AU FOOTBALL: Malzahn unhappy with mistakes on otherwise explosive day

Perhaps it was because he thought it was such a successful scrimmage, or perhaps it was because he was briefed ahead of time that Auburn’s official Twitter account provided detailed updates to its followers, but Gene Chizik was uncharacteristically open about the finer details of Saturday’s scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Chizik said the 80-play scrimmage, seen before a number of high school coaches and boosters, but not media members, “covered what we needed to do.”

“We had explosive plays on both sides of the football, turnovers and big plays,” Chizik said. “We covered a lot of different situations out there, and that was good for our football team.”

Those turnovers — all three of them on interceptions, according to multiple players — were the first, and only, things a noticeably perturbed Gus Malzahn wanted to discuss — even after the offense apparently rattled off a number of explosive plays.

“We’ve got to correct the mistakes. We’ve got to be able to execute,” Malzahn said. “It’s great we had some plays, but the thing that stands out in my mind is we’ve got to correct the mistakes and not put the ball in jeopardy.”

Cameron Newton, the odds-on favorite to become Auburn’s starting quarterback one of these days, had another interception-free scrimmage and said he threw a touchdown pass to Darvin Adams — a telling sign that Newton is working with the first team.

“Darvin made my life easy,” said Newton, who also had a touchdown on a quarterback keeper near the goal line. “It was just a little screen pass, and he did the rest.”

Malzahn said he would “rather not say” which quarterbacks were responsible for the three interceptions, but Barrett Trotter, like Newton, said he didn’t have any, while Neil Caudle owned up to at least one of the three.

“I helped make Demond (Washington’s) highlight film today,” Caudle said. “I worked on that for him.”

Washington, a Tallassee native, had two interceptions, both of which came in the red zone, he said.

“I think he’s learning,” Chizik said. “To a certain degree, he’s played a year, but this is the first time we’ve really been able to zero in with him and teach him how to play corner with any time to really teach. I think he’s picking up the position a lot better.”

Walk-on Woody Parramore had the other interception.

Chizik and Malzahn both had the same answers they’ve had all spring concerning whether or not they are close to making a decision at quarterback. If they are, they’re certainly not telling.

“They’re four quality quarterbacks,” Malzahn said. “At times they’re all making good plays. What I’m trying to figure out is who is going to protect the football, who’s not going to put the ball in jeopardy and who’s going to give us the best chance of winning with the ball.

“We’re learning more after each one.”

Tailback Mario Fannin saw an increase in his carries and, from all accounts, made the most of them. Fannin rattled off the biggest play of the day, “cutting back against the pursuit,” Chizik said, and making both Washington and Mike McNeil miss on the way to a 65-yard touchdown run.

“Those are the type of things we expect from our tailbacks,” Chizik said. “Those plays have to happen in our offense.

“There were times when more than one guy made that happen today. The tailbacks, their vision was really, really good and they were able to make some of those slicing routes back against the grain, and that’s usually when your big runs occur.”

Both Chizik and Malzahn also had plenty of good things to say about sophomore wide receivers Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton — one or both of whom Malzahn hopes emerge as a viable option to complement Adams and Terrell Zachery.

“With those younger guys, it’s not always about catching the football; that’s the easy part,” Malzahn said. “Doing all the dirty stuff, the little things, the blocking, understanding when to run people off. Both those guys are starting to understand better.”

Coleman improving
Auburn signee Shon Coleman, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March, is currently “cancer-free,” according to a post on his mother’s blog.

“When he entered the hospital 15 days ago he was at 60%,” DeKeisha Tunstall wrote. “Blood is clear and marrow is clear. We’re in remission on Day 15.

“He still has to follow his treatment plan, but this is an amazing feat!!! We’re celebrating tonight.”

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