Nick Coe ‘solid’ in practice, but status uncertain

[aubiefifty 18,222]

Nick Coe ‘solid’ in practice, but status vs. LSU still uncertain

Posted Oct 23, 2019

AP

Auburn defensive back Nick Coe (91) warms up before playing Arkansas during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)

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By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

Nick Coe’s status for Saturday’s top-10 matchup against LSU remains up in the air following the versatile edge-rusher’s benching last week against Arkansas.

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Coe had a “solid” day of practice on Tuesday but did not offer much detail into whether the redshirt junior is on track to return to the team’s defensive line rotation for No. 9 Auburn’s game against No. 2 LSU in Baton Rouge, La., this weekend.

On the weekly SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday afternoon, Malzahn said the coaching staff will “know more once we get to Thursday” when it comes to Coe’s status for the LSU game, which is set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff from Death Valley, with the game broadcast on CBS. Malzahn will not meet with the media again until then, though he will make his weekly radio appearance on “Tiger Talk” after Thursday’s practice to preview the top-10 showdown.

Coe was held out of Auburn’s 51-10 win against Arkansas last week as part of a coach’s decision after he failed to meet the team’s standards in practice coming off the bye week. Malzahn said Sunday that Coe needs to “do better off the field, on the field” in order to return to the lineup.

Can Nick Coe turn things around late in the season?

Nick Coe did not play due to a coach's decision against Arkansas after failing to meet Auburn's standards on and off the field last week.

The 6-foot-5, 291-pound edge-rusher has had a difficult season that, as of yet, has not lived up to expectations. After leading the team with seven sacks and finishing second in tackles for loss (13.5) last season, Coe has totaled just 10 tackles with two for a loss this year while making one start for Auburn’s defense. That start came against Oregon, when he got the nod at defensive tackle alongside Derrick Brown. His downswing in production has been surprising after Coe opted to return for his redshirt junior season and was being spoken about as a potential early-round selection in next year’s NFL Draft.

When Auburn unveiled its season-opening depth chart, it even carved out a new position for Coe at “outside linebacker” while listing him as the backup at defensive end and both defensive tackle spots, with his name appearing on the two-deep more than any other Auburn player’s.

Despite his struggles through the first half of the season, teammates believe that Coe, a versatile talent along the defensive line, can still turn things around and make an impact during this pivotal stretch of Auburn’s schedule.

“He’s fixin’ to turn it on,” defensive end Marlon Davidson said. “And I know he is because he’s been talking about it, he’s getting that juice about himself again. My guy, he’s coming this week, for sure.”

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[sevenlee36 1,703]

He’s probably not happy about playing defensive back

[Swamp Eagle 5,267]

16 hours ago, sevenlee36 said:

He’s probably not happy about playing defensive back

Kind of jumps out at you, huh? I often wunder if anyone proofreads anymore...😎

[Win4AU 4,181]

If we could get Davidson, Brown, Big Kat, and Coe on the field at the same time it’d be neat.  

[sevenlee36 1,703]

1 hour ago, Win4AU said:

If we could get Davidson, Brown, Big Kat, and Coe on the field at the same time it’d be neat.  

Ya that would be sweet especially if they all gave their best effort. That would be exciting to watch.