AUBURN, Ala. — The Auburn Tigers tried to fill a desperate need for skill players with their latest recruiting class, loading up on running backs and wide receivers. The next major priority: Big men.
Auburn offensive line coach Jeff Grimes sees a dire need to restock a line filled mostly with upperclassmen and to bolster a group short on numbers. The Tigers have 10 scholarship offensive linemen, with two signees joining them in the fall.
“It’s an urgent priority,” Grimes said. “We would have liked to have signed more last year. It just didn’t work out that way. We’d like to have at least 15, and preferably 17, offensive linemen on scholarship at all times.
“We’re not near where we need to be because typically you’re not going to have guys coming in and playing a lot as true freshmen. That’s not the way you’d like for it to be.”
Auburn didn’t sign any offensive linemen last year. The starting five next season could be all juniors depending on how the position battles shake out.
That could leave the line in good shape for the next two seasons and relying mostly on youngsters after that. Grimes said Auburn will likely look to sign one or two junior college linemen next year.
The Tigers must begin testing out potential replacements for tackle Jason Bosley and guard Tyronne Greene when spring practice begins March 24.
The candidates range from experienced (Mike Berry and Lee Isom) to not so experienced (Jared Cooper and Bart Eddins). Grimes likes the potential for competition among the group.
“I think we have several guys that have some ability, and even more importantly I think we have some guys that can create some competition,” said Grimes, who was assistant head coach at Colorado the past two seasons. “One of the worst things that can ever happen with any position, I think especially in the offensive line because there’s five of them, is to wind up with a situation where you don’t have competition.
“I can rip their fanny all I want but if they know they’re going to be on the field because they’re the best guy, in some cases, it’s not going to make a difference what I say.”
Grimes is trying to beef up several linemen to the 310-pound range. They’ll also have the challenge of keeping up the pace in Gus Malzahn’s no-huddle offense, which aims for 80-plus plays a game.
“We’re going to be in great shape,” Malzahn said. “That means offensive line, quarterbacks, skill guys. Our offensive line does have to be in great shape. They have to get used to playing fast, recovering quickly.”
Grimes, a 40-year-old former Texas-El Paso tackle who is bigger than most of the players he coaches, said one of his main priorities for any line he coaches is toughness and physical play.
“The way I’m going to coach this deal is that we’re going to be physical on every stinking play,” Grimes said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s an inside run, an outside run, screen or drop-back pass. Our job is to be physical and finish every play to the whistle regardless of what it is.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
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Comments » 19
Voluvr writes:
Is there a reason this story is in here?
Voluvr writes:
Oh yeah, First suckers!
FWBVol writes:
This story is under SEC news. I think it fits nicely there.
I don't spend any time looking at sites for other teams, but I do check espn.com, so I enjoy seeing what is going on at other conference schools.
I think Auburn, being in a similar situation to UT with a new coach and such, will be a good guage to how well we are progressing with a program going through many of the same things.
dvhill100 writes:
Agreed. We can't seem to get much on our own team, and I also like to keep up with the rest of the SEC.
hotrodvol writes:
Dvhill, I'm with you and FWBVol. What else are we going to read about this time of year? Also I would rather Auburn to get better, that way they balance out bammer.(HATE=bama)
BigOrangeJeff writes:
It doesn't matter who you like as long as you hate 'Bama...
Seriouslyorange writes:
Lets hate everybody that is not a Vol!
That way we won't miss anybody.
The war beagles are elephants with wings.
They don't fool anybody, they hate the Vols.
PureOrange writes:
Guess you can't get any UT news. Maybe it is time to get some new reporters.
BIGEJ writes:
UNWORTHY OLD NON-UT News 03/02/2009, 9:17 am
The first in a four part series reporting on the status of another conference , the ACC, looking rekindle that football spirit.
The rest of ACC (All Criminals Conference) is "throwing cash about" to get players for their teams to compete with UNC's football venture; this coming on the heels of the great recruiting and "cashing in" to their recruits for the 2009 signing.
Duke has asked for additional “assistance” for a football program upgrade if the boosters are willing to upgrade the football team's "wheels" from the Indian donated Tato scooters to at least a couple of KIAs or Suzukis; however this is not likely since 90% of the "funding" goes to the basketball team(s) for their Benz D class, clothing and weekly party allowance.
Virginia Tech was working to strike a deal with the DCOFO (Dog & Cat Octagon Fighting Organization) but talks have stalled since the DCOFO cannot get willing human participants to replace the animals and the DCOFO's most recent venture of Siamese fighting fish has gone down the toilet.
Last week Miami directed it’s cash flow by pulling the letter of intent from the highly sought after B. Brown of Wichita, KS; the Butler foundation’s additional request for an Escalade and BMW 7 series to go along with their currently received non profit donations of Acura CDX and BMW 330i was thought to be excessive since Miami has been allowed to participate in Florida’s in state “recruiting” from the JI-IC (Jailed inmate in Custody) system. “Mr. Smith”, a skilled runner and deal closer, is a current resident of the state of Florida and has been for the past six years. Miami is working with the state of Florida get its share in these in state residents that currently go to the University of Florida and Florida State; the state of Florida is keeping all of these residents under cuffs to maintain control of these residents.
More worthless news as it comes in; “Snowed in” but reporting, this is the "BIG E" working toward that honorable mention spot in the Tennessee writers Association annual, “give each other a pat on the back year end party” sponsored with tax dollars from the most recent stimulus package, earmarked for gravel road repair in the federally held lands in the states of NC and Tennessee since at one time these two states were actually one.
GO VOLS
adamsck#591720 writes:
If we can get quotes from the Auburn position coaches for a story why can't we get quotes from the UT position coaches?
Sovol writes:
Amen
crappieking writes:
ZZZZZZZZ.......ZZZZZZZZZ........ZZZZZZZZZZ
adamsck#591720 writes:
Check this out. How did the hometown paper get scooped by the AJC. What the eff is going on at KNS?
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-football...
I have to read about this in the AJC. Hey Adams, you got news to cover in Ktown. Give it a shot.
RoadTrip writes:
Thanks for the post. I agree completely. All you have to do is read the thread below the article and see what a reaction it got down there. Is KNS with us or against us?! It's crazy we get better reads from media that are out of state.
Keep it up Kiff - the change is good for our Vols!
RoadTrip writes:
ESPN's Chris Low picked up on it an hour ago as well. Still no KNS...
givehim6 writes:
Yes it's sad when your home town paper is more worried about what goes on i alerbamer then there own back yard! anyway, first impressions last! This will stick in kids minds whin choosing a school time comes.
dvhill100 writes:
Good article. Thanks. It is not going to be dull with this staff. It seems the theatrics are working, at least so far. This is the kind of stuff that separates you from everyone else in recruiting. It will no doubt have some turned off, but most seem to enjoy it (recruits). These are youngsters that have a lot of emotion for the game they play, and this kind of stuff fits right in.
Now we have to wait and see how this translates into getting top-flight recruits and how the staff performs on the field this season and going forward.
Coach_Joe writes:
Loved the attached article! Man, these guy's are freakin' crazy! I love it!!!
adamsck#591720 writes:
The sad thing is I don't think Adams and the boys feel bad about the fact that Lowe regularly scoops them and even the uber-shiittay AJC is now scooping them. Maybe Hamilton should take over down at KNS and get some new blood in there as well.
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