AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Chizik: O-line to be a priority

Auburn added just two offensive linemen with this year’s recruiting class and none the year before.

It lost two of its 2008 starting five (Jason Bosley and Tyronne Green) to graduation.

It takes five big bodies to fill an offensive line.

Some time soon, the Tigers will have to balance the equation.

That time, it is hoped, will be 2010, coach Gene Chizik said. It’s a “no-brainer.”

“There’s got to be a major emphasis on offensive linemen,” Chizik said. “We need upgrades everywhere, but that’s glaring.”

When Chizik was hired, he inherited a class of 26 commitments that included four offensive linemen. Only one, three-star tackle Andre Harris, signed with Auburn.

Auburn made a strong, late push at four-star tackle Aubrey Phillips and even got him on campus days before Signing Day. Phillips, a Tennessee commitment at the time, promised a surprise on Signing Day, but ended up signing with Florida State.

Chizik and staff made a late offer to Auburn High’s John Sullen, who committed to the Tigers two weeks before Signing Day and gave them more than just one lineman for the future.

“We targeted more hoping to get them, but I didn’t want to settle for ones,” Chizik said. “I’d rather just shoot for the ones that we really want. If we don’t get them, let’s start on an even playing field and go get ’em next year. That’s more of where we were.”

Auburn returns two regular starters (tackles Ryan Pugh and Lee Ziemba) and two that split time at right guard (Mike Berry and Byron Isom). Pugh appears to be the front-runner to replace Bosley at center, which will open up a spot at tackle for junior Andrew McCain, A.J. Greene and others to gun for.

One year from now, Chizik hopes to have a deeper field of viable candidates.

“You’d like to start with tackles,” Chizik said. “Those are the hardest ones to find. That’s where we’d like to start.”

Linebackers also an area of concern
On the defensive side of the ball, Chizik said linebackers would be a major focus in the team’s recruiting efforts for 2010.

“I think that’s the other glaring thing that’s out there for us,” Chizik said. “From the naked eye, that’s probably the first thing you’d see.”

Auburn returns just two players, MLB Josh Bynes and OLB Craig Stevens, who saw major playing time at the position. Spencer Pybus, an All-SEC freshman, could see much more action.

Auburn signed three linebackers in this year’s recruiting class, including junior-college transfer Eltoro Freeman. Freeman, who is already enrolled and will participate in spring practice, could be thrust into a major role immediately.

“He’s what you’re looking for at that position,” Chizik said. “He’s physical. He runs well. He’s excited about being at Auburn.

“Coach (Ted) Roof is going to do a great job of working with him and getting him prepared to fit in this defense somewhere and challenge for a job.”

Film guru
The past two months have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Chizik.

It’s been so busy that it’s prevented him from doing enough of his favorite thing as a coach: watching film.

“As soon as some of these administrative things slow down … I’ll be able to jump into it full bore,” Chizik said. “If I had my wishes, I’d have already watched the season three or four times, but I haven’t had the chance to do that yet. It’ll get to that point.”

Chizik said his major goal while watching film is to “gather information” to see what the team “can and can’t do physically and athletically and things of that nature.”

“I know what we have here, but I want to know it more, know it better,” Chizik said. “That really gives us an idea and a direction of where we go from here as far as recruiting.

“You have to have a good sense of both of what you’re bringing in and what you’ve got.”

agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561

Read Andrew Gribble's blog here.