​​Lyle's Corner

Monday, August 31st, 2015

 

It's now official: Game week is upon us! With that in mind, what I have to write about today may not be directly related to Auburn, but I think it's still very pertinent information that will help Tiger fans when it comes to penalties this year. Several new rules have been instituted for the 2015 college football season. Some are simply procedure-based, while others may have a larger impact on the game's outcome. Regardless, here's a quick run-down:

 

- An eight-person officiating crew will be allowed if a conference or school chooses. A center judge was used experimentally in several conferences during the past two seasons. 

- A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty will be called on players who push or pull opponents off piles. This usually occurred in the past after fumbles. 

- If a helmet comes off a defensive player in the last minute of a half, 10 seconds will be run off the game clock and the play clock will be set at 40 seconds. (Previously, the play clock was set at 25 seconds.) There were a few situations near the end of a half where a team had to snap the ball one more time while trying to run out the clock. So now the play clock is set to 40 seconds when a defensive player loses his helmet, and still to 25 seconds when it is an offensive player. This is also consistent with the rule for stopping the game due to an injured player. 

- Officials will return to giving teams an initial sideline warning when their personnel move out of the designated team bench area. 

- Officials will treat illegal equipment issues - such as jerseys tucked under the shoulder pads or exposed back pads - by making the player leave the field for at least one play. The equipment must be corrected in order for the player to return to the game. However, the player may remain in the game if the team calls a timeout to correct the equipment issue. 

- Instant replay reviews will be allowed to see if a kicking team player blocked the receiving team before the ball traveled 10 yards on onside kicks. 

- Teams must be allowed at least 22 minutes prior to kickoff for pre game warm-ups. Teams may mutually agree to shorten this time period. 

- If the play clock runs to 25 seconds before the ball is ready for play, officials will reset it to 40 seconds. Originally, the play clock was reset when it reached 20 seconds. 

- Non-standard/overbuilt face masks are forbidden. 

 

Confused yet? Does all of this sound mind-boggling? Yeah, I know. It's a load for me to remember, too. But now you will hopefully know what to expect if the Tigers commit any one of these infractions. I can only hope that this information will prevent you from scratching your head when these situations arise.

 

In other news...

 

- Auburn announced this past weekend that the football team will play Alabama State in 2018, the first ever meeting between the two schools.  

 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

Saturday, August 29th, 2015

 

We're now down to just one week until Auburn kicks off its 2015 campaign against the Bobby Petrino-coached Louisville Cardinals. With that in mind, let's take a close look at four of the Tigers' biggest developments from preseason camp:

 

1. ​The starting center position is still very much at stake. 

 

     ​The Tigers' main concern on the offensive line is finding a replacement for four-year starter Reese Dismukes, who won the Rimington Award last season. Ole Miss transfer Austin Golson and former JUCO transfer Xavier Dampeer are now vying for that starting spot. 

Golson entered camp with experience as a starter - at guard, at least - but Dampeer, a senior, has gotten more snaps at center after serving as Dismukes' backup for all of last year. 

"Xavier had a very good spring and has had a good fall camp," head coach Gus Malzahn told the Opelika-Auburn News earlier this month. "Both of those guys are very solid guys. That makes you feel very good going into the season." 

 

2. ​Jalen Harris is impressing his coaches in camp

 

     Harris is competing with redshirt freshman Chris Laye for the Tigers' starting tight end spot. A three-star prospect from St. James School in Montgomery, Ala., Harris was not a touted prospect in Auburn's 2015 recruiting class, but could see some action in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff game. 

"You know Jalen Harris is another guy with a whole lot of reps already," Malzahn recently told the Montgomery Advertiser. ​"He is a guy that will help us this year, we'll just see how much. So far we've been pleased with him." 

 

3. Will Muschamp plans to move Carl Lawson around to create 1-on-1 matchups

 

     This could very well be a sign that the defensive end, who missed the entire 2014 campaign while having knee surgery, is very much on the mend. "You have to account for him on every snap," Muschamp told AuburnSports.com earlier this week. "The guy plays with a tremendous motor. He's a smart football player. He's not just a one-way player." 

 

4. The three-way battle at running back is still the same. 

 

    ​Roc Thomas, Peyton Barber and Jovon Robinson are still valiantly fighting for snaps in a competition that might not be fully settled until well into next month. Earlier this week, Malzahn stated that he would ideally like to name a starter before Auburn's SEC opener at LSU on Sept. 19th. As I've stated so many times already, only time will tell. 

