Auburn linebackers make strides together
For junior Auburn linebackers Cassanova McKinzy and Kris Frost, where one goes, the other is sure to follow. Or at least try.
McKinzy is Auburn’s starting middle linebacker. Frost is the starting weakside linebacker. In last Saturday’s 59-13 beating of San Jose State, they combined for 16 tackles, a team-high 10 by McKinzy.
“I feel like Cassanova and I have always had really good chemistry with how we play,” Frost said. “We try to help each other out. One thing we joke about is how every time I make a tackle, he’s right behind me and every time he makes a tackle I’m right behind him.”
Together, McKinzy says, they have big plans for what is to come as the season unfolds.
“We’ve got really good chemistry,” McKinzy said. “I think we’re one of the best linebacker duos in the conference. We are just trying to succeed at that. We are there to pick each other up.”
The Tigers don't play again until they go to Kansas State on Sept. 18.
Defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, who coaches the linebackers, says they made progress from the season-opening from the first game, a 45-21 victory over Arkansas, to the second.
“They made a lot of plays, had a lot of production,” Johnson said. “I was a little disappointed in a couple of missed assignments. We called a couple of blitzes they didn’t execute correctly, but they made a lot of tackles. I think as a pair it was one of their better games.”
Behind McKinzy and Frost, the linebacker situation is fluid. Junior Anthony Swain, who missed spring practice after running afoul of head coach Gus Malzahn, is the first option off the bench. Freshman Tre’ Williams is next, but Johnson say he struggled against San Jose State.
“Tre’ made some mistakes the other night,” Johnson said. “He wasn’t himself. I think he is going to really be a fine player. He had a little better first game than he did a second game. I hope he’s not getting that freshmanitis. … I think he’s going to be fine. He just made a couple of key mistakes and I had to pull him out.”
