Tigers X - Number one Source to Talk Auburn Tigers Sports
Pat Dye Field => War Damn Eagle => Topic started by: Snaggletiger on March 25, 2013, 12:52:32 PM
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al.kum
One thing the article points out is the guys in the class they just signed are all big, physical athletes. Don't think we've ever had so many guys playing back there with that kind of size. I envision some bone jarring hits in the years to come. Malzahn said Khari Harding hits as hard as anyone he's ever seen.
AUBURN, Alabama -- When Auburn opens spring practice on Wednesday, all eyes for Tigers fans will be on the safeties, where Ellis Johnson and Charlie Harbison have to figure out where players fit. Auburn plays three safeties in Johnson's system: A boundary safety, who plays on the short side of the field and rolls down into the box against the run; a free safety, who plays the middle of the field and acts as more of a ballhawk; and what Johnson calls the Star, a hybrid safety-linebacker who has to have the physicality to play at the line of scrimmage and the speed to cover players on the outside.
This is the 10th installment in a series looking at Auburn's personnel as the Tigers prepare to open spring practice on March 27. For a look at how the shift to the 4-2-5 affects the safeties' responsibilities, check out the series AL.com published earlier this month.
BY THE NUMBERS
•Demetruce McNeal: 90 tackles, 7 tackles-for-loss, 1 sack, 4 pass breakups, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovery
•Jermaine Whitehead: 86 tackles, 4 tackles-for-loss, 1 sack, 5 pass breakups, 1 fumble recovery
•Ryan Smith: 27 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, 1 fumble recovery
•Trent Fisher: 16 tackles, 1 interception
•Erique Florence: 8 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss
THE DEPARTED
•Ikeem Means: 2 tackles
SPRING CAST
•Demetruce McNeal, Sr.
•Ryan Smith, Sr.
•Jermaine Whitehead, Jr.
•Trent Fisher, Jr.
•Erique Florence, Jr.
ON THE WAY
•Brandon King, Jr.
•Khari Harding, Fr.
•Mackenro Alexander, Fr.
BURNING QUESTION
-- With three safeties on the field in the base defense and relatively few returning candidates, will Ellis Johnson and Charlie Harbison move anybody over from cornerback or linebacker, particularly to the Star position?
BIGGEST RESUME
Demetruce McNeal has shown flashes of being the type of player who could fill either the Star or boundary safety positions, both positions that will roll down into the box against the run. McNeal's problem has been consistency. After bursting back into the starting lineup with 18 tackles against Mississippi State, but he also had a few games where he had trouble taking angles to the ball, particularly against Georgia. McNeal runs to the ball well, is a sure tackler when he takes the right angles and hustles all over the field. The key for McNeal is putting it all together on a game-by-game basis.
FLASH OF POTENTIAL
After playing cornerback as a freshman, Jermaine Whitehead made the move to safety and made 86 tackles, but he failed to make many big plays and struggled at times in zone coverage at the back of the secondary. Whitehead's versatility is what led Auburn's former coaching staff to put him at safety; the same type of versatility could be an asset in Johnson's 4-2-5 scheme. Erique Florence's lack of playing time has been frustrating for Auburn fans after his reputation coming out of Valley High, but he has the size and physical nature required to play either the Star or the boundary, and he might get a shot there.
ON THE WAY
All three of Auburn's safety signees were recruited specifically to fit Johnson's scheme, and they all fit the same profile: big-bodied players with lots of tackling experience and an ability to pack a wallop. Brandon King and Khari Harding both had reputations as big-time hitters, and Johnson has said both could play the Star position going forward. Mackenro Alexander played outside linebacker in high school, and his versatility could fit all three positions.
FACTS OF LIFE
-- Four different players started at least one game for the Tigers last season at safety.
QUOTABLE
-- "We've got a vision and a projection of where these guys'll end up, but frankly, by the time we get through the end of spring ball, we may swap a couple of guys. A lot of times, a guy that looks like a star backer ends up being a deep guy because he's smart, he plays with his eyes, and he plays 4.4, even though he's really about a 4.5 or 4.6." -- Ellis Johnson
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FLASH OF POTENTIAL
Erique Florence's lack of playing time has been frustrating for Auburn fans after his reputation coming out of Valley High, but he has the size and physical nature required to play either the Star or the boundary, and he might get a shot there.
