Scrimmage gets mixed reviews

AUBURN - Gene Chizik, Auburn's fourth-year head coach, declared the second scrimmage of preseason camp "very productive" Saturday.

Philip Lutzenkirchen snags a long pass from Clint Moseley/Todd Van Emst photo

But lest anyone get the wrong idea, he said the scrimmage continued to expose warts on both sides of the ball.

"We have a long way to go," Chizik said. "We are talking about inconsistencies we are trying to eliminate. We didn't do that today. We stayed about the same. That was disappointing to see. We have to eliminate that.

"On offense, we had focus penalties. Illegal formations, false starts, things of that nature. Defensively, we had some good things happen. The explosive plays we are giving up still, in the rush game and the passing game, we have to eliminate those. We have a long way to go. No question about it."

Junior quarterback Clint Moseley, throwing more and better that any time since last spring, stayed in the race with sophomore Kiehl Frazier.

"Clint was able to go," Chizik said. "He threw one nice deep ball. I just don't feel like right now there is much separation. There has to be some soon. We realize that. The were some things the quarterbacks did well and some things that point to inconsistencies again."

Moseley completed a pass of some 60 yards to tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen.

"It was really the first time I have turned it completely loose in a while," Moseley said. "That catch was mainly on Lutz. I just had to put it in the area."

It was, Moseley said, his best day in a long time.

"Definitely, because I was able to do a little more," he said. "They were able to evaluate me more in detail and see how I react to certain situations. It was definitely big for me today."

Frazier said the race to be the starter is not yet a priority.

"We have no clue," Frazier said. "Coach Chiz really keeps that under wraps. It has to happen before Clemson, I guess. He could tell us in the locker room before the game. We're really not sure yet."

As expected, freshman running back Jovon Robinson did not participate in the scrimmage.

"Jovon is not practicing right now," Chizik said. "His high school academic status is under review. I can't go into details. That's where we are."

Middle linebacker Jake Holland had an interception in the red zone to end one drive by the offense and a sack to end another. Chizik said the defensive front seven was good much of the scrimmage but not enough.

"It was good a good percentage of the time," Chizik said. "Then they would pop a run out of there that was an explosive run we are really trying to eliminate. I have to give the offensive line and the backs some credit for that too. It's good to see some explosive plays offensively, and defensively we are trying to eliminate those."

Chizik said the youth-laden offensive line made some progress over last Wednesday's scrimmage.

"They just have to continue to learn the game and improve," Chizik said "There are some good things happening with the young guys, but the mental focus, the mental part of the game."

For a video of Chizik's post-scrimmage interview, follow the link below.

VIDEO: HC GENE CHIZIK