Auburn’s Linebackers Are SCARY Good 👀 | Auburn Football Podcast

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Spring practice is upon us and we had our second open viewing period of the spring.

Got to talk to Elijah Melendez.

Will he be part of the best position group on the team?

Welcome on into the Auburn Express Power by the War Report.

I'm your host Mike G.

Turn us on.

Turn us up.

We'll turn it out.

I'm here with my good friend Kyle Rush from the bar to talk a little Auburn football.

Kyle, you and I were out in practice today.

Checking out the Auburn Tigers on the practice field.

Got to talk to some players after on today's show.

We're going to talk about one player in particular and his position group.

Could they be the best position group on the team?

And if they are aren't who comes in a second, we'll talk about that in a second half of the show.

Let's start at the top.

Before we get into position groups, let's just talk about your overall impressions of this practice.

We got a very vocal.

Alex Goldish at the end of practice that was fired up talking about doing things the right way.

I think that he was exhibiting the type of energy he wants to see from his team every single day.

And I think that's a good thing.

Man, they show it too.

I feel like there's no, you went to practice last year.

There's no like, when I say learning, they're teaching, but like it's not standing around and we're teaching you something.

They've already done that before they get on the field.

When they're out there, it's reps, man.

They are repping.

They just need an excuse to get another rep in.

I was joking.

We have my, you know, this, they tell us when we're going to get player availability.

You can add 45 minutes to that because that's at the end of practice because they just need an excuse to keep repping and keep working.

And you feel that when you're out there.

Last year, Mike, I felt like I could walk anywhere I wanted to.

I felt like I could go anywhere I wanted to.

I'm like, worried I'm going to mess something up.

Like I'm going to get in the way because of how intense and how like locked in they are to everything going from station to station.

It's, it's a completely different vibe.

I have no idea how that equates or what if that will equate to more wins organization.

It's just different.

It is, it's, it's big time difference.

So if you're looking for just a completely different vibe.

There ain't no doubt.

It feel, it just feels different.

When he freezes here.

After he was done patent thorn told me that he felt like offensive and defensive practice were like two different football two different teams.

And I didn't get that sense today.

What I got was that they were all a very well oiled machine.

They seemed to know just it may sound silly but just.

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It nobody was running around like a chicken with their head cut off.

Like where do I go coach?

Everybody knew exactly where they were going.

What was next where to be?

You know, they jumped right in.

It seemed to have a flow to it that we didn't see last year.

This is very important because I think that when you how you do some things is how you will do everything my dad taught me that when I was a child I practice that as a man.

And everything I do I try to bring the same energy and enthusiasm and you know the same work ethic and attention to detail those guys I felt like we're doing that today.

The questions are going to be about offense certainly right and whether they can get that together on the offensive line and in those crunch moments if you practice the details well enough Kyle.

You should be able to execute when the pressure is the greatest and that's what we hope to see but let's let's talk position groups here because as we came here to talk today after practice we got to talk to Eliza Melinda's.

Listen, he was a true I want to remind people that this kid was a true freshman last year and he turned in 19 soul tackles one set and two interceptions in his freshman campaign.

I know Auburn has high hopes for him but with the emergence and the return of Xavier Atkins combined with the five star power of the Marcus Riddick this might be the best position group especially at the one on this team.

The only crap they are supremely talented what do you think is this the best position group and don't forget about Bryce these man.

I got four guys that can play the Marcus Riddick still in non contact so he's still got to get that shoulder rehab them back he's out there he's just not participating in the contact stuff so like we haven't even scratched the surface yet with him when he's back fully healthy.

When they ran the first group out there it was no surprise that the first two linebackers out were Xavier Atkins and Eliza Melinda's man the true sophomore and a red shirt I guess he'd be a I guess D.B.O. would be a red shirt sophomore I think last year he was a red shirt freshman right coming from from LSU regardless young guys that are ballers like Eliza Melinda's is on reason we scored three points against Kentucky we would have been blanked.

But he had he had an interception and ran it back into the you know close to the red zone and then we kicked the field goal.

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He's just a player you could see it on his high school film and I knew that kid when he got here it was going to be you're going to have to tease him to keep him off the field and now he's worked his way into being the starting you know the second guy out so I don't think it's an argument I don't think it's a question that linebacker is the most talented group on like without a doubt top the bottom pound for pound on on the team.

It felt like there was a lot of pressure on the market is ready. How much easier do you think not easier but how much pressure do you think is all of them now that he knows he's got a couple guys in there he can trust to be the stars that all their needs.