I never understood what happen to him. But after last years coaching As JR said-Everybody gets a pass. Hopefully this season he really shines.
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These are the guys that make this defense go, after the DTs in the middle. I don't know about whole lot about EJ's defense, but from what I hear it's an attacking/blitzing/stunting type deal. These Safeties are really hybrid S/LBs for the most part. The 4-2-5 is, depending upon alignment and coverage, a Nickle, a 4-3, or a 4-4 defense. That said, it's not truly any of them by personnel. That means no matter what your alignment and coverage, there's some compromise somewhere in personnel, either by skill set, size, or speed. One of those three guys, probably the guy they're calling "Star" has a shitload of responsibility. He must play run, and pass equally. He's usually in the box. He's an OLB that needs cover skills, or a Nickle-back that needs to be bad ass enough to play run support effectively. Honestly, I don't know who we've recruited the last few years that fits that. D. Bates probably would have shined in this defense as a hybrid S/LB. This position worries me because, as I understand most 4-2-5s, these 3 guys are supposed to be the leading tacklers.
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I never understood what happen to him. But after last years coaching As JR said-Everybody gets a pass. Hopefully this season he really shines.
I was pimping Florence for two years after watching him play in HS. I do know he's had some injuries while at AU but really, he's done nothing. Totally agree with the everydody gets a pass, take. The more you look back on the last couple of years, the more it comes to light that that staff was off in some other universe. Prime example is C. McKinzy. I don't give a rat's arse if he knew all the alignments or not. As horrible as that defense was and watching how he played in his one start against Vandy...12 tackles, flying to the ball, making hard, clean tackles when he arrived....and the guy barely played after that? But they played Holland and Evans?
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BIGGEST RESUME
Demetruce McNeal has shown flashes of being the type of player who could fill either the Star or boundary safety positions, both positions that will roll down into the box against the run. McNeal's problem has been consistency. After bursting back into the starting lineup with 18 tackles against Mississippi State, but he also had a few games where he had trouble taking angles to the ball, particularly against Georgia. McNeal runs to the ball well, is a sure tackler when he takes the right angles and hustles all over the field. The key for McNeal is putting it all together on a game-by-game basis.
I laughed like hell at this. I saw McNeal leave a trench in the earth under the ball carrier's feet in order to trip him more times than any tackle. At one point in time, I thought he was submarine man.
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I laughed like hell at this. I saw McNeal leave a trench in the earth under the ball carrier's feet in order to trip him more times than any tackle. At one point in time, I thought he was submarine man.
And then he'd threaten to quit after every game. No question he was the poster boy for the submarine tackle.
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And then he'd threaten to quit after every game. No question he was the poster boy for the submarine tackle.
Meatboi ain't got to take this shit from you. He's outta here on the next bus.
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Meatboi ain't got to take this shit from you. He's outta here on the next bus.
Peeps be takin' stuff da' wrong way. I gots some personal shit dat ain't gots nuffin' to do wiff football.
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Peeps be takin' stuff da' wrong way. I gots some personal shoot dat ain't gots nuffin' to do wiff football.
(http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Demetruce-McNeal-300x228.jpg)
Pre Med Major, I'd bet
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(http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Demetruce-McNeal-300x228.jpg)
Pre Med Major, I'd bet
Circumspecial evidence, your honor
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(http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Demetruce-McNeal-300x228.jpg)
Pre Med Major, I'd bet
Was he forcing himself to eat money at gunpoint? I've forced me self to whack the wonker at gunpoint but never eat money. Or, maybe he doesn't own a wallet.
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(http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Demetruce-McNeal-300x228.jpg)
Pre Med Major, I'd bet
Fuck this kind of stupid shit! I'm under the opinion that all schools pay players and it's just a fact of college football. However, if we were to get busted I would want to know that our money was going to a GOOD player (Cam was the best $180 grand we've ever spent) and not some gansta wanna be like this POS.
