Fall Camp Has Ended - The season is upon us

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MARSHALL LAW: WILL TIGERS ADD PERFORMANCE TO TALENT?
July 31, 2013

AUBURN, Ala. – Watching from a distance, the 2012 Auburn football team surely looked like one that was woefully short on talent. How else do you explain the meltdown the second half of the season, being outscored 150-21 in the final three Southeastern Conference games?

Those of us who watched from up close mostly have a different view.

The 2012 Auburn football team certainly had holes that would have made being a championship contender unlikely even under the best of circumstances. But after four highly regarded recruiting classes, it certainly had enough talented players to compete.

But talent without performance leaves you looking like Northwest Auburn State, with a 3-9 record and a new coaching staff.

The burning question as Gus Malzahn looks to Friday, when he will open his first preseason camp as Auburn’s head coach, is whether those same players will add performance to their talent.

Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson puts it like this:

“I think we have good, solid SEC players, but when you play like they did last year, they are going to have to play differently. I don't think we have to have different people. We have to have different performance.”

Senior cornerback Chris Davis says Malzahn’s arrival changed everything.

“Coach Malzahn is a great head coach,” Davis says. “He has very high standards and expectations. That’s where we have to get. We have to reach his standards. Players have to trust one another, play for the player that is playing beside you instead of yourself.”

Whether that happened last season or how often it happened last season is open to debate, but Davis says it no longer matters.

“I really can’t speak on last year,” he says. “It’s a new day, as Coach Malzahn is always saying. We are just looking ahead.”

On Friday, in the heat of an Alabama August, an Auburn football team with renewed spirit and renewed energy will go to work on reclaiming the heritage left by generations of players.

Will it happen in 2013? Will they add performance to their talent? To a man, Auburn’s players believe they will.

They will soon have the opportunity to prove it.

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Friday: First practice at 4 p.m.

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Fan Day

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POSITION BREAKDOWN: IT'S OLD, IT'S NEW AT DEFENSIVE TACKLE

AUBURN, Ala. -- The time is now for the veteran tackles in Auburn's defensive line.

"We're going to be aggressive," promises Gabe Wright.

Auburn returns some familiar faces to defensive tackle for the start of fall practice Friday. But a junior college transfer and a 5-star hopeful could shake up the depth chart. Certainly, Wright and Jeff Whitaker bring a lot of experience, specifically 27 career starts and 75 tackles.

A fresh start for the veterans and a new coaching staff may help leave behind a difficult 2012 season.

"We definitely didn't accomplish what we would have liked," Wright said.

New defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson won't be satisfied with just run-stoppers in the middle. He'll also stress pressure on the quarterback.

"I'm excited about every one of them. I have a good nucleus of young men," says defensive line coach Rodney Garner.

The candidates in random order:

Jeff Whitaker (6-4, 310, Sr.) He has 44 career tackles, but had only 12 last year after injuries cost him three games as well as other playing time. The communications major is often the face of the defense with the media. Likely one of the two starting tackles after spring.

Gabe Wright (6-3, 296, Jr.) Started the last five games last season and came out of the spring holding one of the two starting spots at tackle. He had 19 tackles last year. Of note for Ellis, a quarter of Wright's career tackles have been for a loss.

Ben Bradley (6-1, 295, So.) Junior college transfer who arrived in January and has three years of eligibility remaining. Had 43 tackles for Hutchinson Community College in Kansas last year. Had 93 tackles as a high school senior in Norcross, Ga.

Angelo Blackson (6-4, 310, Jr.) Has come a long way, from Bear, Del., to battle for a starting spot in 2013. He has 10 career starts. Has 32 career tackles, including 26 last season. Six of those tackles were for a loss.

JaBrian Niles (6-2, 293, So.) Played in four games last season after redshirting in 2011.

Montravius Adams (6-4, 306, Fr.) A 5-star signee from Dooly County High in Vienna, Ga., where he had 127 tackles, of which 34 were for a loss, his senior year.

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POSITION BREAKDOWN: MIX OF YOUTH, EXPERIENCE ON OL

AUBURN, Ala. – Junior center Reese Dismukes, sophomore left tackle Greg Robinson and junior right guard Chad Slade, barring unexpected developments, are likely locked in as starters on Auburn’s offensive line. But at left guard and right tackle, much remains to be decided.

At left guard, redshirt freshman Alex Kozan and sophomore Devonte Danzey, a junior college transfer, were locked in a tight race coming out of spring practice.

At right tackle, sophomore Pat Miller was clearly the leader, but sophomore Avery Young has yet to make his case. Young started the first three games last season before being lost to a shoulder injury. Miller started the final nine games.

Though the Tigers have no seniors and just three scholarship juniors among their offensive linemen, they have significant experience.

