Auburn defense wins scrimmage

AUBURN — The details emerged slowly out of Auburn’s first scrimmage of the spring — a closed-doors affair Saturday at Jordan-Hare Stadium — and never really came together to portray a concise recollection.

Such is, and will be the case, until A-Day.

Players were more forthcoming but less reliable in factual information, as their stories sometimes conflicted each other. Coaches were slow to draw
conclusions until they watched the tape.

In his 13-minute post-scrimmage press conference, coach Gene Chizik — unless prompted specifically — did not mention one player by name and did not
acknowledge whether the offense or defense came out on top.

“We did a lot of good things. We did some bad things,” Chizik said. “I think we accomplished what we wanted to today.”

The defense won, 45-40 — maybe.

At least three different scores were offered up among the players.

“At first, I didn’t even know they were keeping score,” cornerback Walt McFadden said. “I didn’t even know the score until the second half. And then I started
realizing that we need to win this game, not just do our fundamentals.”

Coaches used an unspecified scoring system to reward points to the units. Chizik would not divulge the specific values of his scoring system, but basic
events, such as “explosive plays,” back-to-back first downs and touchdowns garnered points for the offense, while sacks, turnovers and stops on first downs
put points on the board for the defense.

The first- and second-team offenses ran 90 plays, about 66 percent of which were running plays, Chizik said.

“I liked the physical part,” offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn said. “We’ve got a long way to go, but you can tell we’ve improved from the first time we practiced.
We made a few mistakes. We rotated just about everybody in to give them a chance. It was a great day for evaluation.”

It just wasn’t a good day for answers.

A number of players portrayed the scrimmage’s final moments as dramatic. The defense came back to tie the score 40-40, and the second-team offense
started over for what was deemed the scrimmage’s final drive, McFadden said.

On the first play, Drew Cole forced tailback Onterio McCalebb to fumble, said defensive coordinator Ted Roof, who admitted he wasn’t 100 percent sure on the
details. Redshirt freshman Cameron Henderson picked it up, and the seventh of 15 practices was over.

“It was good to win like that,” Roof said. “The positives of ending like that are you keep demanding it, preaching it, and it happens and people start believing.
That was a good way to end it.”

Neil Caudle and Kodi Burns each completed long touchdown passes, players said. Caudle connected with junior Terrell Zachery, Zachery said, and Burns
hooked up with transfer Ralph Spry Jr., Burns said.

Spry Jr., an Auburn High product and son of Auburn track coach Ralph Spry, transferred from Minnesota and, per NCAA rules, will sit out the 2009 season.

Neither play impressed Chizik or Malzahn enough to say a frontrunner has emerged in Auburn’s wide-open quarterback contest. Caudle, Burns and redshirt
freshman Barrett Trotter split repetitions with the first- and second-teams equally, Chizik said.

“I don’t think we’re there yet,” Chizik said. “I don’t know there will be separation in seven more practices, I really don’t.

“Right now they’re kind of all clumped in there together, and they’re all doing some nice things.”

Some other nice things highlighted by players included:

A long touchdown run on a draw play by sophomore Eric Smith, a number of players mentioned.

Two sacks by Opelika native Zach Clayton, defensive end Antonio Coleman said.

A long run by walk-on Justin Albert that may or may not have gone for a touchdown, Smith said.

A crushing blow delivered by safety Mike McNeil on a third down, breaking up a sure completion, linebacker Craig Stevens said.

“We saw a lot of good things,” Burns said. “All we have to do is get in the film room and shore things up and make sure we don’t make those same mistakes.”