Auburn depth chart analysis: Left tackle

This is the first of a 24-part series detailing Auburn's projected depth chart heading into the 2015 season. This comes after the Tigers concluded spring practice and will include insight from nearly every coach on the staff.

AUBURN – Like several other positions on Auburn's offensive line, left tackle has a clear starter and a capable backup.

Shon Coleman started all 13 games last season is essentially a lock to retain the job in the fall while Robert Leff is next in line.

It was not a stellar debut season for Coleman, who had some particularly poor outings against Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Georgia, but the coaching staff believes the growing pains are all but over for him.

Leff, who started with the first-team offense in place of an injured Coleman on A-Day, has earned the confidence of his coaches and peers. After three years of development the Fairhope native had what was universally considered a strong spring and is one of what offensive line coach J.B. Grimes believes is a seven-deep group of starting caliber O-linemen.

The Two-Deep

Shon Coleman (6-foot-6, 313 pounds, junior)
Robert Leff (6-foot-6, 288 pounds, junior)

Gus Malzahn's take

"Shon did some very good things last year but it was his first real football in four years. We truly believe after he's got that year under his belt and the experience that goes with that -- he's a very smart individual, he's very strong, he's very talented -- we really feel like now he'll be able to loosen up and play. We really believe he has a chance to be a really good left tackle in this league."

Starter

A year ago, Coleman was battling Patrick Miller to take over the starting job following the departure of Greg Robinson.

Coleman won the most heated position competition of last offseason and started every game and he hopes to have a second season much like Robinson did en route to being the No. 2 pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

"He had his first year and then did his thing his second year," Coleman said. "Obviously I'm trying to follow the same footsteps. Last year was my first year and this year I'm just trying to go out there and let it all go. Just work on things this spring and summer and use it on the field next year."

Coleman has looked back at his bad games from 2014 to learn from his mistakes, starting with his footwork.

Grimes wants the Memphis native to play with more confidence and refine his technique to matchup his physical capabilities.

"He's got that (Greg Robinson) type of ability, he's got to learn to trust his technique," Grimes said. "He'll be a better player this year. He needed this year, he needed another year."

Backup

Leff got more reps this spring than in past years thanks to being higher on the depth chart.

With Coleman going down with a minor injury the final week of spring, Leff got the chance to rep with the first-team offense, and though it was against the second-team defense, did very well.

"I learned Robert Leff has played himself into being a quality, quality -- at least a backup," Grimes said, "and a guy you know if you put him in the game he can make some things happen."

Leff plans to spend a lot of time in the weight room this summer to add to his 288-pound frame before the season.

He is clearly the backup on the left side and possibly the top option on the right side as well, though that is less certain.

Next Wave

Will Adams (6-foot-7, 303 pounds, junior) has come "a tremendous distance" in the past two years, according to Grimes. He started at left tackle with the second-team offense one A-Day, partly out of necessity, but is probably the backup right tackle as of now.

Bailey Sharp (6-foot-5, 293 pounds, freshman) got to start at right tackle with the second-team on A-Day. Like the other true freshmen on the O-line, Sharp is highly likely to redshirt this fall.

Summer Arrivals

Mike Horton (6-foot-4, 310 pounds) was a late addition to Auburn's recruiting class, thought to be headed to Florida before Will Muschamp and Travaris Robinson came to the Plains.

Quotable

"At every position that's one of your big concerns, is who's going to be not only the starter, but who's the next guy up if something happens. Robert's a guy now that's been here a couple of years; he's a smart kid, got good size, good athleticism and really expecting a lot out of him next year and thought he had a pretty good spring overall." – Rhett Lashlee