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Observations By Beat Writers
As happens once a week, the beat writers were allowed to view the first 20 minutes of practice. It's always fun to see what differences there are in reports, as there are almost always some. Phillip Marshall said Marcus Davis and Jason Smith worked alone at punt returner and that the first-time OL had Davonte Danzey at Left Guard, while James Crepea said the punt returners also included Gray King and Stephen Roberts and that Alex Kozan remained at the first team LG spot (and Ryan Black from the Ledger-Enquirer agreed).
AL.com concurs with the other two reports of the punt returners and also has some nuggets in their recap about Lance Thompson working almost exclusively with three players at the Buck position during the viewing period. Those players are Carl Lawson, Justin Thornton, and Cameron Toney. I was not aware Toney was working at the Buck, but it makes sense. Also in the AL.com report is word that OL Jordan Diamond - who has been plagued by injuries during his Auburn career - was getting some limited work in on the sleds.
James Crepea's report linked above also mentions a heavy package with both Kamryn Pettway and Chandler Cox in the formation. I can see soooo many ways Gus could use that to devastating effect. It needs a good name, though. The Steamroller Package? "Roads'r'Us?"
Think about that, though. Both are accomplished blockers who can pave a hole for the running back. That's what the play is going to appear to be when a defense first sees it. However, both are supposed to be pretty good at catching the football, too. Now imagine one stays home to seal the block on the edge while the other goes running free on a wheel route after a play-action... (Link probably NSFW, by the way).
They all agree that Duke Williams was to the side stretching during the 20 minute viewing period and that Jonathan Jones did not fully dress out as he continues to deal with a nagging injury. The reason Duke was only stretching is unknown as I write this. It may be addressed in the press conference tweet-cap below.
I highly recommend checking the links above for their full recaps.
Video
Auburn Undercover has some practice video posted linked below:
AuburnSports.com also put some video up in front of the pay wall, today. I have no idea if it's because I mentioned previously that I love how AUC doesn't pay-wall things that everyone had access to or not, but I'm going to act like it is in my minuscule sample size. I honestly don't know if the last practice video being behind the pay wall when I wrote the article was an anomaly or not.
You can check out their video, which includes Tim Irvin and his club case, some punt return work, and a brief glimpse at Tyler Queen in QB drills, here.
AL.com has video of JUCO transfer Maurice Swain working on technique. Swain figures to be a pretty big cog in the defensive line this season.
It's already been linked to above, but James Crepea's Montgomery Advertiser recap also contains video. Including Lance Thompson working with the Bucks.
Rhett Lashlee Press Conference Tweet-Cap
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Change in post-practice programming: Rhett Lashlee is here to chat with reporters instead of Gus Malzahn.</p>— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/585579004498944003">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee: Some "bright spots" but offense not to standard in scrimmage</p>— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesCrepea/status/585579110669414400">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Auburn O-coordinator Rhett Lashlee: "We're getting to the point a lot of our base core offense is in. I like the work we're getting done."</p>— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUGoldMine/status/585579410704752640">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Roc Thomas "had some good runs" in scrimmage, but thinks he can take everything to house. Needs to be "more of a 1-cut guy," says RL.</p>— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/585579335366610946">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I've never been a fan of that jump-cut move of his. Reminds me too much of what Quan Bray kept trying to do his first two seasons, and it never worked out well.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee on the QB battle: "I'm happy with the way Sean and Jeremy are both competing." Also praised Tyler Queen.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585580164790284288">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>On QBs JJ and SW: "They haven't made a lot of mistakes" but want them to "take next step," to go from steady to "great," says RL.</p>— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/585580332004540416">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee: "No one has earned a spot" in the offensive starting lineup yet.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585580485318942720">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee clarifies something he told ESPN. Auburn wants to take 8 deep passing shots per game, then hit whatever it can.</p>— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesCrepea/status/585581803148353537">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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I remember Gus used to say he liked to go deep at least once a quarter back when he was first hired as OC. I remember that specifically because it was refreshing after thinking about how Auburn NEVER seemed to go deep in the Tuberville years. I guess Lashlee is going to up the ante with a more traditional passing QB.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee says Kamryn Pettway is a bit further along physically compared to Chandler Cox -- "as it should be," he notes.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585581992458244097">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Auburn H-backs Kamryn Pettway, Chandler Cox have been a "big bright spot," says Rhett Lashlee. "Really been pleased with both those guys."</p>— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUGoldMine/status/585582071894122496">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Please let these two be ready to rock at the H-back. That is such a big piece of the offensive machinery in Malzahn's style of play.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee on Tony Stevens: "He's still not where he needs to be." But, Lashlee feels like he's doing better.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585582359954718721">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Dislike. We need Stevens to be this season's Sammie Coates. He's certainly tall enough to do it.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee says D'haquille Williams' right leg is nothing of concern, just "tight"</p>— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesCrepea/status/585582728940257280">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Want to name a starting quarterback at end of spring? "I don't really have a preference one way or the other," says Rhett Lashlee.</p>— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) <a href="https://twitter.com/bmarcello/status/585583001519685637">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee doesn't have an ideal playing weight for Jason Smith, who's now listed at 178. Wants him to get as big as he can w/o losing speed.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585583584230125572">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee said Will Muschamp's "energy and the way they swarm" has impressed him the most.</p>— Ryan Black (@wareagleextra) <a href="https://twitter.com/wareagleextra/status/585583694133469185">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Auburn's Rhett Lashlee says defensive intensity in last scrimmage was at "all-time high since I've been here. That makes both sides better."</p>— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) <a href="https://twitter.com/AUGoldMine/status/585584012363718659">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Lashlee says Alex Kozan has been practicing with iimited contact since return from break</p>— James Crepea (@JamesCrepea) <a href="https://twitter.com/JamesCrepea/status/585584421903925248">April 7, 2015</a></blockquote>
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That's it for the tweets from the Lashlee press conference. Auburn returns to the practice field on Thursday afternoon for Day 10. They'll have two days of practice next week leading up to A-Day on the 18th and then have one more day to put any finishing touches on things before the spring practice period ends.