Spotlight on Braden Smith

[StatTiger 3,188]

Freshman Braden Smith has seen mop up duty this season as an offensive tackle but the coaching staff has transitioned him to TE just as they did with Shon Coleman last season. It is a great way of getting him on the field during critical moments of the game and for Smith to gain valuable playing-experience. As a tightend he basically becomes a sixth offensive lineman on the field, giving the Tigers the ability to be more physical up front.

The play...

On this play Auburn has a 1st & 10 at the MSU 22-yard line. Auburn comes out in a 3-WR set with Braden Smith lined up as a TE, adjacent to the RT on the line. The play is a designed QB run or sweep to the wide side of the field. At the snap Nick Marshall fakes the inside give to CAP from a read-option look. The OLB plays the inside give to CAP as Marshall keeps and sprints to the edge.

As Marshall sprints to the edge he hesitates as if to throw a quick pass to Marcus Davis, which keeps the field corner on the perimeter to defend the pass-option. Braden Smith engages the MLB, sealing him inside as Marshall turns the corner and heads up field. As Marshall sprints into the secondary, Braden Smith drives the MLB from the 19-yard line all the way to the MSU 3-yard line.

Marshall picks up 11-yards and an Auburn first down. Smith for a big man is quick, fluid and athletic. He looked like a bull on skates, relentless in dominating the obstacle in front of him. It is easy to see why Coach J.B. Grimes is so high on the true freshman and Smith's potential to be a great OL.

Watch the video (The above play occurs at the 1:35 mark of the video)...

[Auburn4life 24]

Good spotlight. Without that blocking this play doesn't get 11-yrds. Our blocking doesn't seem to be as good overall as last year, but not that its bad just not as good.

[Newbomb 193]

Rumors have him working at guard with the 1's this week.

[Oregon Tiger 0]

Rumors have him working at guard with the 1's this week.

With the way Slade played against MSU, that has got to be a good thing.

[ValleyTiger 2,894]

Smith is already showing to be a great run blocker, when he gets his techniques solid whoa watch out! He's another 1st rounder at tackle.

BTW, rumors should listen more attentively to his interview...

[maxwere 82]

Slade isn't really getting it done for me. Hate to run the guy down, b/c I appreciate what he's done for this program, but he's not doing very much for us this year and Saturday he was just a huge liability (as in -11 pts). That post/corner play was probably called last Wednesday and you're gonna let your guy rush up field into the passing lane? That's a true freshman mistake not a guy with his experience. Kozan technically was our best OL last year and is sorely missed (more than Prosch or Robinson). Guards are a big deal in this offense. We need someone who's big, fast, mean and a quick study. Who knows, the bench might just be the thing than gets Slade playing better? The fact that Braden got the podium tells me practice this week isn't going to be very congenial either for the experienced guys.

[Randman5000 4,227]

It seems like though that kozan and danzy are next years guards, maybe Braden is future RT. Or he plays guard as a junior.

[around4ever 4,139]

I wondered who #91 was. He is going to be a special player, possibly very soon.