By Collin Mickle

Published: March 25, 2008

On Auburn’s campus, spring break has been over for three days.

Tuesday morning, the AU football team got a firm reminder of that fact.

The Tigers, who took 12 days off for spring break, were back to work before 7 a.m. Tuesday. The early start didn’t help almost two weeks’ worth of rust, at least not in the eyes of Auburn’s coaches.

“It was exactly what I expected and didn’t want,” offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said. “Spring break layoff — there’s no telling what they did. I don’t want to know. … I’m sure they had a nice time, and they’re back, and they look like they haven’t done anything since they left.”

Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and offensive line coach Hugh Nall put their charges through almost a half-hour of extra work after the rest of the team left the practice field. Like Franklin, Rhoads wasn’t surprised by the rust, but he wasn’t happy about it either.

“There were signs of rust that were certainly expected,” Rhoads said. “In our profession, you just don’t tolerate it, though, whether you expect it or not.”

Auburn will practice again Thursday morning and Friday afternoon before Saturday’s A-Day game. The game will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium. Tickets are $5 and will be available at the stadium.

AU will hold its final spring practice, another scrimmage in Jordan-Hare, on April 2.

Rhoads: Tackling improving
Though Rhoads didn’t see many positives in Tuesday’s practice, there was some good news for the defense. After spending part of spring break reviewing film of AU’s last scrimmage — which took place on March 13 — Rhoads had plenty to smile about.

The Tigers ran 100 plays in that scrimmage. According to Rhoads, they missed just six tackles in that span.

It isn’t perfect — Rhoads, like all defensive coordinators, would rather not see any missed tackles — but it’s awfully close.

“We tackled much better,” he said. “That’s pretty good defensive football, tackling-wise, at any level. So that was pleasing to our eye.”

Injury report
Tailback Ben Tate returned to practice Tuesday. Tate has missed almost all of spring practice with hamstring and ankle injuries.

The junior is expected to participate in A-Day. Tuesday, he was just happy to be back in action.

“It was fun to get back out there, get a little contact, talk a little trash,” Tate said. “I love the game of football. It (stinks) when you’re out and you have to watch everyone else have fun.”

Franklin was less impressed.

“He didn’t look back to me,” the coach said. “I thought he just kind of ran through the motions, and was just there. I was glad to see him, but he’s nowhere close to being back as far as I’m concerned.”

Freshman quarterback DeRon Furr (shoulder) and sophomore tight end Bailey Woods (hamstring) also returned to practice Tuesday.

The rest of Auburn’s walking wounded wasn’t so fortunate. Despite the long layoff, a host of injured players are still sidelined.

Running back Tristan Davis (foot) and defensive end Antonio Coleman (neck sprain) could participate in A-Day, according to head coach Tommy Tuberville.

Tailback Mario Fannin (dislocated shoulder), offensive guard Chaz Ramsey (back) and defensive tackle Jake Ricks (broken hand) are among several injured players who will miss the rest of spring practice.

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