re: Fall Camp Has Ended - The season is upon us

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FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK, DAY 6: GRIMES' ABSENCE TO BE SHORT

AUBURN, Ala. - Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes missed Auburn's first scrimmage of preseason camp Wednesday for what head coach Gus Malzahn called a "medical procedure."

"He'll be back tomorrow," Malzahn said. "It shouldn't be a problem at all."

Filling in for Grimes, Malzahn said, was a group effort.

"I kind of helped a little bit more with that a little bit more, and (offensive graduate assistant) Johnny Moore also. Coach (Rhett) Lashlee was on top of them a little bit more. I think we all combined. We have good leadership in (center) Reese Dismukes. It wasn't an issue today."

The scrimmage was scheduled for Jordan-Hare Stadium but move into the indoor practice facility after an afternoon storm.

Big play for Jake Holland

With the offense threatening to score early in the scrimmage, senior linebacker Jake Holland made a big play. He picked off a Jonathan Wallace pass and returned it some 70 yards. But he didn't score.

"We were doing a blitz there in red zone," Holland said. "I got lucky because he threw it right to me. I didn't get in the end zone. I was gassed at the end."

First two-a-day set for Thursday

The Tigers will practice twice Thursday, the first two-a-day practices of preseason camp. Malzahn said they will have a normal practice in the morning and concentrate more on special teams in the afternoon.

"We'll clean up mistakes," Malzahn said.

Defense gets interceptions, wants more

Junior safety Jermaine Whitehead said Tiger defenders "had two or three" interceptions, but in a 107-play scrimmage, he said that wasn't enough.

"We should have a had a couple of more," Whitehead said. "We're going to get better on tight coverage and reading routes. I know Chris Davis had one and Jake Holland had one while I was on the field. Getting our hands on the ball is something we definitely have to improve on going forward this year."

More efficient on defense

Last season, in Brian VanGorder's NFL-style defense, the Tigers had problems getting calls in quickly enough to make their presnap reads. There have been no such problems in Ellis Johnson's defense.

"Everything is meshing together well," Holland said. "People are able to make plays. The system and the management of the game is a little bit better because we can get our calls in quicker and keep up with the pace of the offense."

Freshman running backs stand out

True freshman running backs Rudy Ford and Peyton Barber have gotten junior running back Corey Grant's attention.

"They are doing great," Grant said. "They really stood out to me today."

Stevens impresses Whitehead

From the other side of the ball, freshman wide receiver Tony Stevens has impressed junior safety Jermaine Whitehead.

He's long and he can go get the ball," Whitehead said. "He's a great route runner. He's just embracing everything he can, trying to get himself a spot. I like that."

Auburn pushes on

Gus Malzahn said Auburn has reached the point in practice "where everybody is going to be a little bit sore, but that's a good thing from a coach's standpoint.

"You can see where they're at and who can fight through. This is a mental grind. We're straining them and making them uncomfortable. Seeing how they react is good information for coaches."

--Phillip Marshall

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PHILLIP MARSHALL: AUBURN PRESEASON CAMP Q&A

AUBURN, Ala. - With the first scrimmage of the preseason in the books, some things are starting to clear up for the Auburn football team. But lots of questions remain to be answered before the Tigers open their season against Washington State.

Here are some frequently asked questions and my attempts at answers:

Q: Has there been any movement in the quarterback race?

A: Probably, but it's a closely guarded secret. Things should start to come into focus by the end of Saturday's scrimmage.

Q: When will a starter be named?

A: My guess is it will happen by the middle of next week, but that is a guess and only a guess. It's not really based on anything of substance.

Q: Will Corey Grant finally get a chance to contribute?

A: Everyone says he will. What his role will be is another question.

Q: What incoming freshmen have shown they could make early contributions?

