AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Defense ‘continues to amaze’ Tuberville

By Mike Szvetitz
Sports Editor, Opelika-Auburn News
Published: October 1, 2008

As a former defensive coach, Tommy Tuberville has been around some good units.

While at Miami from 1986-93, where he was a graduate assistant, linebackers coach and eventually defensive coordinator, Tuberville saw the
Hurricanes go 87-9, including a 55-0 home stretch, during his time in Coral Gables.

Oh, Miami also won three national titles in Tuberville’s time there. Defense was a hallmark of those Hurricanes teams, as Tuberville often points out.

But this year’s Auburn defense is also impressive, says the Tigers’ head coach.

“The defense continues to amaze me,” Tuberville said. “They come to work every day. They practice with a purpose. They’ve been practicing and playing the same way, which always helps.”

Currently, Auburn’s defense is first in the nation in opponent-third-down conversion percentage (14.6), allowing teams to move the chains 11 out of 76 times they’ve been faced with a third down.

The Tigers are also second in the SEC and fifth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 10.6 points per game. AU is fourth in the SEC and 11th in the nation in total defense, giving up 246.0 yards per contest.

On the other end of the spectrum, of course, is Auburn’s offense.

Currently, the Tigers are 97 out of 119 Division I teams in scoring offense (19.8), 99th in passing efficiency (105.18), tied for 105th in the red zone (66.7 percent) and 112th in third-down conversions (29.3 percent).

But Tuberville is optimistic the offense, run by coordinator Tony Franklin, can turn it around this week at Vanderbilt, if practice is any indication.

“We’ve had two good practices back to back,” Tuberville said. “I think we’re in a lot better mental shape this week than we were this time last
week. That’s what a win will do for you.

“The offense is really coming around. I think we’re more consistent. We’re doing things different in terms of trying to correct the penalties that we’ve had. If we can just do that, I think we’ll look a lot sharper.”

Byrum kicking better
After missing three field goals in a row, Auburn place-kicker Wes Byrum was put on notice this week that there would be some competition for his job.

And the sophomore has responded by turning in a solid performance this week in practice, Tuberville said.

“He’s done real well,” Tuberville said. “He made all of his yesterday and all of them today. He looked better in his form, his technique, he’s just got to keep it going into the game. Kickers battle like you do in golf. Putting, sometimes that hole looks big and sometimes it looks real small.

“Right now the goal posts look real narrow. He’s nailed them this week, hit the ball solid. I expect a good game out of him.”

Hey, man, nice shirt
Josh Bynes played the best game of his young career, and all the sophomore middle linebacker got for his efforts was a T-shirt.

“I got a shirt that says ’Player of the Week.’ That’s about it,” he said.

Bynes played the entire game Saturday in the Tigers’ 14-12 win, filling in for injured starter Tray Blackmon (broken wrist). Bynes finished with a team-leading 11 tackles as Auburn’s defense gave up just 191 total yards to the Vols, including no first downs and just 16 yards in the fourth quarter.

It was Bynes’ first time playing that many snaps on that big of a stage.

“It was tiring, but the emotion of the game kept me going and kept me into it and kept my attitude straight,” he said.

As for the T-shirt? Bynes isn’t too interested in the accolades or the hype. He just wants to play his best, regardless of his role, which, when
Blackmon is healthy, means splitting time at middle linebacker.

“I don’t even worry about the last game,” Bynes said. “Last game is last game. We’re going to focus on Vanderbilt right now.“

Speaking of middle linebackers ...
Since Bynes’ play has been solid, and Blackmon’s bigger-than-life hits and physical-approach is a fan favorite, what about getting both middle linebackers on the field at the same time?

Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads says no.

“Because it’s an isolated position,” Rhoads said. “It’s a unique position. The Mike linebacker is completely different than what we refer to as our Sam and Will linebackers. You could do that with that position.

“Say (weakside linebackers) Chris (Evans) and Merrill (Johnson) were both playing at a high level and we were injured on the other side and it benefited us to get Merrill and Chris on the field, we could do that. It just doesn’t work out that way with the Mike spot so the production we get by rolling people, we’ll continue to do that.“

Injury report
Tuberville said Blackmon and running backs Brad Lester (knee) and Tristan Davis (concussion) would all be ready to play Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Sophomore offensive lineman Darrell Roseman underwent shoulder surgery last week, Tuberville said Wednesday. He’ll be out the rest of the season.

Tuberville also said Wednesday that true freshman T’Sharvan Bell (foot) has been back full speed at practice for three weeks. Bell, a cornerback, has worked strictly on scout team and will redshirt this season, according to Tuberville.

Freshman defensive back Marcus Jemison (leg) is still unable to practice after suffering an injury during two-a-days. Tuberville said he still has to get a pin taken out of his leg, and the head coach is hopefully Jemison will be able to start practicing again by Auburn’s open date in two weeks.