6 hours ago

AUBURN, Alabama--One of the biggest questions for the Auburn Tigers heading into the 2019 football season is how the Tigers will replace four-year starter Dontavius Russell at the defensive tackle position opposite Derrick Brown.

With several talented options, Coach Rodney Garner says that he goes into preseason camp feeling good that he has got a group that has versatility led by his Brown, Nick Coe and Marlon Davidson.

“Nick can play all four (positions),” Garner said. “Marlon can play all four. Derrick can play all four. All three of those guys can play all four. Then you’ve got the ends that can play buck and end. When we get in rabbits, depending on the down and distance and what you’re getting, there are some other guys we could tweak and move around and come up with some designer stuff for them to do.”


Listed at 6-5, 291 pounds, Coe is the most obvious choice to potentially move inside for the Tigers because of his size, strength and athleticism. Along with Tyrone Truesdell, Daquan Newkirk and Coynis Miller, Auburn has bodies to work with and how they’re used may be determined by what type of offense the Tigers are facing.

"We're going to use everybody,” Garner said. “We're going to try to find the best combination that's going to give us the best opportunity to be successful. I'm sure we're going to mix and match and do a lot of things based on who we're playing against, the different kind of personnel we're facing, the kind of offense we're facing. We'e just got to be creative.”

With Coe in the mix the Tigers have the chance to be very special along the front four, but they will need the others to step up their game to allow Garner to do what he wants to do and play multiple players at every position.


"Well obviously, Truesdell--I thought Trues has gotten better every year. I'm really proud of him and the growth that he's made, not just as a football player, but as a person. I've seen tremendous growth out of him.

“Coynis, I think he's a guy that's very talented. Hopefully, he'll be able to take that next step. The biggest problem with Coynis is really between his ears. Like most big guys, you know, just learning to push themselves past their comfort level and be willing to get uncomfortable. That's going to be the challenge for him. Lastly, it hurt him by getting there late and not getting that baseline of conditioning with (Coach Ryan) Russell, which is so critical for a young man, the acclimation part of it, but hopefully he's going to be willing to go that next level.

“Obviously, Newkirk, if we can get him healthy, he's a very talented young man that has all the skill set. He checks every box. If you were going out and trying to scout one, and this is what you're looking for, that's what you're looking for.”

With the pieces in place the goal for Garner is now to find the guys he can count on to help the defensive line take the next step. What step is that? Creating havoc.

“Obviously, our thing is, and one of the goals we came out of last season with, is we just need to create more negative-yard plays on first down,” Garner said. “If we can do that, we can get people into third-and-long situations where we feel like we can maybe create some mismatches with the front and in pass-rush situations

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