Tigerbytes: Scrimmage No. 1

AUBURN - Two true freshmen got significant work with the first-team offensive line in Wednesday's scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Freshman guard Jorda Diamond

Jordan Diamond worked at left guard and Alex Kozan at right guard. Redshirt freshman Greg Robinson at left tackle, sophomore Reese Dismukes at center and sophomore Chad Slade at right tackle got virtually all the first-team snaps.

Robinson, the starter at left tackle since last spring, gave the scrimmage mixed reviews.

"In a game-like situation, everything is moving faster," Robinson said. "It takes time. We'll get it together."

Robinson said he was pleased with his pass blocking.

"I have to work on a few run blocks," he said. "They gave us a few different looks. I have to work on getting those blocks together. We've come a long way bonding-wise. We have a long way to go, but we've got time.

Senior running back Onterio McCalebb played like a man on a mission, junior quarterback Clint Moseley said.

"The thing with Onterio is everybody in the world knows he's one of the fastest guys in college football," Moseley said. "There is no debate about that. His biggest thing is in between the tackles and not going out of bounds. Today he showed us a side of himself none of us has seen. He stiff armed a defender. It pretty impressive, something we haven't seen before. He's just running a lot harder. He's a little bit more motivated."

Sophomore defensive tackle Gabe Wright said he thought he had a good day. And he pointed to some others he believed had good days on both sides of the bal.

"Sammie (Coates) had a real good night," Wright said. "His physical abilities are off the roof. Sammie has ability like no other. He is a young guy and the sky is the limit. Kiehl (Frazier) did a good job making his throws.

"... Jermaine Whitehead had a real good day from what I have been hearing from Coach VanGorder. Ryan Smith and Chris Davis had good days, too.”

The defense against the run, linebacker Daren Bates said, was encouraging.

"We've been pushing for more three-and-outs and better play on third down," Moseley said. "We definitely got that today. We had pretty good run first for the most part. McCalebb got us that one time, but the longest run after that was like 8 yards."

Freshman quarterback Jonathan Wallace got a significant number of snaps in his first Auburn scrimmage.

“It was the first time he was ever out there by himself,” Loeffler said. “I thought he managed the huddle well. “He was very similar to the other freshmen. He needs to learn to be a little more consistent.”

Moseley said there has been a noticeable change in the mentality of Auburn's defense.

"I think they did pretty well," Moseley said. "They are definitely more physical than they have been. You don't see any timid play out there. I don't really know Coach VanGorder personally that well, but I can tell you he's not going to put up with anything but physical."

Sophomore tight end C.J. Uzomah, a wide receiver last season, said he felt good about his performance in his first scrimmage as a tight end.

"It was a lot of fun," Uzomah said. "A few mental errors here and there, a few little mistakes with blocking assignments, but overall I thought it was pretty good."