Coach Gus Malzahn's high standards and expectations were on display during Auburn's first practice since Saturday's scrimmage and start to the second half of the spring.
"We just had one of our normal practices," Malzahn said. "But this is probably the first time that I wasn't pleased with the overall attitude, effort or approach to practice."
The players and coaching staff took a break the past couple of days to analyze film, have the players meet with their position coaches and attempt to get a better grasp of a possible playing rotation.
"It's tough on everybody with taking a break and getting back into it," said senior fullback Jay Prosch. "I think that the heat may have gotten to a few people with it being a little hotter today than it has been, but I don't think it will be a problem in the future. It's just going to make us come back harder for the rest of the spring."
Despite the somewhat lackluster practice today, Malzahn expects the team's overall execution to improve as the players become more accustomed to the system and its fast pace, particularly the junior college transfers and freshman.
He also hinted that as the position players begin to execute properly, it will make the evaluations of quarterbacks Kiehl Fraizer and Jonathan Wallace easier.
Junior running back, and last year's leading rusher, Tre Mason sat out of practice again today while favoring his left leg, but Malzahn was reassuring in claiming that it was nothing serious. He is a little banged up and they just want to make sure he is 100 percent before they get him back in there.
"(Mason) is probably a little bit ahead of the others as far as knowing the offense," Malzahn said. "So it's probably not a bad thing that they are getting the majority of the reps right now."
Malzahn is keeping the playing field wide open in stating that there hasn't been any decisions made on any starters at any position.
However, players and coaches have had a lot to say about junior Justin Garrett in the new "star" position. Garrett was a linebacker in last year's defensive scheme but has gotten the opportunity to emerge this spring in Ellis Johnson's 4-2-5 defense.
Sophomore walk-on Melvin Ray, who played three years of minor league baseball in the Dodger's system before enrolling in Auburn, has also had a good spring and added a big body to the already short-staffed receiving corps.
"Each guy at our position has an opportunity that they are trying to take advantage of," Ray said. "We know we are going to need each other to show up everyday, play hard and push each other."
With only a number of practices left in the spring and the A-Day game right around the corner, the Tigers will continue to push each other and improve as much as they can.
"I think that we will definitely be clicking by A-Day," Prosch said.
According to Malzahn, the midway point of the spring is when the leaders emerge. He saw today's setbacks as a good thing, because now the players will have a chance to respond and the coaches will know more about their heart and character.
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