Dismukes is going into his third season as a starter and has started 23 games. Robinson started 11 games last season as a redshirt freshman. Slade, redshirted as a freshman, has 22 career starts.

Suspended for last season’s opener after being charged with public intoxication, Dismukes has emerged as the clear leader up front.

"With us, we were true to our word," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "We came in and it was a new day, a fresh start. From Day 1, we told Reese that what you do from this point forward is all we care about. Since we got here, everything has been great. I've been really proud of the way he's handled himself on the field, off the field, leading the guys, all the little things."

Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes says he likes what he saw in the spring and expects to like even better what he sees when practice starts.

"I have a tremendous amount of confidence in Ryan Russell and our strength guys," says Grimes, who worked with Russell at Arkansas State. "I think they do a wonderful job not only developing strength, but developing the flexibility and the bend and those kinds of things that you need to be a good offensive lineman."

Here are the candidates:

C Reese Dismukes (6-3, 290, Jr.): Preseason second-team All-SEC selection. Started 23 games in two seasons.

G Chad Slade (6-5, 308, Jr.): Redshirted in 2010, moved into starting lineup as a redshirt freshman in 2011. Has started at both guard and tackle. Started 22 games in two seasons.

T Greg Robinson (6-5, 320, So.): One of the nation’s top offensive line prospects in 2011. Redshirted and moved into the starting lineup in 2012. Started 11 games.

T Pat Miller (6-7, 293, So.): Moved into the starting lineup in the fourth game after Avery Young was injured and started nine games.

T Avery Young (6-6, 304, So.): Made a strong impression in his first three starts, but did not play again because of a shoulder injury. Is healthy and ready to compete in preseason camp.

C Tunde Fariyike (6-2, 305, Jr.): Started two games last season. Can play center or guard. Goes into camp as Dismukes’ backup.

G Alex Kozan (6-4, 297, RFr.): Redshirted last season. Left spring practices as No. 1 left guard.

G Devonte Danzey (6-4, 292, So.): Junior college transfer. Was pushing Kozan hard at the end of spring practice.

T Shon Coleman (6-6, 299, RFr.): Granted sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA after coming back from a battle with childhood cancer. Robinson’s backup at left tackle.

G Jordan Diamond (6-6, 315, RFr.): Moved from left guard during spring to right guard behind Slade.

Robert Leff (6-6, 284, RFr.): Redshirted last season. Expected to play reserve role this season.

Will Adams (6-7, 297, RFr.): Redshirted last season. Expected to play reserve role this season.

Shane Callahan (6-6, 275, RFr.): Redshirted last season. Expected to play reserve role this season.

Deon Mix (6-4, 310, Fr.): Will get a chance to show if he’s ready to play early.

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POSITION BREAKDOWN: CLOSE RACES AT LINEBACKER

AUBURN, Ala. – Sophomores Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy left spring practice as Auburn’s first-team linebackers, but defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson says the race for playing will be wide-open when preseason camp starts Friday.

Frost finished just ahead of senior Jake Holland, the starter much of the past two seasons, in the middle. McKinzy finished the spring slightly ahead on the weak side. Redshirt freshman JaViere Mitchell, junior college transfer Kenny Flowers, sophomore Anthony Swain and true freshman Cameron Toney will get their chances. Junior LaDarius Owens could move back to defensive end, but if he remains at linebacker, he could also be heard from.

If Frost holds Holland off in the middle, Holland could be a contender to start on the weak side. Holland fell behind Frost in the spring after missing some practices and meetings because of a class crucial to his building science major. That should not be an issue in preseason camp or during the season.

Regardless of who starts, Johnson says at least four linebackers will get significant playing time. With only two linebackers in Johnson’s 4-2-5 scheme, depth is not an issue.

That, Holland says, will be a welcome change from recent seasons.

"As far as there being a nice rotation, that's what I like because any time you're playing 80 to 90 snaps a game your body is going to wear down," Holland said. "The rotation is going to be a huge help for us."

The candidates:

Kris Frost (6-2, 238, So.): Played sparingly on the outside last season. Moved to the middle before spring practice.

Cassanova McKinzy (6-3, 246, So.): Started two games at middle linebacker as a true freshman, making 12 tackles at Vanderbilt and seven tackles against Georgia.

Jake Holland (6-1, 240, Sr.): Was fourth on the team last season with 73 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack. Started 10 games, missing the Georgia game because of an ankle injury.

JaViere Mitchell (6-2, 215, RFr.): Was making a big move in spring practice before being sidelined by a concussion. Could be upwardly mobile in preseason camp.

LaDarius Owens (6-2, 250, Jr.): Started his career at linebacker and moved to defensive end. At his own request, moved back to linebacker in the spring. He could play either position in the coming season.

