• Jordan-Hare Stadium
• Indoor Facility
• Gameday
• Notes
• Depth
• Guide
• Camps
• Clinic
• Standings
• Archives

April 16, 2011

Tweet

Photo Gallery

Final A-Day Game Stats

A-Day Highlights | G. Chizik | Players

By JOHN ZENOR, AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Auburn coach Gene Chizik said fans shouldn't read too much into the final score of the defending national champions' spring game.

He might have been talking about the game itself, too.

The Tigers' A-Day scrimmage Saturday before an announced crowd of 53,209 featured plenty of new faces, only one touchdown and a quarterback competition that will apparently continue into fall camp. It didn't feature many big plays or traditional TDs. A points system employed awarded both the offense (Blue team) and defense (White) for big plays.

"Today was kind of a base offense, base defense day and let's get some guys out there and let them hit and run around and try to tackle well and block well," Chizik said. "It was more of a generic scrimmage."

For the record, the White team won 63-32.

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said the Tigers opened up things more in the previous two spring scrimmages, which were closed to the media and public.

So this wasn't likely a deciding barometer in the battle between quarterbacks Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley, a competition that Chizik said should carry over into August. The Tigers finish spring with another practice Monday.

"We're trying to find someone that can manage the game and manage the team and protect the football," Chizik said. "They both do that fairly well. There's some open balls that we had today that we missed. We've just got to be more consistent at that position. But both have a very good feel for the offense. I don't think that's the issue."

Trotter threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Philip Lutzenkirchen on the opening series -- along with a 24-yarder to the tight end/receiver -- and was 6-of-12 passing for 120 yards. Clint Moseley completed 9 of 15 passes for 82 yards, and there were no interceptions in the scrimmage.

Moseley also badly overthrew Deangelo Benton down the field on one play.

Walk-on Logan Paul saw more action in the first half since he led the White while Trotter and Moseley took turns working with the first-team offense. But the competition to replace the Heisman Trophy-winning Cam Newton continues.

"Until we know who gives us the best chance to win and it's 110 percent, we won't make the call," Malzahn said. "The first year we were here we didn't make the call (until August). Last year, we did it a week after. It's just like any other position, when we're 110 percent certain sure we'll do that."

Both quarterbacks seemed resigned to the matter being unsettled. Then again, Newton wasn't named the No. 1 guy until more than a week after last spring concluded.

"Of course I'd like to already have the job, but we've got to go with whatever he says," Moseley said of Chizik. "Trust in him, and do the best I can. That's all I can do."

Added Trotter: "You'd like for it to be done but you never can tell."

Gone are the Tigers' biggest stars, Newton and defensive tackle Nick Fairley, along with 14 other offensive or defensive starters and five specialists.

Plus, players like tailback Mike Dyer, MVP of the national championship game, played little and had three carries for 15 yards -- all in the first four plays. Onterio McCalebb gained 15 yards on four rushes.

Kicker Chandler Brooks made 3 of 5 field goals, with every attempt of more than 40 yards.

The Tigers have only about 50 scholarship players going through the spring after Chizik kicked five players off the team following arrests.

"You're going to have to get used to a lot of new names and new faces, which is OK," the coach said.

Auburn Quotes

Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik

"I thought today went well. I thought there were some things that we will obviously be able to look back at on film and have some teaching moments on. Overall, we came out of the game healthy. We still have one day of spring practice left so it is not the end. Certainly, we have gotten some things accomplished. As you noticed today, we are going to have to get used to a lot of new names and faces which is okay, but they have really been focused and they have really tried to become better as individuals which in turn makes our team better. I think we are close to being in the direction that we needed to be coming here winding spring ball down. We won't know what we saw until we look at the film exactly, but there will be some encouraging things as well as some things that we will have to get better at, but we are pleased overall so far after day 14. We will go back to work on Monday to finish this thing up strong."

How would you compare this scrimmage to the first two?
"A little different. A lot of base stuff where there wasn't so much situational pressures. Certain things offensively that we might do and some different situations that we didn't do today. Again today was kind of a base offense-base defense day. Let's get some guys out there and let them play, let them run around and hit and try to tackle well and block well. It was more of a generic scrimmage. It's a little bit different for me to be able to answer that. Overall, like I said, I thought it was pretty good."

