Auburn football - Stuck in the middle: Linebackers working out kinks12:04 AM, Aug. 8, 2012 AUBURN — As Auburn prepares for its first scrimmage today, the Tigers seem to have a tentative pecking order at almost every position, at the very least an idea of who has the upper hand.Except at linebacker.Originally thought to be relatively settled with Daren Bates on the weak side, Jake Holland in the middle and redshirt freshman Kris Frost likely competing with senior Jonathan Evans on the strong side, linebacker has become a free-for-all.“Wide open,†defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. “Wide open right now. We’ve got to gain a consistency, just with our knowledge overall of the system, from the linebacker position.â€VanGorder has repeatedly cautioned that linebackers face the toughest job in his defense due to the amount of calls and adjustments they have to make before the snap.But the linebacking corps has already been shuffled.In recent practices, Bates, Auburn’s leading returning tackler, has been moved over to the strong side, sophomore Justin Garrett has run with the No. 1 unit on the weak side in front of Evans, and Holland’s status as the starting middle linebacker no longer seems so certain.Moving guys around is something Auburn’s coaching staff would rather leave until after the defense is installed, but the need to find playmakers at those positions may have changed the Tigers’ timetable.“There’s been a little bit of crossover, but we’re trying not to,†Auburn coach Gene Chizik said. “We’re trying to settle guys in on positions.â€Before that can happen, Auburn’s linebackers have to absorb the intricacies of VanGorder’s scheme. Evans, a senior, missed the spring due to a shoulder injury, and as a result, he’s way behind in picking up the defense.Frost, a redshirt freshman, still faces a steep learning curve, and JaViere Mitchell, a true freshman outside linebacker, has been lost as he tries to make the switch from a high school defensive lineman to a college linebacker.Even Holland, an experienced player who started six games last year, has struggled to assume his new role as the leader of the defense.“Right now, we have a group of linebackers who, their numbers in the mental error category aren’t good,†VanGorder said. “So when you have that, you have to, at least, make a decision based on who’s going to be productive.â€Despite Mitchell’s struggles, VanGorder wouldn’t rule out a freshman starting or playing a lot of snaps.Mitchell’s classmate, Cassanova McKinzy, has shown the ability to make big plays, including forcing at least one fumble with a big hit on Corey Grant before Auburn even put on full pads.“A lot on his plate, but the one I think that is apparent with him is that he does have some production ability,†VanGorder said. “He’s a bigger player that can run, and he has a very good attitude in respects to getting to the ball.â€Like the rest of the roster, Auburn’s linebackers will have a chance to show they can produce big plays in tonight’s scrimmage.“You have to have that edge to play hard and go hard and do what you have to do to win,†Bates said. “It’s nothing you have to practice. It’s just something you have to do.â€A starting spot against Clemson could be riding on it.
There's a picture of Cassanova's hit/fumble on Grant on the AU Official website. Can't get it to pull up right now for some reason. But, despite seeing the fumble, I developed an intense man-love for Corey's arms.
So, actually you were able to pull it up?
Last night. And I erred. It's Tre Mason's arms I love more.
I'm gonna go on record here. Jake Holland is the Clint Moseley of the defense. He's slow, constantly out of position, often run over, too often just stiff armed out of a play... If he's a starter the defense has concerns still.
You know he missed the tackle and look spectacularly bad doing it. At least he put himself in position and tried to make the play. More than I can say for some of the others on that one particular play.
Saniflush, that avatar makes my dick hard.
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