A: Defensive ends Carl Lawson and Elijah Daniel almost certainly are going to play. Defensive tackle Montravius Adams, wide receivers Tony Stevens and Marcus Davis, cornerback Kamryn Melton, star Mackenro Alexander and running backs Rudy Ford and Peyton Barber all have performed well. Jeremy Johnson is one of the more physically imposing freshman quarterbacks I've seen. Will he play if he doesn't start? Don't know.

Q: Who will start on the offensive line?
A: I would bet on Greg Robinson at left tackle, Alex Kozan at left guard, Reese Dismukes at center and Chad Slade at right guard. At right tackle, it could be sophomore Avery Young, sophomore Pat Miller or even redshirt freshman Shon Coleman.

Q: What linebackers have stood out in camp?

A: According to defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Kris Frost, Jake Holland and Cassanova McKinzy have performed well. Junior college transfer Kenny Flowers, junior LaDarius Owens, sophomore Anthony Swain and freshman Cameron Toney have all had their moments. JaViere Mitchell, who was having a good spring before suffering a concussion, needs to gain weight. He's listed at 205 pounds.

Q: How will the running back rotation work?

A: I look for junior Tre Mason and junior college transfer Cameron Artis-Payne to be one of the top one-two punches in the SEC. Grant could play the speed back role Onterio McCalebb played in the past, play slot receiver or play as a traditional tailback. It's too early to say what if any role the freshmen will play.

Q: Who are the top wide receivers?

A: Signs point to Quan Bray, Sammie Coates, Ricardo Louis and Trovon Reed having the potential for breakout seasons. Jaylon Denson was dynamite in the spring. We haven't heard as much about him in preseason camp, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. Really, almost any wide receiver on the roster could play a major role.

Q: How much trouble does the loss of tight end Ricky Parks cause?

A: Some, but not a lot. It mostly impacts depth. Parks would probably have been Jay Prosch's backup. Unless Prosch is injured, his backup isn't likely to play a whole lot anyway.

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AUBURN DEFENDERS RELISH SEEING QUARTERBACKS IN BLUE

AUBURN, Ala. - When Jermaine Whitehead and his defensive teammates got the news before Wednesday's scrimmage, they whooped and hollered in celebration.

The quarterbacks, they were told, would wear blue instead of orange. That meant they could be hit. Whitehead was still smiling at the thought when the scrimmage was over.

"That turns our whole defense up," Whitehead said, laughing. "You get to hit the guys that have been talking all the smack. Don't let them complete a pass. They'll carry on for the rest of the day."

Defenders put the heat on Kiehl Frazier, Jonathan Wallace, Nick Marshall and Jeremy Johnson every chance they got in the scrimmage that was moved from Jordan-Hare Stadium to the indoor facility because of heavy rain. The four quarterbacks, all competing for the starting job, apparently emerged no worse for the experience.

"I don't think we got anything big," Whitehead said. "I think we got to them in a couple of sacks and smashed them down to the ground a little bit, but I don't think we got to take anybody's head off."

In fact, Whitehead said, the quarterbacks were willing to give as good as they got.

"They ran pretty much, especially the ones that think they are bad and can run people over," Whitehead said, laughing again. "They tried to hit us back, which was good to see, that they would deliver a blow."

The next question for Whitehead was whether any of the quarterbacks did run over any defenders.

"Ah, no," he said. "They aren't living up to that."

Good-natured talking aside, senior linebacker Jake Holland said he thought it was a good move by head coach Gus Malzahn and his staff to make the quarterbacks live.

"I was excited," Holland said. "It brings a new aspect to the scrimmage, for sure. I've never been in a scrimmage where quarterbacks were live before. I think the d-line got a few good shots. I didn't get a chance to.

"For a coach, that's a huge deal. They want to see who can get out of tough situations. I think our guys handled that well."

Whitehead said even Marshall and Johnson, newcomers to the quarterback race, have shown confidence and poise since the start of spring practice.

"They embraced it," Whitehead said. "We've been embracing them as a team. They feel at home. They feel like it's their time and they have a chance."

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