I feel like there's going to be a lot of trust in that linebacker room that everybody is physically capable will know their assignments and they can just get after it remember there was no coaching change on the defensive side for them.

They this is the same system they understand durkins expectations but feels like riddock may be able to play a little bit more free with with Elijah Melinda is being in there and having his back and being healthy.

You know he he had a bum shoulder all year last year and then you know he got his labor and repaired in the off season so that's what that's another thing like remember his freshman year he was like a gadget guy.

Okay and then your sophomore year you want to become a more well-rounded player and he did have I think it had a lot of expectations to be the guy his sophomore year and then you're battling through an injury and then these other guys are emerging too.

So this year it's sort of like a reset your fresh start and get out there once you're healthy and you're right play free and not so tight and without so much pressure to be you know to be the guy because there's no doubt.

Xavier is the guy like and everybody believes he's the guy everybody on the team believes he's the guy that's coaching staff.

So you don't have to have that pressure just go in whenever your numbers called and make place.

Yeah look plays he did make you talking about that interception being the only reason Auburn scored versus Kentucky.

I know Auburn hopes he has more moments like that this coming season because if he does it's going to be mean Auburn is headed the right direction.

Now remember this was a defense that until Vanderbilt had not given up 24 points more than 24 points to any team and then the damn finally broke against Vanderbilt but also the offense kind of broke their damn so to speak and scored almost 40 in that game.

But it's you know he was already a physical monster coming in as a true freshman today the guy I saw looks even more physically mature and if he's got the mental part of the game.

He's going to be able to play he's play fast and I would not be surprised if he makes some lists at the end of the season.

What's the what's the what's the award for best live actor college football?

I don't know I don't know that's a good question. Yeah.

What why did I think that?

But this was the kickers award.

It's but this is a just annual honor recognizing the top linebacker.

I feel like all this Auburn might have.

A couple of good guys type guys in that room right now don't you think?

Yeah at least two and the Marcus Riddick has every bit of the ability.

The thing is like I don't know how many football teams you're going to play from an offensive standpoint that are going to require you to play more than two linebackers.

You know what I mean like there's just you don't have those that old Tampa two where you got you know three linebackers out there very often so you're going to have two guys.

Maybe some were going to have one so not a lot of map.

I mean not a lot of snaps to go around but when they get their number call you got man you got some really good option.

I'm telling you rice Diaz is going to do not sleep on him.

He may be the most physically which is crazy to think about.

He may be more athletically gifted than than any other running back in high school.

I mean he's he's a beast.

Yeah I'm glad that you're bringing that up because last year was Xavier Act ends that I definitely overlooked much to my own detriment.

Don't want to overlook any of those guys this year so we'll keep an eye on Bryce as well.

But let's get to the break.

And when we come back we're going to talk about who the second best group on the team is in our opinion we'll talk about that right after a quick word from our sponsors.

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Who is the second best group on the team?

My friend Zach Blackerby seems to think that it's the running backs.

Possibly.

But I'm not so fast, my friend.

Those safeties are pretty good too.

What does Colorado think the second best group on the team is?

I mean, this is a good looking running back room.

Jerry, we talked to today, Bryce of Washington.

He's bigger than I thought he was.

Yeah, I did a whole show about how I'm just shocked at how big he was several weeks ago.

I think I'm with you though, man.

I think I'm going with safeties.

Let me tell you why.

Okay.

Caleb Harris.

Solid dude.

Okay.

Solid starter last year.

Maybe had not as good of a sophomore year as his freshman year, but still a solid player.

He's not even, he didn't go out with the ones today.

Anquan Fagans and Eric Winners did.

And then, so you still got Caleb Harris running with the twos.

And then you forget.

Champ Anthony's still coming back from injury and getting healthy.

He was in the indoor work in the day.

So that's that four man group right there.

That's a 2D where all four of them could start at a lot of places in the SEC.

That's a really, really good room.

And then you got Jacobi Matthews with that could play.

You brought in Jack LaTrell from Arizona.

He Jack still in a non-contact Jersey, but you know, he's got a lot of experience.

I'm digging that safety room.

I think they got a very, very high upside.

Yeah, the safety room.

Look, hard.

You know, I want to believe that some position group on offense will jump into this discussion at some point,

which is why I want it badly to be the running backs.

If he was the offensive line at some point in the next couple of years, I'd be even more ecstatic.

See, that's what I'm about to, that was what I was about to say.

Like, it wouldn't shock me.

I'm seeing some stuff on that offensive line that I'm loving.

Like, I'm seeing some stuff out there that I'm loving.

As far as guys getting where guys are playing and at the level they're playing.

I'm loving.