 

In other news....

 

- It's no secret that Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema wasn't exactly fond of Auburn given the arguments with Gus Malzahn regarding player safety and up-tempo offenses, as well as the situation with Anthony Swain last year. Last night, however, he publicly contended just how much he despises the Tigers. According to Eric Bolin of the Arkansas News Bureau, during a fan event in Springdale, Ark., Bielema made the following pronouncement to Razorbacks supporters: 

 

"Probably doesn't need to be said in here how much I hate Auburn." 

 

According to AL.com, the comment drew applause from fans. 

 

Since arriving in Fayetteville, Bielema is winless against the Tigers, and his defenses have surrendered an average of 40 points per game. Naturally, all division matches are crucial for any SEC team, but it's a sure bet that Bielema has this game circled on his calendar. 

 

Personally, I can't help but wonder what possessed him to make such a strong remark. Was he dead serious? Was he just having a bad day? We can only guess. One thing's for sure: There's an age-old saying that "Loose lips sink ships." We'll just have to wait and see if his words come back to haunt him. 

 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday, August 26th, 2015

 

With all the mystery regarding who Auburn's starting running back will be, most fans expected the Tigers to choose between JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson, and returnees Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber. However, with the season opener against Louisville just 10 days away, it appears that a so-called "committee approach." Although there is still no clear workhorse, let's take a look at how the aforementioned backs are listed on the depth chart:

 

1. Roc Thomas- ​As the third-string back behind Cameron Artis-Payne last season, Thomas recorded just 43 carries for 214 yards and two scores. However, in the A-Day game, the 5-foot-10, 203-pound sophomore from Anniston, Ala., led the team with 69 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown jaunt on his first carry of the afternoon. He later scored another TD with Auburn's second-team offense on a 12-yard reception. 

Thomas, who is more of a pass-catching threat out of the backfield than Barber is, also caught six passes for 27 yards last season. 

 

2. Peyton Barber- ​A 5-foot-11, 225-pound sophomore from Alpharetta, Ga., Barber had six carries for 32 yards in the spring game, after tallying 54 yards on 10 carries last year. He is similar to Robinson in that he can run between the tackles. 

 

3. Jovon Robinson- A 6-foot, 230-pounder, Robinson signed with the Tigers in December after rushing for a staggering 3,198 yards and 23 touchdowns in two seasons at Georgia Military College. He made his biggest contribution in 2013 when he set the JUCO record for rushing yards in a season with 2,367. Robinson had actually previously signed with the Tigers in 2012, as one of the top prep prospects in Alabama. However, he left the campus after just two weeks due to being ruled academically ineligible. But he triumphantly resurfaced in this year's A-Day game and posted 19 yards on six carries. 

 

Auburn has had the best ground attack in the conference the past two seasons, averaging 255 yards per game in 2014 and 328 in 2013. However, those figures might be difficult to approach this time around. However, Auburn's passing game- led by QB Jeremy Johnson and returning receivers Duke Williams and Ricardo Louis- should keep opposing defenses honest, thereby opening things up for these running backs, whose talent should mar their inexperience. 

Although Robinson has slipped to third place on the depth chart, he certainly has what it takes to alter that order. Thomas, meanwhile, has recently improved his ball security, and the coaching staff believes he is capable of gaining tough yardage between the tackles. 

 

Sometimes in life, there's nothing like a good mystery. All of these facts give fans even more incentive to believe that all three of these guys could come into action at any point. Only time will tell. 

 

In other news...

 

- There's plenty of good news in the injury department. Freshman running back Kerryon Johnson, who suffered a hamstring injury in the first scrimmage of preseason camp, has returned, while safety Tray Matthews, who has battled long-term hamstring issues, is now practicing full-speed. 

Head coach Gus Malzahn said that the team got through three weeks of mostly physical practices without any long-term injury problems. "We were very physical," he stated. "We strained our guys very hard. When you do that, you worry about losing a guy or two. We're a little banged up, but it's a good banged up. We will be fresh and ready to go. We should have all hands on deck, at least at this point, going into the opener."  

 

Malzahn said yesterday's practice was almost entirely devoted to preparing for the Sept. 5 season opener against Louisville in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. He emphasized that offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and defensive coordinator Will Muschamp were very pleased with the team's attention and approach to practice. Malzahn himself is equally proud. 

