AU NOTEBOOK: Offensive line faces reshuffling

True freshman John Sullen handled his short-notice starting assignment with deft aplomb, Gene Chizik said Sunday, but it looks like he’ll have some company behind him at practice this week.

Reserves Bart Eddins and Jared Cooper are now “part of the equation” in filling the void left by right guard Byron Isom, who was suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules before Saturday’s game against Ball State.

It’s uncertain when or if Isom will return, but the talk Sunday was about moving forward with a plan in place.

“It’s something we’ve got a plan for and we’re continuously working the plan on a rotation with some guys,” Chizik said. “Bart’s certainly a guy who’s been around a long time and knows a lot about football. He’s definitely part of the equation. Jared Cooper is part of the equation.

“We’ll just kind of go day by day on that and see where it goes.”

Chizik praised Sullen’s efforts with caution.

“I know that, as our whole football team goes, he’s going to have to improve a lot,” Chizik said. “This is a great Tennessee defense. Not good, they’re great.”

Left guard Mike Berry said the veteran-laden unit rallied behind Sullen.

“He wasn’t too far behind,” Berry said. “We just helped him with the little things, and he did a good job.”

Two redshirts lost in victory
Defensive tackle Jamar Travis and offensive lineman Andre Harris both got on the field Saturday, ending any possibility of a redshirt season for the pair.

Travis played on special teams and even got to touch the ball when he awkwardly fair caught a Ball State kickoff.

“Wasn’t that awesome?” Chizik said. “Caught it twice. Two catches.”

Harris, meanwhile, played at tackle in the fourth quarter.

Both players were to ideally sit out the entire season, but injury circumstances and continuous depth concerns forced the issue, Chizik said.

“They all know the lay of the land,” Chizik said. “We talk to them and say ‘Look, this might not have been our intent Game 1, but this is where we’re at now.’ It’s just kind of where we’re at.”

Injury update
Chizik, in typical fashion, did not go into specifics about the injuries suffered by Onterio McCalebb and Kodi Burns in Saturday’s game, but McCalebb was allowed to speak for himself — a telling sign that his injury was minor

“I feel a lot better,” said McCalebb, who was not limping or wearing a noticeable brace. “I’m going to play Saturday.”

McCalebb turned his ankle on a botched fake punt attempt in the second quarter. He walked the sidelines during the second half, but did not return to action.

If the game were closer, he would have been playing, he said.

Burns injured his quadriceps muscle on his first carry of the game and did not return to the field.

“We’ll know more by Tuesday–ish,” Chizik said.

If Burns is unavailable, Chizik said the Tigers have other players who can fill his void in the Wildcat formation. Auburn did not run the formation after Burns’ injury.

“Kodi is our guy because he brings some other things, some potential to that formation,” Chizik said. “But we have other people who can do it, as well.”

Tailback Ben Tate wore an ice pack on his left shoulder leaving practice Sunday, nursing an injury he suffered the day before. He said it was minor and it wouldn’t prevent him playing.

Punt talk
The numbers got even uglier after Saturday’s special-teams meltdown of sorts, and all Chizik could offer was a wry smile when the topic was broached.

The Tigers are now 111th in the nation in punt returns, averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per return. Anthony Gulley was yanked after a lost fumble and a muff in the first half and was replaced by Quindarius Carr.

That’s not the end-all, be-all, Chizik said.

“We’ll continue to say the same things every day,” Chizik said. “Somebody’s just got to step up to the plate. We’re spending a lot of time on it, but they’ve got to do it in a game.

“It’s really, really disappointing right now … we still can’t find somebody to catch a ball.”

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