Jeremy Johnson expected to command offense on A-Day

AUBURN – Rain or shine the expectation is for Auburn's offense to have a good showing on A-Day.

With Jeremy Johnson going through his second A-Day game, and first as the presumptive starter, Auburn coach Gus Malzahn wants to see his quarterback put points on the board and "to have more of a control over the offense."

Said Malzahn, "The bottom line is get the offense in the end zone."

Johnson went a combined 9 for 21 for 130 yards with a touchdown with both the first and second-team units last year, leaving plenty of room for improvement Saturday afternoon.

The Montgomery native will be splitting reps with backup Sean White on the first-team and could see time on the second team as well during Saturday's 48-minute scrimmage.

If Johnson were to have the kind of performance Nick Marshall did a year ago, with 236 yards and four scores in the air en route to being named the Offensive MVP, it would certainly silence anyone still foolish enough to believe there's a quarterback competition on the Plains.

Though the quarterbacks won't be live the defense will be allowed to bring pressure, which is unusual for a spring game.

The defense will also have to try and contain a trio of backs in Jovon Robinson, who is aiming for 100 rushing yards, Roc Thomas and Peyton Barber, each of whom are capable of big plays.

With Will Muschamp making his return to the home crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium the defense wants to show its progress this spring.

"Very excited because people look at Auburn has an offensive team," defensive tackle Maurice Swain said. "We want to change their mindset. Auburn started as a defensive team, ever since I've been a fan. We're just trying to get back to it."

Weather could play a big role in the game though.

As of 4 p.m. Friday the National Weather Service forecast called for a 30-50 percent chance of rain and thunder for Saturday's 1 p.m. kickoff.

Earlier in the week Malzahn said inclement weather wouldn't alter the team's game plan.

However, given the growing list of injuries, especially in the secondary where starting corner Jonathan Jones is officially done for the spring following foot surgery, backup T.J. Davis (right ACL) is out indefinitely and Josh Holsey and Tray Matthews are on the mend, it'll be very important to get through the day unscathed.

Whether projected starting left guard Alex Kozan (back) and defensive end/Buck linebacker Carl Lawson (knee) will play is still in question as they were both held out of the two prior spring scrimmages.

"They're being smart, trying to keep me out of harm's way," Kozan said. "Hopefully I'll get to play. But we'll see what happens."

With so many players expected to be held out there will be ample opportunity for less proven players to make a name for themselves.

"Those guys that played just a little bit, this will be their first time to really play and really show what they can do," Malzahn said. "We got a lot of guys competing for spots next year as far as getting through with spring and who we count on."

Even when injuries were not a concern last year, 12 players got carries and 12 had receptions, many with less proven track records to that point.

Marshall, Cameron Artis-Payne and D'haquille Williams have shined during the past two A-Day games, while the defense has seen Justin Garrett and Kenny Flowers earn MVP recognition in recent years and Brandon King and Cameron Toney also had productive days a year ago.

Malzahn wants to see how his team responds to playing in front of a crowd and who raises their game in the fourteenth practice of the spring.

"There's been one or two guys that really raise their level," Malzahn said. "Really hoping to see that because guys react different when you get in front of a crowd and hopefully they react different in a positive way."