Meanwhile, the position battles forge ahead at left guard, running back and center. "It's the same ones we talked about last," Malzahn said. "We still had the same situation, which is not bad. Probably next week we'll get a little more specific. That would be the plan." He also reported that junior Alex Kozan, who has returned from a back injury that kept him out all of last season, "looks like the same guy he did before." That's a bold statement, considering that the last time Kozan played he was a freshman All-American in 2013. He and senior Devonte Danzey, Malzahn said, continue to get equal reps. 

Malzahn also pointed out that, with the stiff competition at running back, he hopes that a feature runner will be named in time for Auburn's SEC opener against LSU on Sept. 19th. 

 

- While fans won't see orange alternate jerseys and navy blue pants this season, the Tigers will don new Under Armour uniforms- even though the changes should be very minor. Alterations to the game day gear include a return to the iconic uninterrupted pants stripes as well as updated chrome helmet decals, the first change to Auburn's lids since 1993 when the face masks were painted navy blue instead of orange. 

Auburn's interlocking "AU" primary logo and its recognizable alternating stripes were given the chrome treatment, which should look spiffy reflecting off the lights in the Georgia Dome. Even with these slight variations, the Tigers are expected to sport their traditional navy on white home look. 

 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

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Sunday, August 23rd, 2015

 

Only 13 days remain until Auburn's season opener against Louisville, and the battle for the starting running back spot is still a toss-up. So much so, in fact, that it appears a committee approach could be used to start the 2015 campaign. 

 

According to AL.com's Brandon Marcello, three backs remain neck and neck for playing time. More than a week after running backs coach Tim Horton reported that Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber had jumped ahead of Jovon Robinson, the race is back to a dead heat. 

Thomas and Barber combined for less than 300 yards last season. Robinson, meanwhile, enrolled at Auburn in January as the top-ranked JUCO running back. 

 

Whatever the outcome, all three of them are definitely reliable enough in my eyes to fill the large voids left by Auburn's top two rushers from last year. Cameron Artis-Payne led the Tigers with over 1,600 yards, while Nick Marshall countered with 925 yards. 

Only time will tell when this burning question is finally answered. 

 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

 

Friday, August 21st, 2015

 

Senior linebacker Kris Frost said after yesterday's practice that, "Every day is a new start." Indeed. It's a good thing, too, because according to first-year defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, Auburn's linebackers are struggling to communicate to the standard he expects. 

 

"We have to do a better job at that, getting the calls out and things like that," Muschamp stated yesterday. "We get a little tired and a little fatigued, and that makes cowards of us all. We need to continue to battle through that, and we will." Frost said that the linebackers are still striving to fall in line with Muschamp's defense and his demands. "Right now we're trying to go from a defense that didn't do a great job in communicating in the past to getting better each and every day," he explained. 

 

Learning a new defensive scheme has almost become an annual ritual for Frost, who has had four different coordinators since enrolling at Auburn in 2011. Though much of the terminology has remained the same, he has tried to focus less on minutia and more on detailed concepts. "Knowing where you're supposed to be and knowing the whole gist of the defense is extremely important," Frost emphasized. "Not knowing just your position or what you're supposed to do on a specific play, but knowing where everybody's supposed to be, that's what allows you to be able to play fast." 

 

Frost, who plays on the weak side, and senior Cassanova McKinzy, who plays in the middle, started during last season, but Muschamp said he still isn't certain who will start when the Tigers open the 2015 season against Louisville in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Sept. 5th. Aside from them, sophomore Tre Williams and senior Justin Garrett are also vying for the starting spot. That gives Auburn plenty of possibilities. 

"I know, at my position, what I have to accomplish in order to make Auburn a better football team and make Auburn's defense a better defense," Frost stated. "As far as playing time is concerned, we have a few weeks until the first game. I'm not really concerned with that. I have to do everything I can to shine a positive light on everyone around me while doing my job. When I take care of my job, I know everything else will fall into place." 

 

For now, however, Frost said the primary focus lies in improvement. "We all obviously want to start and want to play the most we possibly can, but that's not really the thing we're looking at right now as far as our production on the field. We know that we have to get better individually, and we need to get better collectively as a defense. That's the most important thing, and that's the only important thing." 

 

Words of wisdom. 

