Auburn Football: Defensive Depth Chart Projections – Nose Guard
Jan 1, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Auburn Tigers defensive linemen Montravius Adams (1) chases down the ball carrier in the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 Outback Bowl at Raymond James Stadium. The Badgers defeated the Tigers 34-31 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
The Tigers have a new defensive coordinator and a new defense. So, our Auburn defensive depth chart projections takes a look at the new nose guard position.
As you know, Will Muschamp is the new defensive coordinator of the Auburn football team. With a new defensive coordinator comes a new defense, and projections and speculation as to who will play in what positions.
Following our first two defensive depth chart projections – Buck and Defensive End – we take a look at the nose guard position. Auburn has talent on hand already, and the Tigers will add a handful of new recruits to the mix as well.
“I think the front seven is very strong,” Muschamp said at his introductory press conference. “Just looking at some the guys up front. I recruited a bunch of them, so I am looking forward to coaching some of them who turned me down.”
With Carl Lawson back from his injury, starters Gimel President and DaVonte Lambert and reserve Elijah Daniel all expected to return in 2014, the Tigers will have depth on the defensive line.
That’s a good thing because Muschamp would ideally like to play between eight and ten defensive linemen each game. However, the Tigers will be inexperienced on the interior in 2015 with the losses of seniors Angelo Blackson, Ben Bradley, Jeff Whitaker and Gabe Wright.
Blackson, Bradley and Wright each played in all 13 games for the Tigers in 2014, while injuries limited Whitaker to nine games. With the senior quartet gone – as well as walk-on Brian Walsh, who had one year of eligibility remaining – finding the right mix inside is going to be tricky, especially when it comes to the nose guard position.
For those that don’t already know, generally, a nose guard is a space eater inside that takes on double teams with regularity and creates piles at the line of scrimmage, which frees up and allows the linebackers behind him to make plays.
Commonly, a nose guard weighs in at 300 pounds or more, and the Tigers roster is light (pun semi-intended) on players that big. However, there is a handful of players that are likely to factor in at the nose in 2015.
Next: Montravius Adams