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Auburn defensive lineman Gabe Wright closes in on San Jose State wide receiver Tyler Winston in the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

AUBURN, Alabama -- The story surrounding Gabe Wright throughout this offseason was his move to defensive end, a shift outside to get more power out on the edge and help make up for the loss of Carl Lawson.

And Wright will still play some snaps at defensive end this season.

For the most part, though, expect Wright and talented teammate Montravius Adams to do the bulk of their work from the interior, where the pair combined for eight tackles, four tackles-for-loss and two sacks against San Jose State.

"They're probably the most athletic guys that we play in there," defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson said. "We didn't play well in there last game, and I know (defensive line coach) Rodney (Garner) was doing some rotations to get the best guys in there that could get it done, but I think that's the biggest thing: Gabe and Montravius are the two most athletic of the inside guys."

After Wright took 43 of his 50 snaps at defensive end in the opener, the pendulum swung the other way against San Jose State; of his 38 snaps against the Spartans, Wright played just seven at defensive end. Adams took only six of his 45 snaps at defensive end.

For both players, the majority of their work at defensive end against teams that play multiple wide receiver sets and spread formations will likely come in Auburn's "Cinco" package, a 3-3-5 formation with Wright and Adams at the ends and Angelo Blackson playing the nose.

With Wright and Adams inside, Elijah Daniel, LaDarius Owens and Gimel President all saw increased work on the outside against San Jose State, a trend that's likely to continue against spread teams and teams that run three and four-receiver sets.

In 3rd-and-long situations, Wright and Adams are clearly Auburn's two best pass rushers inside, and with the Tigers struggling some to find an edge rusher without Lawson, that interior push becomes even more important.

Wright is perfectly happy that he'll be playing mostly his natural position the rest of the way.

Auburn defensive lineman Montravius Adams sacks San Jose State quarterback Blake Jurich at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014. (Mark Almond/malmond@al.com)

"I definitely wouldn't say it hurt me any, starting out at the end at the spring and the fall," Wright said. "Even then, I played inside. I was just kind of getting the best of both worlds."

Auburn's "Rhino" package -- a four-man front with Wright and Adams at end -- hasn't been mothballed completely yet. Against teams that like to run heavy sets with lots of tight ends or fullbacks, it could make an appearance again.

And when that week arises, Wright and Adams will be ready.

"Being able to play multiple positions, and being able to play well, I don't see any weaknesses or any downfalls from that," Wright said. "You really don't know what can happen down the line, if a guy goes down, or if we do want to go to that Rhino package, then we can."