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Fuck this kind of stupid shit! I'm under the opinion that all schools pay players and it's just a fact of college football. However, if we were to get busted I would want to know that our money was going to a GOOD player (Cam was the best $180 grand we've ever spent) and not some gansta wanna be like this POS.
Are you insinuating he's not from the skreetz? D'Neal's gonna' break it off proppa and drop chronic plates on yo' ass. So if you come, you bettah comes correct. Boi
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Are you insinuating he's not from the skreetz? D'Neal's gonna' break it off proppa and drop chronic plates on yo' ass. So if you come, you bettah comes correct. Boi
Damn Snaggs, I didn't know you were straight up gansta
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Damn Snaggs, I didn't know you were straight up gansta
I listen to the Dr. Dre from time to time.
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fudge this kind of stupid shoot! I'm under the opinion that all schools pay players and it's just a fact of college football. However, if we were to get busted I would want to know that our money was going to a GOOD player (Cam was the best $180 grand we've ever spent) and not some gansta wanna be like this POS.
If what you believe is correct, then we are paying Jake Holland. So, I wonder how much he makes per whiff-dive?
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I was pimping Florence for two years after watching him play in HS. I do know he's had some injuries while at AU but really, he's done nothing. Totally agree with the everydody gets a pass, take. The more you look back on the last couple of years, the more it comes to light that that staff was off in some other universe. Prime example is C. McKinzy. I don't give a rat's arse if he knew all the alignments or not. As horrible as that defense was and watching how he played in his one start against Vandy...12 tackles, flying to the ball, making hard, clean tackles when he arrived....and the guy barely played after that? But they played Holland and Evans?
Btw...
Erique Florence....
(http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/250x250/28485494.jpg)
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If what you believe is correct, then we are paying Jake Holland. So, I wonder how much he makes per whiff-dive?
Well there is a federal law about minimum wage.
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Btw...
Erique Florence....
(http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/250x250/28485494.jpg)
...wut?
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...wut?
X2?
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wut wut wut?
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On the first page of this thread there is his name with a WOTS beside it. But I never heard that he actually left. Has that been announced?
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On the first page of this thread there is his name with a WOTS beside it. But I never heard that he actually left. Has that been announced?
Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere and I've seen his name in other articles as being in the rotation.
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Haven't seen it mentioned anywhere and I've seen his name in other articles as being in the rotation.
puff puff pass rotation?
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puff puff pass rotation?
Actually, it's more of bubbling sound because I like to hit a bong far more than those harsh......wait....I mean the defensive backfield.
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Actually, it's more of bubbling sound because I like to hit a bong far more than those harsh......wait....I mean the defensive backfield.
http://www.police-report.org/Alabama/
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http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/03/auburn_safety_erique_florence.html
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http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/03/auburn_safety_erique_florence.html
The skeets live to fight another day.
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The skeets live to fight another day.
I can't get that link to open up right. So was Prowler correct?
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I can't get that link to open up right. So was Prowler correct?
AUBURN, Alabama -- Auburn safety Erique Florence has not been around the team for most of the spring due to personal issues, according to Tigers head coach Gus Malzahn.
"Erique Florence is no longer with us on our team," Malzahn said. "As a matter of fact, he's not been with us this spring. He's taking care of some personal issues, and we wish him nothing but the best."
Florence's personal issues date back to last season. He did not dress for Auburn's games against Louisiana-Monroe and Alabama A&M due to personal reasons last season.
The safety is not expected to be back. Florence is the fifth player who hasn't graduated yet to either leave the program or face dismissal since Malzahn's hire, joining offensive guard Christian Westerman, quarterback Clint Moseley, running back Mike Blakely and defensive tackle Devaunte Sigler. Westerman and Blakely decided to transfer, Sigler was dismissed for a violation of team rules and Mosley decided to finish out his degree at Auburn without playing on the football team.
Florence's twin brother, Eriquel, is an outside linebacker who signed with Arizona State after a standout career at Contra Costa (Cal.) Community College.
Originally a quarterback at Valley High, Florence was recruited as a safety and widely touted as one of the nation's top five safeties before picking the Tigers over Alabama and USC in a nationally-televised signing day ceremony.