I'm loving the flexibility that Todd Buster gives you.

I'm loving that Derek Plas.

It seems to have locked down left guard and like he's only a red shirt freshman.

So he's going to get to play a ton of football at Auburn.

I love the cold best at center.

I love Joe Simmons at tackle.

And then you got so many options competing at that right guard position.

And then you got Stanton or Mill whenever he gets healthy.

I think that offensive line could be a sneaky good position group on that on that side of the ball.

Interesting.

There are 17 guys in that group right now.

Man, this is another one that they brag on, you know, a transfer from Akron.

It's like every there's so much good vibes around a lot of the guys.

They they brought in in that room and there's a pile of them.

Like you said, I asked Alice Goldish earlier this week about whether his prayers were answered.

He has a prayer for his offensive line.

And he joked with me and said, yes, he feels like those prayers have been somewhat answered.

I hope they're answered to because the offensive line.

I said this what I recorded with Zach earlier today.

I'm going to say it again here.

Byron Brown to me is going to be the difference between a team that just barely makes a bowl game and a team that smashes the over at eight.

Right.

Like the over under for Auburn is six and a half right now.

If Auburn is going to hit the over this season, it's going to be because of Byron Brown.

Yeah.

Like flat out.

Right.

And I will die on that hill all day every day.

Now, these are per Fandall right Auburn over under six after you're getting minus 118 on the over Kyle.

A minus 104 on the under.

I'm hammering the over if I'm if I'm a betting man.

Now in the SEC, here's what it looks like for all the teams joining Auburn at six and a half is South Carolina.

Missouri slides in there at six and a half of Vanderbilt slides in there at six and a half.

That's a little bit of an upgrade for them.

And it was a tier right above Auburn at seven and a half and only a few schools there Tennessee Ole Miss Oklahoma and Florida all have seven and a half.

Expectations on them the six and a half seven and a half group super super interesting.

Now of those teams at seven and a half Auburn has Florida on the schedule.

They got Ole Miss on the schedule Oklahoma dropped off the schedule this year, but they got Tennessee on the schedule.

So three out of the four teams at seven and a half are on Auburn schedule and Auburn travels to Tennessee.

They travel to Ole Miss and Florida comes to the planes.

I again, Byron Brown going to be the difference between again, a team that goes hits the under at six, but still makes a bowl game.

And if he plays to his potential, I think they hit the over at eight.

That offensive line being above average will be the difference between a ceiling at eight Kyle and a team that has a chance to have a say in how the SEC race plays out.

Now hear me out.

I'm not talking about winning the SEC.

I'm talking about knocking some teams off this schedule right that have championship aspirations and Auburn saying not so fast, my friend.

Hold this L and good luck after you play us.

So, you know, those teams at nine and a half, there are three teams with a nine and a half expectation LSU, Georgia and Texas.

Two out of those three teams are on Auburn schedule and both of them are in the month of October.

They're back to back.

Yep.

That's right.

At Georgia and at LSU comes to the planes.

No by-week in between.

There's only one by-week and it rests between Tennessee and Georgia in the month of October.

Offensive line, man.

If they can rise to the occasion and finish as the second best group on the team, Auburn might win nine football games.

I think the way you describe that, I think, was perfect.

By-R-Brown raises your floor and then the offensive line playing well may raise your ceiling.

Put your foot on it.

Make it that much more dangerous.

Couldn't agree more.

And I love that.

I love that net eight to nine win mark as maybe the eight win mark is like a good bench mark.

And then with excellent offensive line play, you could really, you know, sky's the limit, I think.

Yeah.

Look, By-R-Brown, that's not running for his life.

It's going to be a scary By-R-Brown in the SEC, I think.

I'll tell you what, By-R-Brown running for his life is pretty scary too.

Yeah, he is.

He is.

I mean, he's scary dude.

I either way.

But if you're going to give him time to just sit down there and figure out how he wants to take you out, good luck with that.

He's going to be smiling when he does it.

Dude, just smile.

That's that's this real psychos that are scary.

Oh, my goodness.

He's smiling and laughing the whole time he's doing it.

It's crazy.

Running, duken, scoring touchdowns and dancing with the cheerleaders.

You love to see it.

Yeah.

By-R-Brown behind an offensive line that could be, you know, we hope is, again, in one of those top position groups.

Here would be a prayer answered for Auburn, for Alice Goldish and Auburn fans.

Kyle, we're going to go on to get out of here.

I want to thank you for joining me on today's show.

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Who is the best position group on the team?

Is it Eliza Melinda's Xavier Atkins, the Marcus Riddick and the linebackers?

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