Already hurting, we are, on the defense because of injuries. Gotsta be physical though. Let me hear your body talk.
Auburn battling rash of injuries on defense: Therezie, Owens, Daniel, McKinzy, Mitchell
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Joel A. Erickson | jerickson@al.com By Joel A. Erickson | jerickson@al.com
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on March 27, 2014 at 10:29 AM, updated March 27, 2014 at 11:55
AUBURN, Alabama -- Five days into spring practice, Auburn's defense is battling a rash of injuries, particularly in the front six.
Defensive end LaDarius Owens is already scheduled to miss the spring with a broken foot, and linebacker JaViere Mitchell will also miss the spring with a broken foot he suffered in the SEC Championship Game.
Beyond those two, defensive end Elijah Daniel is battling a groin injury, "Star" Robenson Therezie is practicing with a broken hand, middle linebacker Cassanova McKinzy has been limited with a bruised bone in his hip and defensive back Josh Holsey is being limited as he recovers from a torn ACL.
The bulk of the injuries, though, have been to proven commodities, players who already know the defense. Holsey, in particular, has recovered quickly, only five months since he tore his ACL.
"Right now, we could be practicing Holsey, we just erred on the side of caution," Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "If we were getting ready to line up and play next week against Arkansas, he'd be ready to go."
Therezie, who broke his left hand last week, is also going through drills, but the coaching staff has kept him limited.
"Therezie, he's out there practicing right now, but it's sort of like Holsey," Johnson said. "We know what he can do, so we kind of baby him a little bit with the number of reps and the type of drills, to take care of that banged-up hand."
Daniel, who suffered his groin injury on the first drill of spring practice, has been working off to the side, and he's hoping to return soon.
"The other ones are day to day," Johnson said. "We're hoping to get Elijah back next week, but groins can be funny."
Owens, a senior and a starter, already knows the defense well.
Of the players who have to sit out, the toughest transition is for JaViere Mitchell, a sophomore linebacker who has seen his spring derailed two seasons in a row, last year by a concussion and this season by a broken foot
"Javiere, unfortunately, could have benefited from spring ball more than any of them and he broke that bone in his foot in the SEC Championship Game," Johnson said. "He will not practice this spring, but I certainly feel like he’s still going to be in the picture."
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