Auburn Football Spring Game: 10 Things to Expect on Saturday
The reigning national champions head into this Saturday’s A-Day game with a lot left to be figured out. More questions seem to be out there than last season and national expectations for the Tigers are low.
The quarterback is the most high profile of all the position issues for the Tigers but numerous holes need to be filled. Using the spring to shore up positions is usually the modus operandi, not finding starters at almost every position.
With that being said, the game will bring some answers but most questions will linger into the fall. Some positions are poised to be impressive despite its youth but others have a large fall off once the ones leave the huddle. A-Day will have a much greater impact than a public scrimmage; it will be the final test of the spring.
No Starter at Quarterback
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At this point, there appears to have been no separation in the quarterback race. Last year the rumors were rampant that Cameron Newton would be the starter. Gene Chizik was asked if he had seen separation at this point last year, his answer was a simple yes.
For Trotter that appears to be a bad thing but for Moseley no clear leader should be a relief. Trotter was the assumed leader as spring started as he had earned the No. 2 spot a year ago. Moseley has rumored to have tightened the race however in 2011.
Assuming that neither guy really takes the reigns and leads into the summer, Auburn could look to bring Kiehl Frazier on as quickly as possible. The coaches would prefer to have a clear cut leader for summer workouts but a little competition never hurt anyone. If there isn’t a separation by two a day’s, Frazier will seem to get a very hard look at the position.
Heavy Dose of Walk-on Running Backs
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The fact that Michael Dyer and Onterio McCalebb have locked the one and two spots up is no surprise. The biggest question for Auburn is who fills the backup role in an offense that requires multiple backs?
Early in the spring the shift was made for Anthony Morgan to move from defensive back to running back. Running back is his true position and Morgan seemed to be having a good spring but a late injury has sidelined him for the remainder of the spring.
After Morgan, the Tigers will rely on a host of walk-ons. At this point, just getting bodies on the field to fill holes seems to be the goal. Auburn is also awaiting its one running back signee, Tre Mason, to arrive on campus and start finding his role in the offense.
The running game is most likely to take a back seat in this game to the development of the passing game. Overall, I wouldn’t put too much stock in the results from the rushing attack on Saturday.
Big Plays from the Receiving Corps
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Auburn has done a fabulous job at recruiting the receiver position the past few years. Emory Blake made a splash last season for the Tigers and a host of other talent returns. DeAngelo Benton is possibly one of the most talented of the group.
Benton will be a player that Auburn will need to make plays this coming season. His abilities have yet to transfer on the field but Benton has an excellent work ethic and has grown into his role this spring. Benton should come out of A-Day with at least one “wow” play.
The other guys to watch will be the slot positions. How Trovon Reed plays will be a factor as his speed and shiftiness should add a new dimension to the speed sweep in the offense. Watching how Phillip Lutzinkirchen adapts into his more traditional receiver role this spring will also be a focus for fans.
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Ladarious Phillips Will Be a Beast
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The man deserves his own subject line. Phillips is sure to make an impact on this team sooner rather than later. It is not every day that a guy with the size Phillips has can be considered a ball carrier. During bowl practice he even got work at the defensive line position.
As offseason problems arose, the fullback position was heavily depleted and Phillips found himself back in his traditional role. Watching him rumble down the field is sure to be a treat for Auburn fans but a headache for defenses.
Defensive Line Domination
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The defensive line has some of the most questions of any position group on the field. Most of those however are on the interior of the line. The defensive ends for Auburn may be some of the most talented in the country. The problem is they are young.
Looking across the line however, the defense looks like battle hardened veterans. The offensive line is in a rebuilding phase as well just with less experience. I fully expect the defensive line to have their way with their counter parts in the coming scrimmage.
With talent at the end position and the focus surely to be on passing, Corey Lemonier and Nosa Eguae are likely be spending quality time in the backfield on Saturday.
Neiko Thorpe Playing Free
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Thorpe has been stuck at corner back for the length of his career more by necessity then anything else. Thorpe played well for the most part but did have some bad missed coverage’s in his career. Moving to safety however will give him more time to make decisions and the ability to make plays.
Look for Thorpe to have some tough hits on slot receivers in crossing patterns on Saturday. Thorpe is a hitter and will fill his role in the secondary well. Look for a more comfortable player on Saturday who will play more proactively and not reactively.
Aggressive Linebacker Play
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This seems to be an obvious statement but I would expect this year’s linebackers to be some of the hardest hitting in recent memory. Daren Bates will be flying around with reckless abandon and will be looking for contact. As a freshman he found it often and look for that same vigor as Bates has had a year to settle into the linebacker role.
Jake Holland is the leader in the middle and will not shy away from sticking somebody in the mouth. His intensity level is surely going to be on a high level, the drop off will be the anticipation level. Learning how the game moves will come with time but fearless hitting is something that can’t be taught.
With Eltoro Freeman and a host of others, the linebacker position has depth and playmakers ready for 2011. They will surely be handing out headaches on Saturday.
Starting Offensive Line
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The starting offensive line that plays on Saturday is looking more and more like the starting lineup for the Utah State game in September. The biggest question mark seems to be the center position but rumors have freshman Reese Dismukes with an edge.
I fully expect for the offensive line to look satisfactory on Saturday but the defensive line is likely to own the day. That being said, this offensive line will have time to grow together in the coming months. These guys have tons of talent but getting that talent to gel is no simple task.
Last year’s line had a continuity that is hard to find but one that can be developed with time and hard work. Jeff Grimes will have these guys working to achieve excellence so don’t look as the lines results this weekend to be a sign for the future.
Defensive Backs Will Make Big Plays and Big Mistakes
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The defensive backfield is possibly the most talented position on the field for the Tigers in 2011. Despite the talent, not many of these players have real game experience. Look for the defense to take a few picks on Saturday but expect some deep balls to connect as well.
The Tigers backfield will make plays but will also play out of position from time to time. Those errors should be fixed by game time in September. At the end of the day, a solid effort is expected with some “wow” plays made and some given up.
Keep an eye on freshman Jonathan Rose as well. He is likely to make an impact immediately at the corner position.
Balance on Offense
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In 2009 the Auburn offense was almost 50/50 run to pass. That ratio jumped to around 70 percent rushes this past season. A lot of impromptu runs from Cam Newton skewed those stats. This offense is most likely to look similar to the one with Chris Todd at the helm.
There will be a few called quarterback options but most of the running game will be left up to the backs. Look for more wrinkles to appear this season. This is the third season for Malzahn at Auburn and his longest tenure at a collegiate post. Something tells me he has some twists that have yet to be revealed.
A truer Wildcat quarterback role will be filled this season as well. Trovon Reed seems to be the shoe in for the job as he played the quarterback position in high school but the job may be rotated depending on the situations the Tigers find themselves in.
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