 

In other news...

 

- Safety Tray Matthews is back in practice after being hindered by a hamstring injury for much of fall camp. Although he still isn't 100 percent recovered, he is still making progress, and Muschamp said he is back to doing "a lot of things" on the field during practice. "He's been able to get out and get some reps and get some turns," Muschamp said yesterday. "That's been good. We're just trying to get through that. But yeah, he's been back on the field."

This is not the first time Matthews has had problems with such an ailment. The former Georgia safety had to cope with what Bulldog head coach Mark Richt described as "chronic" hamstring issues during his short stay in Athens. He missed five games in 2013 due to the problem, and again dealt with it in the spring of 2014, forcing him to miss Georgia's A-Day game. Because of Matthews' history with this issue, Muschamp said that, if this were a game week, Matthews would "probably be cut loose to play." However, if, for whatever reason, he wasn't cleared to play, Muschamp said that Auburn's third safety behind Matthews and Rudy Ford on the depth chart right now would be cornerback Blake Countess, a graduate transfer from Michigan who started 30 games in the secondary for the Wolverines. 

Let's all hope that Matthews can get his injuries mended by the medical staff in time for the season. If he does, let's also hope that he doesn't have the misfortune of tipping a Hail Mary pass into an opposing receiver's hands. You know what I'm alluding to, don't you? Of course you do. 

 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

 

 

Thursday, August 20th, 2015

 

I'm sure we've all read from other sources about the fierce competition to be Auburn's starting running back in recent weeks. Well, now there's a bit of bad news for JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson: He has fallen to third in the race behind Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber. A few weeks ago, most Tiger fans assumed that Robinson was a foregone conclusion as the go-to guy, while the battle for second-string would be between Thomas and Barber. Now, in the midst of Week 3 of fall camp, the contrary is the case. So, why did this happen? 

 

According to running backs coach Tim Horton, Robinson has had the worst start of Auburn's four running backs. He even ranks lower than freshman Kerryon Johnson. When Auburn beat writers pressed Horton even further on Robinson's lackadaisical performance, he summed it up with these words: "There's a certain standard and professionalism we want our groups to perform at, whether that's being on time for a meeting or paying attention when you're not playing or whatever it might be," Horton said. "Some kids it's real easy for them, like KJ, and some it probably hasn't been demanded of them in the past, but it is now." 

 

On the positive side, however, it appears that Robinson is improving his showing in the last few days of practice. And with his phenomenal talent and ability, he still has plenty of time to brush up on his performance and make a strong case to be the number one back in the ground game ahead of the other three. As head coach Gus Malzahn said yesterday, "He has had a better week, he had a couple hiccups early, but he's had a better week, week and a half. He's done a solid job and really come on. And he needed to because the other two had really solid fall camps."

 

If the past seasons under Malzahn are anything to go by, don't be shocked if a starter is not named until the third or fourth game of the year. He has a propensity for giving everyone equal reps in game situations before definitively choosing who will be at the top spot. Whatever the outcome, Auburn is clearly chock full of talent on the ground. It will be very interesting to see how this plays out. 

 

In other news...

 

- Kyle Davis, the No. 1 receiver in the 247Sports Composite, tweeted a picture of his official scholarship offer from Auburn late last night. Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee are considered the teams to beat in his recruitment. Davis plans to announce his college choice on October 23rd. Let's all hope he decides to don the orange and blue. 

 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

 

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​​Sunday, August 16th, 2015

​As any loyal Auburn fan should be well aware, the Tigers are in urgent need of a starting running back following the losses of quarterback Nick Marshall and leading rusher Cameron Artis-Payne. 
 

Fortunately, one newcomer is garnering praise from running backs coach Tim Horton. Sophomore Peyton Barber, a former standout at Milton High School in Atlanta, recorded a 30-yard reception and a 20-yard run in yesterday's scrimmage. "He's someone that I have a great deal of trust in," Horton told al.com. "Putting him in the game, he's going to do great. He just needs the opportunity and he's going to get the opportunity. He's earned the opportunity." 
 

Barber saw little action last year as a freshman, posting just 10 carries for 54 yards. But this season serves as a golden opportunity for him to step up and take the pressure off of starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson. Of course, Barber will inevitably have large voids to fill. Artis-Payne racked up 1,608 yards and 13 touchdowns last year, while Marshall tallied 798 yards on the ground with 11 scores. The two proved to be the centerpiece of a high-octane ground attack. With them, Auburn averaged 35 points a game. Given that, it's no surprise that expectations for this season are high. 

