SPORTS

Rodney Garner: Departure of Dee Ford leaves a 'major void'

James Crepea
Montgomery Advertiser
Defensive line coach Rodney Garner knows replacing Dee Ford will be a tough task for the Auburn defense.

AUBURN -- Rodney Garner knows replacing Dee Ford won't be easy.

The veteran defensive line coach has seen his share of great pass rushers, with Ford, who was drafted in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs last week, becoming the sixth first-round NFL Draft pick he helped produce.

Ford led Auburn in sacks each of the last two seasons, including 10 1/2 in 12 games last season when Garner estimated his left defensive end was "75 percent" healthy.

"He probably left five sacks on the field," Garner said.

Now Garner has to find who will lead his room of pass rushers in the fall.

"Obviously that's a major void," he said. "Those are some big shoes to fill."

Spring practice did not do much to solve the problem as the defensive line was ravaged by injuries.

Carl Lawson missed A-Day, Elijah Daniel missed several practices with a groin injury, LaDarius Owens was out all of spring with a foot injury, Keymiya Harrell missed all of spring with a knee injury, Tyler Nero and JaBrian Niles missed most of spring due to undisclosed ailments.

"It's hard to make the club from the tub," Garner said of Harrell specifically, but the sentiment carries over to everyone.

Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said Lawson, who had four sacks as a true freshman last season, is a "more complete player" than Ford.

Garner felt Lawson was "having a really good spring" prior to his late injury.

Fans will look to Lawson to be the heir apparent to Ford but Garner wants better production across the board.

"I thought what played into our success last year it ended up with Dee, he definitely set the tone, but there were some other productive guys that came up in big situations too," Garner said. "To be a good football team you got to have more than one guy. If you have one guy, anybody's going to scheme you and take that one guy away.

"This is the best league in America. If you got one player, then that player, he's not going to dominate. You better have some other guys that can compliment him so hopefully guys will step up."

Gabe Wright and Montravius Adams spent time at end in the "rhino package," which Garner felt was a "really good experiment" as the Tigers prepare for heavy run teams who feature two and three tight ends, like season-opening opponent Arkansas.

"I think they both showed flashes that they can actually make plays at that position," Garner said, "and be able to transition back inside to the three technique too."

Wright, Angelo Blackson, Jeff Whitaker, Ben Bradley and Owens will be the torchbearers inside the defensive line room.

Wright helped come up with the team's slogan – TnTXIII – for this season and Whitaker, back for his fifth year after missing last season with a knee injury, is looked at as one of the team's leaders.

"We've got five seniors," Garner said, "and those guys need to really will their personalities and their goals and their dreams and what they want their legacy to be about because this is their team."