Florence, a 6-1, 182-pounder, served as the understudy to former Auburn safety Neiko Thorpe as a freshman and played solid football, making 23 tackles with one sack and a forced fumble.
But Florence fell out of favor in Brian VanGorder's defense last season, making just eight tackles and one tackle-for-loss and playing mostly in Auburn's sub-package against two-tight end sets.
I think we know what the problem is.
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Well fock. What a waste of talent. Personal issues?
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He wasn't here long enough for me to learn how to say or spell his name correctly. Good luck Erickay.
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The skeets live to fight another day.
(http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/30347296.jpg)
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J. Hoke is reporting in the twitter world that Justin Garrett is working at Saftey.
ETA: He is also reporting, Ladarius Owens is working with the LBs instead of the DEs.
Certainly looks like we are gonna try and play with some more size this year.
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J. Hoke is reporting in the twitter world that Justin Garrett is working at Saftey.
ETA: He is also reporting, Ladarius Owens is working with the LBs instead of the DEs.
Certainly looks like we are gonna try and play with some more size this year.
It just moved
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J. Hoke is reporting in the twitter world that Justin Garrett is working at Saftey.
ETA: He is also reporting, Ladarius Owens is working with the LBs instead of the DEs.
Certainly looks like we are gonna try and play with some more size this year.
:brilliant:
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J. Hoke is reporting in the twitter world that Justin Garrett is working at Saftey.
ETA: He is also reporting, Ladarius Owens is working with the LBs instead of the DEs.
Certainly looks like we are gonna try and play with some more size this year.
Whatever it takes.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh56/midnight4262/swedish-made-penis-enlargement-pump.jpg)
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Well fock. What a waste of talent. Personal issues?
Apparently the skreets don't go to that town!
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Well fock. What a waste of talent. Personal issues?
WOTS; rape, murder, arson, and rape...and stampeding cattle through the Vatican.
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WOTS; rape, murder, arson, and rape...and stampeding cattle through the Vatican.
He likes rape.
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He likes rape.
How womantic
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...and stampeding cattle through the Vatican.
Kinky
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Kinky
Ahhh the good old number 6
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Whatever it takes.
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh56/midnight4262/swedish-made-penis-enlargement-pump.jpg)
I ordered a penis vac but found that I rarely used it. My penis does get dusty but I generally shower once a day, so it was not necessary. Impulse buys are like that sometimes.
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Ahhh the good old number 6
So you spare the women?
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So you spare the women?
No we rape the shit outta them at the number 6 dance hall saloon
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These coaches are crawling their asses. I love it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FR_vxG-ZNA
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/03/auburn_head_coach_gus_malzahn_2.html
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WE gone be the sumo wrasslin champ of the SEC!
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These coaches are crawling their asses. I love it.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FR_vxG-ZNA
http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/03/auburn_head_coach_gus_malzahn_2.html
Is the objective of this drill to NOT hit the dummies? If so, we suck at everything.
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Is the objective of this drill to NOT hit the dummies? If so, we suck at everything.
I'd love to say I knew, but I dunno.
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WE gone be the sumo wrasslin champ of the SEC!
Nah, You know Jay would fuck that up to.
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Holland, what the hell is he doing?
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Holland, what the hell is he doing?
He is falling down. What you are not seeing is the RB headed right towards him.
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He is falling down. What you are not seeing is the RB headed right towards him.
Fucking photoshopz always fucks up a perfectly good snapshot.
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Is the objective of this drill to NOT hit the dummies? If so, we suck at everything.
I think they are trying to teach the D-Line to pop their hips to generate leverage. Instead of just twisting at the waist to turn your shoulder to get around a blocker you swing your hips to generate some leverage.
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I think they are trying to teach the D-Line to pop their hips to generate leverage. Instead of just twisting at the waist to turn your shoulder to get around a blocker you swing your hips to generate some leverage.
^This^
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^This^
Yep
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I think they are trying to teach the D-Line to pop their hips to generate leverage. Instead of just twisting at the waist to turn your shoulder to get around a blocker you swing your hips to generate some leverage.
I would think they would have learned that last year and the year before...lol