If Auburn expects to establish itself as a legitimate contender in the SEC West, Barber will need to step up to the plate. He's already honored half of the bargain by gaining the trust of his coaches. Now, the real task is showcasing his talent on the field. 

In other news...

- The men's basketball team has landed a surprise commitment. According to Stacey Davis of NYCHoops.net, five-star Mustapha Heron made an unofficial visit to the Auburn campus and has committed. Heron had an official visit with Mississippi State scheduled for later this month, and St. John's was considered the favorite in the Crystal Ball to land him. 

Heron, a 6-5 power guard out of Waterbury (Conn.) Sacred Heart High School, is ranked No. 23 in the 247Sports Composite. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

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​Saturday, August 15th, 2015

Today's scrimmage for Auburn started on a bit of a shaky note, as receiver Duke Williams left shortly after halftime after "tweaking" his right ankle. Fortunately, the injury is not considered serious. Williams, who missed six days last week for a disciplinary reason, returned to practice Thursday, though he is currently at the bottom of the depth chart. Coach Malzahn didn't have much to say about Williams' performance today. 

"He was out there," Malzahn said. "He got to play some. There wasn't anything that stood out to me. He's in the process of getting better." Let's all hope so. 

Apart from Williams, Malzahn said that the offense played very well today, with increased emphasis on throwing the ball. He stated that Jeremy Johnson played very well, although the defense made a few stops with the passing attack as well. In regards to the ground game, Malzahn stated that Peyton Barber has more experience than the other running backs, but, of course, the competition is still very tight. He also pointed out that Roc Thomas did very well protecting the ball.  

In other news...

- Former Ohio State recruit Jamel Dean has officially enrolled at Auburn. Dean, a cornerback, was medically disqualified from the Buckeyes stemming from injuries he suffered in high school, which included a torn ACL. According to AL.com, Dean has since been cleared by Dr. James Andrews. Dean's attempt to appeal the NCAA's transfer rule that would force him to sit out for the 2015 season was denied. 

He is a former product from Cocoa Beach, Fla., and has a lot of potential if he can fully bounce back from his knee injuries. 247Sports had Dean rated as a four-star prospect and has him clocked in at a 4.42 40-yard dash time. 

I sincerely hope he can fully recover from his ailments and get a chance to show his stuff for the Tigers in the future. 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

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​Friday, August 14th, 2015

​Good news, Auburn fans: Receiver Duke Williams returned to practice yesterday after missing almost a week due to an unspecified "disciplinary issue," in the words of head coach Gus Malzahn. 

Now, for the bad news: Williams will now have to climb his way back up the depth chart if he wants to get back on the field. "He's going to have to earn his way back up," Malzahn stated yesterday. "He understands that, and for anybody to miss that many practices, that's to be expected."  

Unsurprisingly, Malzahn declined to give details of what kept Williams from practice, only saying that he "took care of business off the field." That off-field work involved things that Malzahn devised himself. Williams has shown genuine remorse for his actions, which is a start. Now, the question is will he be able to avoid any similar mistakes going forward? "He is in the process of, every day, earning his coaches' and teammates' respect," Malzahn emphasized. 

While Williams has established himself as Auburn's leading returning receiver - with 45 catches for 730 yards and five touchdowns last season- that in no way places him above any other player on the team. "I try to keep the same standard for everybody," Malzahn pointed out. "That's how we operate around here." He further emphasized that Williams "has some catching up to do" after missing six straight practices. 

Given these circumstances, there is certainly no guarantee that Williams will see action when the Tigers kick off their 2015 campaign on September 5th against Louisville in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Therefore, guys like Ricardo Louis, Melvin Ray, Tony Stevens, and many others will get their chance to step up, and Malzahn said that he and his assistant coaches feel confident in them. 

When asked if Williams is now on a zero-tolerance policy, he responded, "He's taken care of what he needed to right now, but he understands the severity of where we are." 

Apart from Williams' status, the nod for starting running back is still very much up for grabs. Freshman Kerryon Johnson was injured late in the first scrimmage of preseason camp, and hasn't practiced full-speed since last Monday. "He's a little bit banged up," Malzahn said. "We are hoping he will be back fairly soon. He's a guy we definitely feel like can help us this year. He's showing some really good flashes." Johnson, from Madison (Ala.) Academy is vying for the starting spot against sophomores Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber and JUCO transfer Jovon Robinson. 

