AU NOTEBOOK: Chizik brings new format to drills

If you drove by the Auburn practice fields sometime Wednesday evening, you might have thought the Tigers lost half their team to the severe thunderstorms earlier in the day.

No cause for concern. It’s just another Gene Chizik wrinkle to Auburn’s practice protocol.

The Tigers split into two groups and took the field at different times Wednesday. They plan to do it a few more times, too.

“We were just trying to be a little bit creative in the ways we can give guys reps,” Chizik said, “especially to find the young guys that might be able to help us.”

When the first group was on the field, the second group spent time lifting weights and running through conditioning drills inside the John H. Watson Fieldhouse. During the middle, both groups came together and ran through special teams drills, quarterback Neil Caudle said.

The first group to take the field Wednesday was largely made up of veterans. Four of Auburn’s more highly touted signees — wide receivers Emory Blake and DeAngelo Benton, tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen and defensive tackle Nick Fairley — were also part of the first group.

The second group was composed of mostly freshmen and walk-ons, with the exception of quarterback Chris Todd and wide receiver Montez Billings. Both players did not practice during the spring.

Chizik cautioned against deducing a pecking order from the perceived hierarchy.

“Don’t read into it,” Chizik said. “There was no rhyme or reason.”

Pierre-Louis absent, still on team
Speedy wide receiver Phillip Pierre-Louis was not listed on the official roster distributed Wednesday, but Chizik said he was still a member of the team.

Pierre-Louis will return to the team when school starts, said Chizik, who would not disclose the reason for Pierre-Louis’ absence. It is not injury-related, he said.

“He’s got some personal things that he’s dealing with and it might be sooner than that,” wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor said.

Pierre-Louis tore his anterior cruciate ligament on the first play of the 2008 season and was sidelined the rest of the year. He practiced with the wide receivers throughout the spring, but wore an orange, non-contact jersey for the duration.

Meanwhile, walk-on tailback Justin Albert, who had a strong showing this spring, has left the team for undisclosed reasons.

Two freshmen gone, two still in limbo
Freshmen defensive end Terrance Coleman and defensive tackle Josh Jackson did not qualify academically and will pursue football at the junior-college level, Chizik said Wednesday.

“Obviously we wish them well,” Chizik said. “They’re great kids with a great future.”

Though Chizik would not name the two players who are still waiting from the NCAA Clearinghouse, it is safe to assume, by process of elimination, that they are safety Daren Bates and cornerback Taikwon Paige.

Coleman and Jackson are the fourth and fifth 2009 signees to fail to qualify. Wide receiver LaVoyd James, cornerback Reggie Taylor and athlete Izauea Lanier are the others.

Running back Brandon Jacobs was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in June’s Major League Baseball draft and is expected to sign a contract.

Cooper back at tight end
Freshman Robert Cooper, who played quarterback in his Daphne High School days, is listed as a tight end on Auburn’s official roster.

Chizik wouldn’t rule out the possibility of him switching positions, but it is unlikely that he’ll factor into the quarterback competition.

“With all of our young guys we don’t really know,” Chizik said. “It’s hard to say after one day what situation you’re going to find these guys in. Robert’s a big kid who’s a really good athlete and can do a lot of different things.”

Cooper was only promised a grayshirt when he signed with Auburn but was later awarded a scholarship. A Mobile Press-Register story in May reported that Cooper said he would be given a shot at Auburn’s open quarterback job.

“He’s a great kid,” Chizik said. “He’ll do anything to help the team.”

Injury update…sort of
Safety Mike McNeil, who broke his leg during a spring scrimmage, was dressed out at practice Wednesday, but did not participate in any drills.

McNeil, who started every game last year as a sophomore, did not have a brace or cast on either of his legs.

Wide receiver Tim Hawthorne sat out practice Wednesday and will likely be out for the foreseeable future with an injured foot/ankle. Hawthorne, a junior, was wearing a protective boot midway up his right shin.

Taylor said there was no timetable for Hawthorne’s return.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Barrett Trotter (right ACL tear) was at practice but did not dress.

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