Observations from 10th practice

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Observations from Auburn’s 10th practice of spring

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

4-5 minutes

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Robby Ashford (9) looks to pass during a spring scrimmage on Friday, March 25, 2022, at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics

Auburn held its 10th practice of the spring on Friday, with the Tigers getting in work at Jordan-Hare Stadium in the early evening. Several high school coaches were on hand to take in the day’s practice, as Bryan Harsin and his staff held a coaching clinic throughout the day.

Media was granted about 20 minutes to view practice. Here are a few observations from the viewing period:

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-- During the final period of the viewing window, Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada -- still working in a yellow jersey -- got some reps with the first-team offensive line and running back Tank Bigsby. The period was just working on handoffs, with the first-team line getting reps against the first-team defensive front. It’s the first time this spring we have seen Calzada get work with the starting unit.

-- After Calzada, freshman Holden Geriner got reps with the second-team offense in the same drill.

-- While it’s the first time Calzada has publicly gotten work with the starting line, I’m not sure how much should be read into that at this point. T.J. Finley and Oregon transfer Robby Ashford, who have been the first two quarterbacks in the rotation throughout the spring, were on the far end of the field during the final period. They were throwing passes near the end zone to all the wide receivers, with the cornerbacks working in coverage.

-- The lineups for the first and second units were largely unchanged at this point. The first offensive line included Kilian Zierer at left tackle, Kameron Stutts at left guard, Jalil Irvin at center, Tate Johnson at right guard and Alec Jackson at right tackle. Jackson and Brenden Coffey rotated at right tackle throughout the periods.

-- Brandon Frazier and Luke Deal lined up as in-line tight ends with the first-team offense during that final period of work.

-- During one period of work near the goal line, when it was just offensive line lining up against the defensive line, E.J. Harris and Cort Bradley lined up as sixth and seventh linemen in a jumbo set.

-- The first-team defensive line included Derick Hall at edge, Marcus Harris and Jayson Jones on the interior, with Colby Wooden on the end. Hall and Eku Leota rotated at the edge spot.

-- During position drills, the quarterback rotation remained Finley, Ashford, Geriner, Calzada. Finley was paired with Bigsby, while Ashford worked with running back Sean Jackson. Geriner got reps with Jordon Ingram. Calzada got reps with walk-on Justin Jones. Quarterbacks also spent time working on throws to the back-corner of the end zone to wide receivers, as well as reps making throws over the middle to tight ends.

-- Linebackers during position drills worked on pursuit of ball-carriers in the backfield, and then on loose-ball drills, with linebackers coach Christian Robinson rolling the ball on the ground and the linebackers working on scooping it up.

-- Defensive backs spent part of the position period working on backpedaling and making a break on the ball for interceptions.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.