Angelo Blackson has come a long way, has chance to impress

[Saniflush]

AUBURN, Alabama - Angelo Blackson didn't exactly come from a hotbed of Auburn recruiting. He became the third player from Delaware to letter at Auburn when he did it last season when he quietly began to make a name for himself.

He has a bigger chance this spring.

Blackson can turn a few heads because fellow defensive tackle Gabe Wright suffered a foot injury last Saturday that will knock him out the rest of the spring. Wright is the third defensive lineman who started at least two games last season who'll miss spring practice.

Coach Gene Chizik acknowledged Wright's injury after Monday's practice, and added he expects the sophomore back for fall practice. That's the same for defensive tackle Ken Carter, who's out with an undisclosed injury, and defensive end Nosa Eguae, who is out following shoulder surgery.

They are part of a group of at least seven Tigers who will miss the spring with injuries, another who is out while dealing with personal issues and another who is out of football but still in school with an eye toward graduation.

Wright and Carter shared the starting job at the same defensive tackle spot last year. Now, players such as Blackson, JaBrian Niles and Devaunte Sigler will have a turn this spring.

"There's no question that we've got some young guys at that position who need the reps anyway," Chizik said. "Those young guys are going to have to step it up in terms of number of reps."

Blackson may have been an unknown in the state, but recruiting gurus knew about him in Bear, Del. He was rated as high as the 14th best defensive tackle in the nation by ESPN.com.

"I don't think anybody looked down on me because I was from Delaware, but I still had that competitive edge," Blackson said. "Nobody knew about Delaware when I came in. I think it was a great thing for me because it gave me time and space to prove good players come from anywhere."

Blackson played at 6-foot-4, 326 pounds last year. He's down to 317.
       "I'm faster, stronger in the weight room. I feel like I improved my game, but I still have a long way to go," Blackson said.

He said he and Sigler - and "everybody" - were getting a lot of practice time Monday.

"It's just given us an advantage," Blackson said. "We're getting as many reps as we can get."

Blackson offered a some insight to what new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder is cooking up for 2012.

"I think last season the defense was more gap oriented," Blackson said. "This season it's not so much gaps, we're attacking, we're coming off the ball low and playing in the backfield.

"Last year the games where Coach (Ted) Roof said come off the ball and hit are the games we really showed up against South Carolina and Florida. This defense isn't so much thinking, just coming off the ball man on man.

"Coach VanGorder places an emphasis on not being much of a thinker, not being robotic - come off the ball and playing on the other side of the ball."

[JR4AU]

"I think last season the defense was more gap oriented," Blackson said. "This season it's not so much gaps, we're attacking, we're coming off the ball low and playing in the backfield.

"Last year the games where Coach (Ted) Roof said come off the ball and hit are the games we really showed up against South Carolina and Florida. This defense isn't so much thinking, just coming off the ball man on man.

"Coach VanGorder places an emphasis on not being much of a thinker, not being robotic - come off the ball and playing on the other side of the ball."

I know each time there's a coordinator change, you hear all this "rah rah, this new stuff is so great, coach so and so is so intense" bullshit.  But fuck me, every time I hear something about what Roof did, I'm left wondering "what the fuck was Roof thinking?"  If something worked, why not fucking do that, instead of defaulting back to the same worthless, proven worthless, bullshit?

[Buzz Killington]

"I think last season the defense was more gap oriented," Blackson said. "This season it's not so much gaps, we're attacking, we're coming off the ball low and playing in the backfield.

It moved again.

[Godfather]

It moved again.

Where the fuck you been Tonto?

[Buzz Killington]

Where the fuck you been Tonto?

I've been on a water slide for the last 5 days.

[Godfather]

I've been on a water slide for the last 5 days.

Shut up, Big-booty, you coward. You are the weakest individual I ever know.

[Buzz Killington]

Character is who you are in the dark