Still, Malzahn said there is still plenty of room for all four to contribute, and while Thomas and Barber have gotten more notice, Robinson is still very much in the race. All three of them got carries in the last scrimmage, and the next one, which takes place tomorrow, should be no different. 

Don't be surprised to see all four of these guys get touches at one time or another as the 2015 season unfolds. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! ​

 

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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

There's an adage as old as time itself: "Don't get mad. Get even."

If things go according to plan, Auburn will have a chance to do just that against the Florida State Seminoles in 2018.


Every Auburn fan vividly - and painfully - recalls how the Tigers' magical journey to the final BCS National Championship Game in Gus Malzahn's first season ended on a sour note as FSU scored the winning touchdown with 13 seconds left to break Auburn's hearts by a final score of 34-31. 

Now, reports from 247Sports and the Palm Beach Post indicate that the two schools are in talks of negotiating a rematch three seasons from now in Jacksonville, although they had originally discussed holding the game in 2019. That plan was scrapped when Auburn agreed to play Oregon (another rematch from a past BCS title game, which Auburn won, 22-19) in Dallas in 2019. 

The Tigers also have out-of-conference home-and-home agreements with Clemson (2016-17) and California (2020-21) placed on the slate. In FSU's case, a possible rematch with Auburn in 2018 would mark the third straight year in which the Seminoles opened the season with an SEC opponent at a neutral site. They have already scheduled to play Ole Miss in Orlando in 2016 and Alabama in Atlanta in 2017. 

 

That heartbreaking loss to FSU is still fresh in my mind 20 months later. From my point of view, what really cost us was the fact that we didn't milk the clock enough on our last possession. Sure, it was a great feeling watching Tre Mason score the go-ahead touchdown on a 37-yard scamper to take a 31-27 lead. The problem: There was still 1:19 left to play. That's 79 seconds. For any team playing against Jameis Winston, that is simply too much time for his team to respond. Sure enough, the Seminoles answered. The outcome left me teary-eyed, although I didn't actually cry. But if we get a chance to square off against them in 2018, hopefully, the disappointing memory of that night will vanish from my brain...as well as all Auburn fans. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

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Tuesday, August 11th, 2015

The list of absentees keeps on growing for the Auburn football team. First, wide receiver Duke Williams. Now, starting center Austin Golson. 

Golson missed Auburn's first preseason scrimmage yesterday, his second in a row due to an undisclosed "minor" injury. 

This could be disturbing news knowing just how crucial a role the center plays in a Gus Malzahn-led, hurry-up, no-huddle offense. Add to that the fact that Golson is trying to fill the oversized shoes left behind by a legend. Former center Reese Dismukes was a team captain, first-team All-SEC, and Rimington Trophy award winner. He started 50 games for the Tigers and always turned in superb performances. 

However, head coach Gus Malzahn says that the Tigers won't have to wait long for Golson to return to the practice field. "He won't be long," he said. "We want to be smart with him. It won't be long at all before he's back." 

In the meantime, senior Xavier Dampeer has stepped in for Golson, and is handling the first-team reps. 

From my point of view, we can't afford to lose any more crucial players like this. Otherwise, we could be in serious trouble with the season opener less than four weeks away. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

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Monday, August 10, 2015

Fundamentals would tell you that it takes successful play in three areas to win a football game: Offense, defense and special teams. However, when preseason scrimmages are held, there may be an exception to that rule of thumb. 

When the Tigers held their first preseason scrimmage of fall camp today inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, the defense stole the show. "The defense completely dominated the scrimmage," said head coach Gus Malzahn of the 90-play contest. He further went on to describe it as the most intimidating performance by a defense "since I've been a head coach." That was a pretty accurate choice of words considering that the offense never scored a touchdown. Also, the defense forced three turnovers. Malzahn said that the offense was a little more run-oriented. 

This was Auburn's first practice in front of Jordan-Hare's new colossal video board, and even Malzahn said that "it definitely caught my attention. I want to get our players used to it. It's a factor, a big factor." Defensive back Jonathan Jones echoed Malzahn's praise of the Tiger defense. "For a first scrimmage, you can't beat how physical we were," Jones stated. 