Anthony Swain (6-2, 239, So.): Played in 10 games as a redshirt freshman, primarily on special teams.

Kenny Flowers (6-2, 230, So.): Was in on 95 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and broke up four passes as a redshirt freshman at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College last season. Rated the nation’s No. 2 junior college linebacker by 247Sports. Was an All-State performer at Parkview High School in Lilburn, Ga.

Cameron Toney (6-2, 225, Fr.): Committed to previous staff but didn’t waver through coaching change. Played at Huntsville High School. Rated the No. 9 prospect in the state.

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Auburn's coaching staff chomping at the bit to open fall camp on Friday

AUBURN, Alabama -- The month of July hasn't been easy on Auburn's first-year coaching staff.


Too much waiting.

The closer the Tigers come to the start of fall camp, the more the Tigers' coaches are ready to get back with their players and begin preparing for the season-opener on Aug. 31.

"I’m just ready for the first day of practice," Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn said. "This time of year kind of kills me. I’m ready to get out there with our players and see what happen."

Auburn's players are scheduled to report on Thursday, although the term "reporting day" has shifted over the years.

Back before the year-round college football cycle of preparation, reporting day was the first day that the players came back to campus. Now that those days are gone, the Tigers have all spent the bulk of their summer in Auburn, going through offseason workouts with strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell, holding captain's practices three times a week and spending a lot of time in the film room.

The one thing the players don't have is constant contact with the coaching staff.

"We’ve kept away from them so much during this time of the year, and although they never leave, it’s not like the old reporting dates in the old days where they used to go home for the summer and you couldn’t wait to see them when they got back," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "At the same time, (camp's) still a time when you can get your hands back on them and get back on the field and get rolling again."

For several weeks now, Auburn's coaching staff has been holding an ever-increasing number of football meetings, planning for fall camp and the process of installing schemes on both sides of the ball.

Once that starts, it's hard for a coach to wait.

"I know I'm excited, the coaches are excited. We're starting to get into the football meetings as a staff -- talk more ball, talk more install, talk more fall camp, which, when you get to that point, you know it's close," offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee said. "I know our players are ready."

The season-opener against Washington State looms in the near future, not that far away on the horizon.

If July is the longest month for a college football coach, August can seem like the shortest.

"You kind of get in these days right here, I can’t stand them," Johnson said. "That in-between time is kind of hard to hold yourself back, but we’ve heard real good reports on their efforts and work ethics and everything through the summer, and all the progress they’ve been making, so we’re actually extremely anxious to get with them."

Only three more full days remain until the coaches' wait will be over.

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Auburn coaches expect newcomer Kenny Flowers to compete immediately for playing time at Will linebacker

AUBURN, Alabama -- Ellis Johnson's expectations are high, especially for one newcomer on the roster.

Asked in no certain terms who must step up on the roster when fall camp starts Friday, the Auburn defensive coordinator did not name a returning letterman. He instead sided with a fresh face, a player he expects to contribute immediately as a sophomore this season: Kenny Flowers.

"When you sign a junior college player, you want to see him on the field," Johnson said. "I wish he could have been here in the spring. That's always preferable."

Flowers played one season at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, where he had 95 tackles, including 6.5 for losses. He also picked off a pass, recovered two fumbles and broke up four passes.

He's one of six junior college players to sign with the Tigers in 2013. He's a consensus three-star prospect, and was ranked the No. 2 inside linebacker on the juco level by 247sports.com.

He also has a deep football background. His father, Kenny Flowers Sr., played running back at Clemson and three years in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons.

Flowers arrived on campus in late May for the first mini-semester of summer classes.

"He's had a good summer, worked real hard," Johnson said. "(Strength) coach (Ryan) Russell has been fairly impressed with his strength and power and conditioning. I'm just hoping he mixes it up in the two-deep pretty quickly. You don't sign junior-college players to come in and redshirt."

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Flowers lined up at Will linebacker in captain practices -- workouts organized by the Tigers' team captains. He will compete again Cassanova McKinzy, JaViere Mitchell and LaDarius Owens, who moved over from defensive end in the spring, for the starting job when fall camp starts Friday.

Flowers fits what Johnson is looking for at the position as a downhill player capable of stopping the run and shedding blocks on the blitz.

Flowers could move over to Mike linebacker, although that appears unlikely early in camp. Johnson's play calls go through the Mike linebacker, where former five-star prospect Kris Frost finished the spring atop the depth chart .

"I've got him working the Will right now because mentally it's a little bit easier," Johnson said of Flowers. "He doesn't have to make many of the calls. Physically, there's not much difference between those two positions."

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