|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
New No. 1 Cobb jumps past 2 other QBs as Auburn finishes spring
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Daniel Cobb knows a strong finish to spring practice only guarantees that he'll be Auburn's No. 1 quarterback entering fall practice. Cobb hit Tim Carter on an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of Auburn's A-Day game Saturday and put some distance between himself and the competition. Cobb passed for 212 yards in the first half, leading four straight scoring drives as the Blue squad beat the Jason Campbell-led White team 26-19. "It's good to hear," said Cobb of the No. 1 designation. "But it's certainly nothing to rest on. If anything, I'm just going to work that much harder." The game was the first chance for most of the announced crowd of 25,016 to get a glimpse at the apparent heirs to departed offensive stars Ben Leard, Rudi Johnson and Ronney Daniels. Cobb showed signs that he could be the guy to replace Leard, finishing 8-of-12 for 216 yards with a TD and an interception. He is a senior, but attempted only six passes last season after transferring from junior college. Cobb was third on the depth chart a few weeks ago, behind Campbell and Jeff Klein. "I thought Daniel Cobb did an outstanding job, in really the first time the pressure was on him in front of an audience," coach Tommy Tuberville said. "No doubt he'll be our first-team quarterback heading into the fall." But, he added, "In the next four months, this position is going to be up for grabs." Campbell, who missed nearly a week with a sprained knee late in the spring, was 6-of-13 for 79 yards with an interception and a late 8-yard TD pass to Jimmy St. Louis. He completed all three fourth-quarter passes after the coaches gave him a shot with the first-team offense for the Blue. "Jason Campbell didn't play as well as we would have hoped," Tuberville said. "He's got a lot to learn, but I think he'll have an opportunity to really improve after he sees what happened in this game." Campbell isn't giving up on winning the starting job before the season opener against Ball State. "I don't think it's over," he said. "A lot can happen between now and Ball State." Klein threw an interception on his first attempt and was 0-for-2 in three series. The tailback hopefuls were mostly quiet until Ronnie Brown broke a 55-yarder late in the third quarter. He gained 83 yards on nine carries with a 1-yard TD run. Chris Butler added 12 carries for 42 yards, playing for both teams. Alabama's Mr. Football, Carnell Williams of Attalla, will also contend for the task of replacing Johnson in the fall. Johnson led the Southeastern Conference in rushing last season but bypassed his senior year for a shot at the NFL. The Tigers are also looking for a go-to receiver to replace Daniels, who is skipping his last two years of eligibility. Carter had two catches for 84 yards and Marcel Willis three for 63. Another candidate, Deandre Green, sat out the spring for personal reasons. The offensive inexperience showed with four interceptions and a lost fumble, plus a few botched snaps. "There was highlights and there was lowlights, but that happens every spring practice," Tuberville said. "We're going to make tons of mistakes offensively [next season]. "The first four or five games are really going to be iffy; we're going to have to play great defense and have a good kicking game." James Callier was the defensive MVP with seven tackles. Phillip Yost kicked two field goals, including a 49-yarder to earn special teams honors.
| ||||||||||||||||||||
