Antoine Carter News

It was a constant mantra for the Auburn defense, and a constant challenge. "They've been saying that all week, 'Number 22, number 22.

When: 1:30 p.m. today Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Line: Alabama by 10 1/2 Records: Auburn ; Alabama On the air: TV -- CBS; Radio -- WLWI-FM 92.3, WMSP-AM 740, WXFX-FM 95.1 FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY 1. How is Auburn's defensive front going to handle the Tide's rushing attack? Mark Ingram is an excellent back.

A bevy of consistent inconsistencies emerge when the performance of the Auburn defense is analyzed game by game.

Perhaps it's a sign of mutual respect in the Auburn-Georgia rivalry that there has been relatively little bragging about the Bulldogs' three-game winning streak in the series.

AUBURN -- Gus Malzahn arrived in Auburn 10 months ago. A few other schools may try to keep his stay under a year.

The Tigers have at least one thing figured out when it comes to getting inside the head of Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green.

AUBURN -- Josh Bynes sensed a new purpose among Auburn's defensive front last weekend.

When: 12:30 p.m. Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn Line: Auburn by 37 Records: Auburn On the air: TV -- Pay-per-view; Radio -- WLWI-FM 92.3, WMSP-AM 740 FOUR-DOWN TERRITORY 1. How is this team going to thrive without Zac Etheridge? His season-ending injury suffered last weekend will affect everything the Tigers try to accomplish from this ...

Auburn coach Gene Chizik says he'll start rebuilding his short-handed roster by bringing four or five players into school in January and counting them back to last year's signing class.

In the lexicon of motivational phrases, this one was unique because it tried to say something by saying nothing.

Auburn linebacker Josh Bynes was yelling a cautionary "screen" to remind his fellow defenders to be on the lookout for a pass to the running back in last week's game against Ole Miss.

Auburn was scoring two touchdowns to blow the game open with a 24-7 lead early in the second half.

Freshman tailback Onterio McCalebb got a day off Saturday to rest his injured ankle, and he could receive another breather this week against Furman.

It's gray, cool and breezy at Jordan-Hare Stadium this morning. The students have turned out, but the rest of the crowd is arriving a bit later than usual, as you might expect for the early kickoff.

AUBURN -- Ben Tate now has a thousand reasons to celebrate. The Auburn tailback rushed for 144 yards in the Tigers' win against Ole Miss, moving his season total to 1,067. The achievement prompted big smiles from Tate and members of his offensive line.

Walter McFadden says he can tell Antoine Carter's knee feels better by just listening to the banter near the line of scrimmage.

AUBURN -- Antoine Carter masks his aggression masterfully. The junior defensive end may have small tattoos on his face and large ones covering every inch of both arms, but he's one of Auburn's most reserved personalities.

Game within the game : New, fresh-legged personnel should add up to improvement on defense for the Tigers, and it couldn't come at a better time.

Auburn coach Gene Chizik talks to defensive coordinator Ted Roof. It's time for our weekly Tuesday tradition: Instant updates from Gene Chizik 's press conference almost as soon as the words tumble out of his mouth.

This story appears in Tuesday's Birmingham News: AUBURN -- Eltoro Freeman and Antoine Carter received a thumbs-up from their defensive coordinator Sunday after displaying something many of their teammates could not.