This pasting that was copied from the dot coms of al, focuses on what is undoubtedly the strength of this program....the linebackers. Savage bastgaes, the whole lot of em'. A few things. The author says Holland struggled with EVERYTHING...including playcalling and alignment. Really? Then, he goes on to say McKinzy struggled with the playbook. Apparently, he feels Kris Frost is mildly raytarded. So, let me get this straight. Guys who can supposedly pass college classes and have played football all their lives, can't figure out a playbook or recognize an offensive alignment or know where the hell to stand on a football field once they get to Auburn. Cassanova McKinzy gets one start and wreaks havoc but barely sees the field from there. I hope to gawd this staff can get this group going.
Also, the author's last point about linebackers in the NFL.....is he forgetting Josh Bynes or was he signed as a free agent?
AUBURN, Alabama -- The days of smaller, coverage-oriented linebackers at Auburn appear to be over.
New defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson wants linebackers with the size and strength to play inside the formation, shed blocks at the line of scrimmage and plug gaps in the running game.
This is the eighth 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 defensive end's responsibilities, check out the series AL.com published earlier this month.
BY THE NUMBERS
•Jake Holland: 73 tackles, 3 tackles-for-loss
•Cassanova McKinzy: 23 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss, 1 fumble forced, 1 fumble recovered
•Justin Garrett: 12 tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss
•Kris Frost: 5 tackles, 1 fumble forced
THE DEPARTED
•Daren Bates: 94 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception, 2 fumbles recovered, 1 touchdown
•Jonathan Evans: 20 tackles, 1. tackle-for-loss
•Ashton Richardson: 4 tackles, 1 tackle-for-loss, 1 sack
SPRING CAST
•Jake Holland, Sr.
•Justin Garrett, Jr.
•Kris Frost, So.
•Cassanova McKinzy, So.
•Anthony Swain, So.
•JaViere Mitchell, R-Fr.
ON THE WAY
•Kenny Flowers, Jr.
•Cameron Toney, Fr.
BURNING QUESTION
-- At a position where Auburn struggled to find physical, in-the-box linebackers during Gene Chizik's era, can the Tigers identify players with the ability to play inside in Ellis Johnson's 4-2-5?
BIGGEST RESUME
Few returning Tigers are more polarizing among fans than Jake Holland, a three-year contributor and two-year starter who has struggled with injuries, tackling and a lack of big plays in his time at Auburn. Holland has started 16 games in his career at Auburn, but he struggled with the play-calling and alignment responsibilities thrown on the middle linebacker by defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder, and his lack of physicality led VanGorder to start Cassanova McKinzy in some games against pro-style offenses. In Johnson's defense, the two linebackers have to carry responsibilities similar to inside linebackers in a 3-4, who are required to take on offensive line and plug gaps in the running game at the line of scrimmage, a problem for Holland throughout his career at Auburn.
FLASH OF POTENTIAL
Cassanova McKinzy, at 6-foot-3, 243 pounds, has the prototypical size Johnson is looking for in his linebackers, and he plays a physical brand of football that suggests he can handle the rigors of staying inside in Auburn's new base defense. Inserted into the starting lineup for the first time against Vanderbilt, McKinzy had 12 tackles, a fumble forced and a fumble recovery, and he showed an ability to work downhill and blow up plays at the line of scrimmage. McKinzy's biggest challenge, though, is in the playbook. Asked to handle a complicated role as a freshman, McKinzy had trouble learning his responsibilities in VanGorder's defense, and he made too many mental mistakes to take over for Holland full-time. Beyond McKinzy, Kris Frost has plenty of athleticism, but he couldn't crack the rotation much as a redshirt freshman and has to make big strides to challenge for a job, even though his 6-foot-2, 233-pound frame has the size and speed Johnson wants out of his linebackers.
ON THE WAY
Auburn needed immediate help heading into the 2013 season, and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College linebacker Kenny Flowers is expected to immediately challenge for playing time when he arrives in the summer. Flowers racked up 95 tackles for the Blue Dragons last season, and the Tigers need that type of production from a unit that had major tackling issues in 2012. Incoming freshman Cameron Toney is a high-character guy with good size and a reputation for big tackle numbers at Huntsville, but he has to make a big leap to challenge for a spot next season.
FACTS OF LIFE
-- Auburn hasn't produced an NFL Draft pick who spent the bulk of his collegiate career at linebacker since Karlos Dansby and Dontarrious Thomas were picked in 2004. Will Herring was picked in 2007, but he was primarily a safety with the Tigers until his senior season.
QUOTABLE
-- "In the physical element of it, we call the linebackers the Mike and the Will, and we want both of them to be fairly the same. There's no place for one that can't run, if they've got pass-rush ability, that's a plus on both, but the Will's going to be doing it the most. I like 'em to be 6-1-plus, and 230-plus." -- Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson
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