re: Spring Practice info thread.

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we got a couple of practices left for Spring? Not sure much will come of it where us fans are concerned.

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Jordan Price is transferring from AU

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Nosa Eguae says he and his veteran defensive line buddies have a lot to prove this fall, and they're well on their way to doing it.

The Auburn defensive lineman says a productive spring on the field, quality time in the weight room and more work in the summer will allow the defensive line to deliver the promise that has occasionally eluded them. Now, with five seniors and two juniors in the playing rotation in the defensive line, Eguae says the time is now to show what they can do.

"Those guys have played a lot of football for us," Eguae said. "We know we're a senior-led group. The front is going to be on us. We have big shoulders and we're ready to put the team on our back and make the plays and do big things."

The veteran defensive line includes Eguae, Ken Carter, Dee Ford, Craig Sanders, Jeff Whitaker, Angelo Balckson and Gabe Wright

Eguae hopes fans will see improvement in the fall, but, this summer, the team belongs to strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell.

"It will be different with Coach Russell's program. Guys are setting big-time goals," Eguae said. "We tested last week and the guys' numbers were amazing. Guys just are eager to get back in there and work. It's finals week, and we're still grinding and working. We're proving we're worthy of winning games this fall, and that's important to us. We're doing what we need to get it back right.

"Guys are so positive about getting better at their craft. We've got a good group of seniors. These past couple of years we've had a small senior class, but we've finally got a good group of seniors who have been through the wars, who have been at the top and been at the bottom. We're just looking to this summer because this spring we learned so much. It was a grind, but Coach Malzahn said the first day it was going to strain us mentally and physically, but we came out there and got better every day."
Eguae and the seniors have gone through three defensive coordinators and three defensive line coaches. Ellis Johnson and Rodney Garner are the latest.

"Coach Ellis has given us a plan to make plays," Eguae said. "Anytime you have a defensive coordinator who gives you that opportunity, you've got to make the most of it. Coach Garner gives us the tools to make plays.

"I know I've seen things in my game I can improve on. Coach Garner shows you bad habits, and he gives you the tools to fix it. We appreciate that."

Eguae says the defensive line has "refocused on the technique. I don't know if we lost that the last couple of years, but you just want to make a play so bad you lose sight of the little things. Coach Garner is big on that, and he's big on focusing on the stuff that will make us better on Saturdays. He can push us to the limit, but he shows the tough-love you want."

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Tre Mason figures Auburn will be physically ready for the football season after summer workouts with strength and conditioning coach Ryan Russell, but the tailback says the Tigers can't stop there.

Auburn's 1,000-yard rusher says the players are on their way to winning the mental part of the game.

"We were upset with the way last season ended, but we accept that as motivation," Mason says "We're looking forward to flipping that season around. Our mindset is to go undefeated. We know what it feels like to have a losing season. We're encouraging each other. We don't want to go through what happened last year."

Auburn has a new coaching staff, top to bottom, and while that excites Mason, "we can't put everything on the coaches. We've got to take it upon ourselves to be great. You've got to want to be great."

Auburn is finishing final exams this week. After a little time off, the Tigers will report back for summer workouts in late May.

That's when they'll face Russell and his first summer as Auburn's strength and conditioning coach.

"The end of spring was great," Mason said. "We want to win championships. Everybody says that, and it takes a lot to work toward that, but we know what it's going to take in the summer. I feel like Coach Russell is possibly the best strength and conditioning coach in the country. We're just going to follow his lead."

Mason said workouts on the field will mean more than just learning the Xs and Os.

"Working together is important, but just being around each other is going to build a lot of chemistry over the summer," he said. "The leaders are going to step in. We're going to get the chemistry going with the quarterbacks, the receivers, the line and the running backs on the field."

Mason was limited by a sprained ankle that cost him almost two weeks of spring practice. But last year's 1,000 yards bought him some time as Auburn got a closer look at tailbacks Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne.
"Of course it's competition, but it's friendly competition," Mason said. "I'm really cool with Cam and Corey. Competition doesn't really scare me. I've just got to continue to work hard and keep my work ethic right and continue to produce."

Mason knows Gus Malzahn's offense. He played in it in 2011 before Malzahn spent last season at Arkansas State. He says he helped the uninitiated along the way.

"I tried to step in as a leader and try to help the guys who didn't know quite what to do, to try to get them to understand the offense and the expectations," Mason said. "I know Coach Malzahn wants us to go fast, pace the ball down the field, run the ball before the defense gets set. I feel like we progressed greatly from the beginning of spring. People were tired, but by the end of spring, we were scoring a lot and people were excited."

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Asked who would start at QB if Auburn had to play a game Saturday, Malzahn: "We don't have to play a game Saturday."

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@JoelAEricksonAU 6m Biggest depth-chart surprise, to me, is Josh Holsey at the boundary safety. Only got a couple of days there, but "he looked like a natural"

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Malzahn, says he'll be involved coaching "on the offensive side." Pretty clear that Ellis Johnson has full and total control of the defense.

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Corey Grant worked some at Quan Bray's slot position, in addition to running back.

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