E.T. Posted January 3, 2007 Group: TBP Subscriber III Topic Count: 4,751 Content Count: 37,675 Reputation: 2,367 Days Won: 29 Joined: 12/24/2001 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Price excited about young defensive ends By Bryan Matthews, AuburnSports.com Senior Editor – Rivals.comEven with Quentin Groves expected to return for his senior season, the defensive end position will be a question mark heading into 2007. That's especially true on the strong side where Auburn has rotated two seniors throughout this season.Fortunately AU defensive ends coach Terry Price will add three talented redshirt freshmen to the mix next season. It's a group he's getting a close look at during bowl practice."They're coming along," said Price. "It's the first time for them to come out there and bang hats with the veterans. As practice progresses, we're seeing more and more out of them. They're all working hard and the main thing they're trying to learn is the tempo of how we practice."While all three have had their moments during the first half of bowl practice, Zach Clayton has been the most consistent and appears to be closest to stepping onto the field next fall."He's a young man I like," said Price. "He's physical at the point of attack and he has really good quickness for a guy of his size. He listens and is a smart kid. I think he has a really bright future ahead of him."He's a guy that has the size you're looking for in a strongside end and he has enough speed and power to be a good one out there."Clayton, who has played both defensive tackle and strongside end, still has to improve in certain areas. But Price has confidence Clayton will get it done."He has a bad habit sometimes of dropping his hands and leading with his shoulders and helmet," said Price. "In this league when you play against 350-pounders you have to use your hands to get extension and separation and get off blocks. He's getting better at that."Bryant Miller is another redshirt that could see early playing time at defensive end."He's a physically strong guy," said Price. "He has good upper body strength and can really press and get off blocks. He probably has to work on lower body strength and improve on his pass rushing mechanics."He's got to learn a lot more technique than the other guys but he's getting better every single day. Once his technique improves and he gets better at it, he's going to be a good player."Miller could play either strongside or weakside end."For him it won't be determined until spring when we figure out where all these pieces are going to fit. We're just trying to find football players right now," said Price.The third redshirt defensive end – Darrell Roseman – is a little behind the first two after sitting out with a shin injury this fall."He fell behind because he missed a lot of time during two-a-days and the season," said Price. "He has some physical skills. He's a physically strong kid. He's going to keep getting better."And just like Clayton and Miller, Roseman has the type of work ethic that should make him a success at Auburn."He's willing to learn and he's not afraid to stick his nose in there," said Price. "All three of these young guys have to get better with technique, playing with their hands and rushing the passer. But the good thing is they're all willing to learn, all big guys, and are all willing to play hard and run to the football every single snap."All three redshirt defensive ends are in the 270-pound range, which has Price excited about their potential to play early and give the Tigers more size upfront."They have good size," said Price. "We just have to get them all ready to play and executing our defense at our tempo and with our techniques. We'll have to see how these kids progress during bowl practice and see where they fit in this spring." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bull Martin Posted January 3, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 148 Content Count: 8,044 Reputation: 228 Days Won: 9 Joined: 12/23/2005 Share Posted January 3, 2007 Nice young DTs should help give GrothE time and should work well on the QB read option with either Plancher or Ford. We have a reall good shot at this game! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lotsofbull99 Posted January 5, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 114 Content Count: 6,744 Reputation: 912 Days Won: 17 Joined: 02/17/2002 Share Posted January 5, 2007 Auburn will destroy us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.T. Posted February 20, 2007 Group: TBP Subscriber III Topic Count: 4,751 Content Count: 37,675 Reputation: 2,367 Days Won: 29 Joined: 12/24/2001 Author Share Posted February 20, 2007 IMPACT RS FRESHMENTim Hawthorne, WR, AuburnDefensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and safety Aairon Savage both won starting jobs and earned Rivals.com freshman All-America honors for Auburn last year. The Tigers have a few candidates to continue that tradition next fall. Linebacker Craig Stevens actually has a better chance of starting immediately, but we put Hawthorne on this list instead because we believe the former four-star prospect has a greater upside. Rivals.com rated Hawthorne as the No. 4 receiver in the 2006 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 Hawthorne should team up with returnees Rod Smith and Montez Billings to help the Tigers compensate for the loss of Courtney Taylor. Feb. 6th Rivals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeB Posted February 20, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 963 Content Count: 9,765 Reputation: 596 Days Won: 9 Joined: 08/05/2005 Share Posted February 20, 2007 IMPACT RS FRESHMENTim Hawthorne, WR, AuburnDefensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks and safety Aairon Savage both won starting jobs and earned Rivals.com freshman All-America honors for Auburn last year. The Tigers have a few candidates to continue that tradition next fall. Linebacker Craig Stevens actually has a better chance of starting immediately, but we put Hawthorne on this list instead because we believe the former four-star prospect has a greater upside. Rivals.com rated Hawthorne as the No. 4 receiver in the 2006 recruiting class. The 6-foot-3 Hawthorne should team up with returnees Rod Smith and Montez Billings to help the Tigers compensate for the loss of Courtney Taylor. Feb. 6th RivalsSounds like a job for Mike Jenkins. Can't wait for football season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theman123 Posted February 20, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 411 Content Count: 5,591 Reputation: 204 Days Won: 3 Joined: 12/10/2006 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Auburn will destroy usAre you Smazza's younger brother? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flipflop4900 Posted February 20, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 151 Content Count: 1,037 Reputation: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/24/2005 Share Posted February 20, 2007 NO 99 is ok that is his leader line...I LOVE IT!!! cause when he says it it does not happen!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyGator Posted February 20, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 37 Content Count: 821 Reputation: 20 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/02/2005 Share Posted February 20, 2007 Auburn has a history of getting great DL's and then then do not progress. (even when they go to he NFL)We will wait and see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama_Bull Posted February 21, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 1,207 Content Count: 18,470 Reputation: 899 Days Won: 44 Joined: 10/14/2003 Share Posted February 21, 2007 Auburn will destroy usAre you Smazza's younger brother?theman, I was thinking the very same thing. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smazza Posted February 21, 2007 Group: Member Topic Count: 9,898 Content Count: 66,091 Reputation: 2,434 Days Won: 172 Joined: 01/01/2001 Share Posted February 21, 2007 auburn will be a great litmus test of usf football Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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