• Auburn scrimmaged Wednesday for 30 to 35 plays by head coach Gene Chizik's estimate. "It was live," he said. "It was a scrimmage situation and everybody’s fair game." Other than that, he was very vague about what went on, simply saying the team did some good things and bad things. Of course they did. He did like how physical the defense was and, after some more prodding, acknowledged that Ben Tate and Onterio McCalebb both broke off a long run. That's some real classified info right there.

• The plan is to have a full scrimmage at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday, if the weather permits. It's still closed to the fans and media.

• Still no separation at quarterback so far, as if anyone was expecting that to be the case.

• Vance Smith's move from tight end to offensive line definitely sounds permanent. Try this quotes from offensive line coach Jeff Grimes on for size: "I'm really, really pleased with his effort. Somebody's going to have to fight me to give him up, I'll tell you that. Talk about this move being permanent. As far as I'm concerned, it is. Because he's a tough kid who works hard and he's exactly what I'm looking for."

• Boulware said Ryan Shoemaker had a great day punting the ball Wednesday. "Shoemaker today was out of this world, he was booming them today," he said. Boulware said Clinton Durst has been "phenomenal" this spring. They're trying to get him more consistent with his kicks. Last year, Boulware said, he had a tendency to kick a ball slightly to the right. "I was wondering if they were directional punting, but that wasn't intentional," Boulware said. " So what we're trying to get him used to doing is working a straight line right now.

• Boulware said sophomore Josh Harris is starting at long snapper, ahead of sophomore Bailey Woods and the only scholarship long snapper on the team, Dax Dellenbach. "That competition is not over with but it looks like Harris is hands-down better," said Boulware, who said there will be another walk-on to join before the season.
  

• Four players — sophomore Quindarius Carr, redshirt freshman Justin Albert, junior Mario Fannin and senior Walt McFadden — are working at returning punts. That number is down from nine who started spring practice. “By attrition, we may come up with one,” said receivers coach Trooper Taylor, who is evaluating the returners. None have returned punts in a game before, so Taylor is emphasizing the most basic element of punt returns — catching the ball. “The one thing we want to do is not let that ball hit the ground,” he said.

• Of the wideouts, Trooper has been impressed so far by junior Tim Hawthorne. "He's trying to be more physical," Taylor said. "His body demeanor has changed some where you can see there's a little more confidence. I really like the way that' he's working with the group, going out there and making some plays."

• Trooper was on fire with his quotes Wednesday evening. To wit:

• On the wide receivers' less than thrilling production last year: "To be real honest, the talk that's happened before we came around, that's all B.T.T. I say that's before Troop time. I don't care anything about any of that, it's what we have now."

• On Carr: "He looks the part, but I told him right now he's like a limo without gas. He looks good and I can't ride him. So I need him to go ahead and get some gas in his tank and go."

• On Philip Pierre-Louis not being able to compete for a spot yet because he's still recovering from knee surgery: "It's not personal, but you can't make the club in the tub. You'll be watching guys until he can get out there and compete."