Malzahn also pointed out that, aside from the run-oriented offense, there were also a few live plays run for the special teams. Additionally, he said that defensive lineman Carl Lawson was "about unblockable" in the scrimmage. Quarterback Jeremy Johnson shared the same mindset, saying, "He's been unblockable all fall camp." Lawson, who missed all of last season while recovering from knee surgery, is now, according to Malzahn, "better than before." 

 

Jones stated that the entire defensive line played superbly at today's scrimmage. "The whole front, honestly, will help us this year. The whole front dominated today." On the whole, Malzahn said that the defense has "done some good things up to this point, but like I said, until you put the football down, that's when everything becomes very clear." 

A few other brief notes from the scrimmage:

- Malzahn stated that Jeremy Johnson "didn't throw it much." Plus, "we didn't have him running the ball." 

- "We have some very good offensive players, and we expect them to rebound," Malzahn said. 

- Malzahn on receiver Ricardo Louis: "He's off to a great start. He's in a good spot." 

- Johnson said backup quarterback Sean White has "an amazing arm. He's one of my best friends on the team. We all feel good about Sean." 

- As is usually the case, the freshmen got a lot of reps in the first scrimmage of the fall. "We gave them a lot of reps," Malzahn said. "We gave them a lot of reps on special teams, too, but that was by design, so we could properly evaluate them. Just from a big-picture standpoint, watching the scrimmage, there were some guys that you could say, 'OK, yeah. They've got a real chance.'"  

Auburn will scrimmage again on Saturday. 

​That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

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Sunday, August 9th, 2015

The Tigers have latched onto another commitment for their 2017 signee class. Three-star safety Carlito Gonzalez committed to Auburn yesterday after taking a visit to the campus. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Gonzalez chose the Tigers over Kentucky, Ohio State and South Carolina, among others. 

Gonzalez currently plays football at Stephonson High in Stone Mountain, Ga.  He has played wide receiver and safety during his time there, but is projected to play exclusively at safety if he dons the orange and blue. Auburn receivers coach Dameyune Craig and secondary coach Travaris Robinson were responsible for recruiting Gonzalez, who camped at Auburn on July 24th and picked up an offer. 

Gonzalez told 247Sports that he admired the atmosphere on the Plains. "Every time I come down here to Auburn, it just feels very good," he said. "It's a great atmosphere and a good vibe. It feels like this is the place for me to be and I just decided that I was going to officially commit today and bring my talents here." 

Hopefully, in a couple of years, he'll get his shot to make an impact on the Auburn secondary. 

In other news...

- Wide receiver Duke Williams has been absent from Auburn's last two practices in as many days. Although offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee described Friday's absence as "personal business," head coach Gus Malzahn clarified it as a disciplinary issue on Saturday. 

"He had a discipline issue that we're taking care of and when he takes care of that, he'll be back on the field," Malzahn stated. "I'll make that decision. I will let you know when he'll be back. Bottom line: nobody is bigger than the team around here and that's between me and him."

This is obviously bad news for the start of fall camp, especially since many are predicting that the Tigers will win the SEC crown this season, and also potentially contend for a College Football Playoff berth. In order for quarterback Jeremy Johnson to live up to the lofty expectations, he certainly could use the highly-talented Williams to catch passes downfield. 

This is not Williams' first brush with trouble. He was suspended for the Outback Bowl against Wisconsin last January. When he sees action, however, he can be a dangerous weapon for the Tiger offense. Last year, he was Auburn's leading receiver with 45 receptions for 730 yards and five touchdowns. 

With less than a month to go until the season opener against Louisville, I sincerely hope that he can see the error of his ways, and be able to return to the field again soon. When players get into trouble like this, they not only hurt their playing time in college, but also their potential of being chosen in the NFL Draft. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE! 

 

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​Wednesday, August 5th, 2015

The Tigers returned to the practice field today for their second practice of fall camp. Here are some observations from the 20 minutes that the media was allowed to view:

- As promised by head coach Gus Malzahn, safety Tray Matthews was back in action working with the first-team defense at his normal safety spot alongside Jonathan "Rudy" Ford. 

- Senior Jonathan Wallace, who converted to receiver after previously playing quarterback, did not have his helmet on, nor did he take part in any drills during the open viewing portion of practice. Plus, he didn't have a brace on or walk with a noticeable limp. Coach Malzahn will likely be asked about Wallace's status this evening. 