On Anthony Morgan
"We moved him there with the intent that he could help our football team, and he is going to have to. He got beat up some there at spring practice as a lot of the guys did, but today I thought he did some nice things. He can help us at that spot if he gets into the film room and studies the game and the offense. He is struggling a little bit with that right now, but he is talented. He has some talent, and again, he can help us. He is going to have to do a lot in the summer on his own to be ready to help us."

On Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley
"I think that they are very similar right now in nature. I think probably the thing that stands out most after going through the past 14 days is the inconsistency from both of them. That is what we are trying to get out of our quarterback position right now. We are trying to find someone who can manage the game and manage the team and protect the football and things of that nature. They both do that fairly well. There were some open balls out there today that we had, and we missed. We just have to be more consistent at that position, but both of them have a very good feel for the offense. They understand that they have a good feel for it. I don't think that that is an issue. Obviously the more they are in there with live fast reps, the more that it will help. Overall, consistency is what we are looking for in moving forward."

Are you disappointed that you are not able to name a starting quarterback after spring practice?
"I'm not disappointed in anybody on our team. Everything is a work in progress, and when we are ready to name starters at every position, we will and not anytime before that."

On gaining experience in spring practice for the young guys
"It was huge. As you know as I have said at the beginning of spring practice, we don't have a lot of game experience so our game experience is coming in practice. Unfortunately before our first game, that is where we are going to get our experience. I think a lot of the players got that experience that we need so these practices are absolutely invaluable. Then, what they do on the summer on their own will also be invaluable in terms of film study and what they do in the weight room and things of that nature. These 14 days were huge for us, and really, I am proud of the way they responded to it."

On the younger players playing in front of a big crowd
"It was big. The guys have been doing it for quite a while. It is kind of another practice with a few more people in the stands, but for the guys who haven't, it becomes a big deal. A day like today was kind of their first real indoctrination for what it is like on game day, and I think it was good for them."

On scoring 95 points but only having one touchdown, what can fans take away from that?
"That they really need to study our scoring system. I am not sure about it either. Don't read too much ... here is what you need to take away from it: don't read to deeply into the score."

What is your last practice going to be like?
"It is going to be kind of a recap of the things that we need to clean up that we saw today. It will be polish up of the things that they are really going to need to concentrate on in the summer. So, we are going to be able to go out and really give to them on the field the things that we feel like drill-wise and things of that nature that they need to work on on their own. So, we will clean some things up from today, and we will give them some ideas on what they need to carry on in the summer in terms of them working on different techniques and things of that nature, but it will be another good two hour learning experience for them, and we can't get enough of them."

On Philip Lutzenkirchen
"Philip is one of those guys that can play a lot of different things. He can play an H-back. He can play a tight end. You can move him out. You can move him in. We can put him in some different places because we know he is a great athlete. He has tremendous hands. He has been very productive for us over two years, and he will continue to get better. Gus does a great job of moving guys around and putting guys in spots they need to be at to be productive in the offense. So, we will continue to move him around wherever we need to put him. We feel strongly that wherever we do put him, he will produce."

#3 Deangelo Benton, WR, RFr.

On A-Day performance...
"I think I did okay, but I don't think I played to the best of my ability."

On spring practices...
"These spring practices for me have been the best spring practices since I've been here, but I still have room for improvement ."

#15 Clint Moseley, QB, So.

On today's game...
"I thought there were some glimpses of offense. Big plays. Lots of room for improvement."

On his performance...
"I wasn't satisfied with my performance. There were a lot of reads I should have made. I have lots of room for improvement."

#5 Michael Dyer, RB, So.

On spring practices...
"Spring practices have been pretty good. We're all trying to get used to the new offense and schemes."

On A-Day...
"A-Day went good overall. There were some ups and downs. The pass protection was good today. It was a good day for them and everyone else."

On what needs improvement...
"Finishing off plays, blocks and runs."

#63 Blake Burgess, OL, So.

Overall impressions...
"I thought the day went well. We have some things to improve, but that's always the case in spring football."

