Nothing new on film flap

FAYETTEVILLE - Tapegate has dried up.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday he had not heard back from the SEC office since a couple of conversations Monday regarding his concerns about receiving edited game tape from Auburn.

“Obviously the issue is being handled by the SEC, and that’s about all I can say,” Bielema said during the SEC’s weekly coaches teleconference.

Bielema said Monday that he had informed SEC officials that the game tape Auburn put up on the exchange site used by the SEC did not include a swinging gate formation the Tigers used prior to extra-point attempts.

Arkansas hosts Auburn on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Marshall update

Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said Wednesday quarterback Nick Marshall’s availability Saturday could be a game-time decision. Marshall sat out the second half last week with a shoulder injury.

“He’s a tough guy, I will tell you that,” Malzahn said when asked if he was optimistic about Marshall playing against Arkansas.

Defensive coordinator Chris Ash said he “absolutely” thought Marshall would play.

Zone read

Arkansas’ defensive personnel say defending Auburn’s running attack has made for a tough study.

“It’s a multiple attack,” defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. “They can attack you downhill with power and counters and things and downhill zones. Then they can attack the perimeter with outside plays. So they’ve got the speed to get to the edge and get around you, even if you’ve got leverage.”

Defensive line coach Charlie Patridge said Auburn does a good job of giving different blocking looks to the defensive ends that present great challenges against zone read plays.

Defensive end Chris Smith said Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall sells the zone read like a magician.

“Sometimes I think the running back has the ball, but he comes out - whoop - right there with it,” Smith said. “He’s shifty, too. I think that’s what really helps Auburn have success.”

Another game

Freshman defensive tackle Darius Philon is from Prichard, Ala., but he said playing Auburn isn’t extra motivation, just as playing Alabama wasn’t in his first college start.

“It’s a team from back home, but I’m going to have the same motor as I did last week, and the week before, and the week before that,” Philon said. “I’m playing football, period.”

In a rush

Former Arkansas assistants J.B. Grimes and Tim Horton have helped Auburn become the SEC’s top rushing team with an average of 315.4 yards per game.

Grimes, the Tigers’ offensive line coach, held the same position at Arkansas in 1989-1992. A Clarendon native, he played collegiately at Henderson State.

Horton, who was a receiver and punt returner for the Razorbacks, is in his first year with Auburn running backs after coaching the position the previous six seasons at Arkansas.

“J.B. is a great teacher,” Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said. “Tim’s coached some of the best running backs in college football history. Those two are very close, they work closely together, and they’re doing a great job.”