Muschamp reflects on first scrimmage, talks potential for Auburn’s defense
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It’s early, but Auburn’s defense is playing the way most of us expected when the Tigers welcomed Will Muschamp to the fold at the end of the 2014 season.
Auburn’s defense is hoping to build on Monday’s performance during the team’s first fall scrimmage, one dominated by Muschamp’s players. In a run-heavy scrimmage, the first, second and third-team offenses never crossed the goal line, a bit of a surprise considering the Tigers’ strength on that side of the football.
RELATED: Carl Lawson’s been ‘unblockable’ in fall camp
Muschamp was available to the media on Tuesday and gave his thoughts on his defense’s play thus far in August.
All quotes gathered by AuburnTigers.com.
Will Muschamp on Auburn’s defense, emerging players
On depth issues in the secondary: “We’re constantly mixing and matching personnel to put guys in different situations. As a staff, we talk in terms of a guy going down, not necessarily that he’s hurt, but we’re going to pull him out and a guy has got to go step up in the middle of a series. Those are things we’ve prescribed as a staff to stress our players a little bit, and they got to understand when their number’s called, they got to play well.”
On defense’s perceived dominance in Monday’s scrimmage: “As much as anything we had some good focus and good effort. We tackled well for the first scrimmage, I think we had 12 missed tackles in 90-something snaps, so that’s a positive for a first scrimmage, especially as much as our offense creates space plays. We played well on third down and we played well in the red zone. We didn’t play the run very well and that was extremely disappointing.
On allowing five ‘big run’ plays: “I’m extremely concerned about that, especially in our league. But, overall, I was pleased with some good hits and turnovers and tackles and those sort of things. I thought we communicated well.”
On Carl Lawson’s contribution: “He’s a good football player. He’s a fast-twitch body guy.”
On true freshman Byron Cowart: “(He) has done some nice things for us. He’s going to be a guy that’s going to contribute.”
On DaVonte Lambert’s return from injury: “I’m very pleased with him. It’s always tough, more than anything — confidence coming back off an injury like that from a guy that’s never had a major injury before.”