On the positive aspects of the scrimmage...
"The line played well. Pass protection was pretty good, and we avoided making big mistakes."

#80 Emory Blake WR, Jr.

On his play today...
"I had a couple of catches. I had a few balls thrown my way, and I did a pretty good job catching them, but I've still got a long way to go."

On working with the three quarterbacks...
"Working with a new quarterback is all about timing, but that's what we'll work on this summer. Spring football is all about evaluating personnel and seeing what you've got."

#5 Jake Holland LB, So.

On the play of the defense today...
"It went well. I thought we communicated well today."

On his areas of strength and improvement this summer...
"I've got to keep running around, finding the ball, and making the play. I've got to keep using my eyes, working on pass coverage, and continuing to improve my physicality."

#9 Quindarius Carr, WR, Sr.

On what the focus was for the offense during the spring...
"The coaches wanted us to polish up our offensive schemes and make sure we are all getting on the same level as a team."

On what the team needs to do during the offseason going into next fall...
"We just need to continue to work hard and develop ourselves individually, whether it be in the weight room or on the field."

#14 Barrett Trotter, QB, Jr.

On what the coaches wanted the quarterbacks to focus on during the spring...
"The coaches wanted us to minimize the number of turnovers and to develop our ability to move the ball down the field."

On what he needed to focus on during the spring...
"I tried to focus on maintaining a high completion percentage and developing myself as a leader of this team. "

On how today's game helped him and the team going into the offseason...
"Today's game allowed us to get a feel for playing in a game-day atmosphere. It also let us get on the same page as a team. It also let me get a better connection with the receivers and let us improve our timing on the field."

#15 Neiko Thorpe, DB, Sr.

On what the focus was during the spring and going into the offseason...
"The focus was to make sure that each and every one of us got better individually and also as a team. We also needed to find the leaders on our team so that we know who to look to during the fall season. As for heading into the offseason, we all need to make sure that we work hard during the rest of the spring and the summer in the weight room and on the field."

#23 Onterio McCalebb, RB, Jr.

On what the focus was during spring practices...
"The coaches wanted us to learn to be more physical in our play and improve ourselves as leaders so that we can be ready for the regular season when it starts."

On how the spring game prepares the team for the fall season...
"The game helps the coaches decide who they can count on during a game. It also helps the team get a taste of what an actual game-day will be like in the fall."

On what the team needs to do in the offseason heading into the fall...
"We just need to work hard in the weight room and work on memorizing the play-book so that we will be prepared and ready in the fall."

#95, Dee Ford, DE, Jr.

On being able to play in front of the fans again...
"It was good to get in front of the fans again. We have been scrimmaging for a while and seeing nothing but bleachers. To finally see the fans and feel the support, reminds us that we don't just do this for ourselves but also the fans."

On defensive MVP performance...
"I had two sacks to day which is pretty good, but for me it is mediocre. There are still a lot of things that I need to get better at and overall I think we did good."

On things to work as the season approaches...
"Fundamentals. Our fundamentals have to be right. You can have all the talent but if you don't have the fundamentals it won't matter."

#43, Philip Lutzenkirchen, TE, Jr.

On being able to play in front of the fans again...
"We have been working hard all spring so it is beneficial for us to get out in front of the fans and show them what we have been working on and give them a show."

On offensive MVP performance...
"At times I did well and others I felt a little tired, so I need to work on that. I definitely need to get in the film room and find out what I need to correct."

On things the offense needs to work as the season approaches...
"We to work on our consistency. We can be really good at times and others we can break down a little bit. So we need to just get more consistent."

#29, Chandler Brooks, K, Sr.

On being able to play in front of the fans again...
"It is awesome. I have always wanted to play here, and I finally get to do it. This is amazing."

On special teams MVP performance...
"I think I did decent. I could have made those last two field goals so I feel I could have done a little better. Overall I think I did pretty good."

On things to work as the season approaches...
"Right now I am just focused on field goals and kick offs and I may be the backup punter. Right now I am just working on getting better every day."

More Auburn Football Headlines

More Auburn Headlines

SEC Headlines