Designed runs forcing Todd to flash the jets

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Quarterback Chris Todd often will throw the ball out of bounds before tucking and running up the field, but, lately, he hasn’t had much of a choice.

Offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has drawn up a few designed runs for the quarterback who does not claim to be fleet of foot.

“I think that anytime you can add a little wrinkle and be able to keep defenses honest in some certain areas, I think that’s important,” Todd said. “We’ve been able to add different wrinkles throughout the season and I think that’s just another thing that we can add to help out.”

The runs have drawn mixed reviews among his peers in the film room.

“Some people are excited that I’m running. Some people think I look goofy,” Todd said. “It’s really depending on the day and what it looks like.”

A positive sign
Eltoro Freeman didn’t have an ideal start to Saturday’s game, as he played a part in allowing Ole Miss’ Brandon Bolden to rip off a 43-yard gain on a short pass through his area of the field.

Freeman spent some extra time on the bench during the first quarter before returning to his regular rotation schedule as Auburn’s starting weakside linebacker.

He finished with a team-high nine tackles, including a quarterback hurry that brought quarterback Jevan Snead down before he finished his three-step drop.

“I think that’s a big deal and I think that was a major, major step for him (Saturday),” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said of Freeman, who briefly left the team because of frustration that came as a result of his lack of production.

“In the past when he would make a mistake he’d really get down on himself. Part of it is growing up and understanding that we’re all going to make mistakes, but it’s not if you make them, it’s how you handle them.”

(Photo credit: Todd Van Emst)