 

- Offensive line coach J.B. Grimes' voice improved today. Although it hasn't completely come back, it was better than yesterday, when he couldn't speak above a whisper. Grimes had a cancerous spot on his tongue and lymph nodes on the right side of his neck removed last Wednesday. 

- Defensive lineman Montravius Adams worked with the second-team defense for the second straight day. Meanwhile, Justin Garrett, Cameron Toney, and Tre Williams all had some reps with the first-team unit. 

- Running backs Jovon Robinson, Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber alternated equally with the first- and second-team offenses during handoff drills. Yesterday, Thomas and Robinson took the majority of reps with the first-team offense while media members were present. As any loyal Auburn follower knows, there is no clear-cut choice as to who the starter will be. Don't be surprised if this competition persists during the course of the season. 

- Former head coach Pat Dye attended practice and made it a point to talk to the Tigers' freshmen, who were standing off to the side. 

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

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Tuesday, August 4, 2015

The Auburn Tigers returned to the practice field today for their first practice session of preseason camp. What follows is a list of observations that the media caught in the 20 minutes that they were open to the session. 

- Safety Tray Matthews, a transfer from Georgia, was not seen at practice. There is currently no word on why the defensive MVP from the spring A-Day game was absent.

-  With Matthews out, Nick Ruffin stepped in. The rest of the first-team defense consisted of safety Jonathan "Rudy" Ford, cornerbacks Joshua Holsey and Jonathan Jones, linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy, and a defensive line of Carl Lawson and DaVonte Lambert at end, while Maurice Swain and Dontavius Russell were at tackle. Meanwhile, Blake Countess and Cameron Toney switched off at the sam/nickel positions. 

- On offense, Roc Thomas and Jovon Robinson split reps with the first-team offense during drills, receiving handoffs from starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson. That meant that Peyton Barber had to work with the second-team offense and backup signal-caller Sean White. 

When the Tigers began their "pace" drills- which featured them lining up and running a play as quickly as possible- Thomas was the only one to get first-team reps before media members were asked to leave. 

- There is no news to report on special teams, as Auburn didn't hold any drills with kick or punt returners during the media viewing period of today's session. 

In other news...

- The Tigers unveiled their new uniforms for 2015 yesterday in the team meeting room. Reportedly, the squad was all a twitter when they observed the updated Under Armour cleats, jersey fabric and pants stripes. From my point of view, it will be very exciting to see these new jerseys in all of their beauty when the season kicks off (as well as the new gargantuan video board). 

That's all for today. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!

 

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Sunday, August 2, 2015

The long-awaited new and improved video board in Jordan-Hare Stadium, which holds the distinction of being the largest jumbo-tron in college football history, is up and running. It was turned on yesterday after over five months of non-stop construction. 

The scoreboard, which cost $13.9 million to build, is located above the south end zone, and is on schedule to be ready for the football team's home opener against Jacksonville State on September 12th. Construction got underway in February, and crews worked around the clock to ensure that the project would be finished in a timely manner. Built with more than 700 tons of steel and designed to withstand category four hurricane force winds, the display is 57 feet tall by 190 feet wide featuring 8.7 million LED pixels for instant replays, animations and other graphics. 

The old video board (30x74 feet) is dwarfed by the new one, and has the honor of being the 24th largest video board in the world. Aside from the improved video, the board will also feature a new sound system and new ribbon boards that are located on the facades of the east and west upper decks. A crew of 42 students will operate the scoreboard, ribbon boards and sound system. 

Even though I haven't attended a home Auburn football game since the 2011 Iron Bowl, I am very confident that this new scoreboard will be an impressive sight for all Tiger fans to see, no matter where they're watching each Saturday. Just think how amazing it would have been had this colossal video board existed during the Kick Six!

In other news...

- The football team begins fall practice on Tuesday, August 4th. I'm sure that all Auburn sportswriters in print and online outlets everywhere (myself included) will have plenty to write about the progress the team has made since the summer. And of course, in a  little over a month, we'll all get to see if Gus Malzahn's third Auburn team can live up to all of the preseason hype it's been getting. Of course, they'd better not be paying one bit of attention to it, as that can lead to catastrophic results. Just ask the 2003 team.

That's all for now. Until next time, God Bless, and WAR EAGLE!