INSIDE SLANT

Auburn got the thing it needed most before the Iron Bowl showdown against rival Alabama—some rest.

The bye week was a long time coming for the depth-plagued Tigers, who played 11 consecutive weeks with few, if any, reserves. And now they should be recharged for No. 3 Alabama, which comes into Jordan-hare Stadium at 11-0, headed to the SEC title game to meet Florida.

Alabama is coming off an easy win over Chattanooga, but is at a bit of a disadvantage with the short week of preparation for the Friday game.

“We really feel like we have a shot of beating Alabama,” tight end Tommy Trott said.

“We don’t think they’re unbeatable. We recognize that they’re a good team, a really good team, but we’ve played like a really good team at times this season as well. And we don’t think there’s any reason we should go in to that game without thinking we have a shot to win.”

The Tigers will have to put forth their best performance to date if they hope to sully Alabama’s perfect record.

And they’ll certainly have to play better than they did last year, when they lost big in Tuscaloosa 36-0—the final game of the Tommy Tuberville era that snapped Auburn’s six-game winning streak against the Tide.

“You can always make up for any loss you have by winning this game,” linebacker Craig Stevens said. “No matter how the season goes, you win this game and it makes everything seem so much better. This game means a lot for the whole organization.”

Tiger players received three days off after their 31-24 loss at Georgia on Nov. 14 and basically got the weekend off, too, before resuming their normal schedule heading into game week.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Excitement might have gotten the best out of Demond Washington when he crossed the goal line against Georgia on Nov. 14 following his 99-yard kickoff return.

Replays showed that Washington came dangerously close to dropping the ball before crossing the goal line. Washington said he thought about picking up the ball, but when the referee’s hands went in the air there was no point.

“Coaches told me to take the ball to the ref next time,” Washington said.

Washington was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week for his effort against Georgia, which included 204 kickoff return yards and a 19-yard punt return.

—A lawsuit was filed last week in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, Ala., against running back Eric Smith, seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the aftermath of a fight at a local hotel in August.

The lawsuit, filed by the victim, Decari Jenkins, 22, seeks compensatory and punitive damages for the injuries and post-injury trauma he suffered at the hands of Smith, 20, and two unnamed Auburn players, according to a copy of the suit provided to the Opelika-Auburn News by the Birmingham law firm Crew & Howell, P.C.

Jenkins, a fifth-year engineering student, has “suffered and continues to suffer grievous and permanent injury,” according to the suit, including classic post-concussion syndrome, which, along with the injuries, has “significantly impaired his ability to execute his education.” He also has substantial “hospital, diagnostic and medical bills,” according to the lawsuit.

Smith was arrested in August after officers witnessed him punch Jenkins in the back of the head. He was charged with disorderly conduct, pled guilty and was later granted youthful offender status, which effectively seals the case to the public.

Next Game:   Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 27—The deck is definitely stacked against Auburn going into this year’s Iron Bowl, the 20th anniversary of the first time it was played at the Tigers home stadium. Auburn’s high-profile offense will be up against one of the best defenses in the country. Meanwhile, the Tigers’ lackluster run defense will be facing its biggest test of the season against Heisman-trophy candidate Mark Ingram. Anything can happen in this rivalry game, though. At least that’s what the Tigers are hoping.

November At A Glance:   The month began with Auburn’s easiest win of the season. The Tigers did what they were supposed to do in a lopsided victory against Furman and appeared to carry that momentum into Athens against Georgia on Nov. 14. But after racing to a 14-0 lead, Auburn’s offense and defense disappeared on the way to a tough 31-24 loss.

Quote To Note:   “I just relax. I just sit around the house and enjoy the day off. That’s all you can do because during the school year and football season you’re on the move so much that when you finally get time off, you want to relax. That’s all I do.”—Auburn LB Craig Stevens, on what he wanted to do during the bye week.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Looking Good:   S Demond Washington went from barely seen to all over the place in a matter of weeks. He’s seeing the field on every snap on defense as the team’s strong safety in the wake of Zac Etheridge’s potentially career-ending neck injury. He also recently won the job at punt returner and looked comfortable at the position against Georgia. And he’s established himself as one of the more dynamic kick returners in the conference.

Not bad for a guy that, just two weeks ago, was simply a backup cornerback and a less-glamorous member of special teams. He wasn’t even on campus until August.

“It didn’t matter where we put him, he just wanted to play football,” coach Gene Chizik said. “Think about all the new roles he’s assumed in the last two weeks. I’m very proud of him and he’s a good football player.”

Still Needs Work:   There’s not much time for Auburn’s rush defense to get better, especially with one of the best running backs in the country, Alabama’s Mark Ingram, making his way to the Plains this week. The Tigers have simply been missing something when it comes to run defense. The blame can go anywhere—the defensive tackles, the linebackers or the bench players who have yet to prove they can fill in amicably for the overworked starters. Whatever the case, it will certainly be addressed during the offseason.

“We’ve got to be able to sustain that through four quarters,” coach Gene Chizik said. “It’s just that simple.”

Star Watch:   TB Ben Tate—The senior might just break a few more records before he leaves the Tigers for the NFL. He ranks 17th nationally in rushing (109.9 per game) and has six 100-yard games this season, including five against SEC opponents. He ranks fifth in Auburn history in rushing (3,168 yards) and has posted the 18th 1,000-yard season in school history. He has 1,209 yards this season.

Critical Decision:   Gene Chizik’s staff hasn’t had trouble in its first year on the recruiting trail. The Tigers already have one of the best running backs in the country committed for 2010 (Michael Dyer, Little Rock) along with Louisiana’s Trovon Reed, who is considered the best prospect in his state, and offensive lineman Shon Coleman, who is considered one of the best prospects in Mississippi. Auburn has 21 commitments in a class that it desperately needs to be solid because of the litany of depth issues on the current roster.

“It’s really been neat,” Chizik said. “I mean, all of the assistants have done a phenomenal job of going after the right-fit guys, the guys that we think are the right fit for Auburn. It’s really neat to see the response nationwide wherever we go.”

Roster Report:  

• LB Eltoro Freeman’s status is questionable for the Iron Bowl after sustaining a concussion against Georgia on Nov. 14. He missed most of the second half against the Bulldogs, as freshman Jonathan Evans, the last scholarship linebacker on the active roster, filled in for him.

“We had faith in Jonathan,” LB Craig Stevens said. “We talked to him on the sidelines and tried to help him get aligned and just calm down out there and play just like practice. He did OK out there. He’s not like Toro out there. Toro has a lot more experience than him out there. I feel like he did all right once he got out there. He did better than I thought he would.”