-- Competition reigned all over the field last week as Auburn wrapped up spring practices, prompting defensive coordinator

Ellis Johnson

to say that most spots will remain an open battle into the fall, regardless of the depth chart Auburn's coaching staff puts together.

Only a few players put a bunch of separation between themselves and the rest of the field.

One of those Tigers was defensive end

Dee Ford

, the team leader in sacks in 2012 with 6.5 and Auburn's primary pass rusher after the loss of

"I think we know

Dee

Ford

is going to be a starter," Johnson said. "Overall, he probably was one of the three to four, five guys you’d say had an outstanding spring.

Playing opposite Lemonier, Ford came up with six sacks in 2012 despite missing the better part of four games with an abdominal injury.

A fast-twitch player who brings speed off the edge, Ford also plays with tremendous effort, refusing to give up on the play if stopped initially.

And Auburn needs the senior to be even better next fall. In Johnson's defense, the ends are responsible for putting most of the pressure on the quarterback, and the tandem of

Kenneth Carter

and

Nosa Eguae

on the other side of the line are better suited to the power game.

"He is our best and, at this point, our only pass rusher that is giving us the kind of pass rush we’ve got to get to be successful," Johnson said. "He improved a lot in his run fits, especially at the point of attack."

Ford was credited with one "sack" in Auburn's A-Day scrimmage and likely could have put a few more hits on the quarterback if the Tigers' passers hadn't been wearing orange jerseys.

Only a few players earned post-game mention by Tigers coach

Gus Malzahn

, but Ford's ability to create pressure stood out when the coaching staff watched film of A-Day.

"

Dee Ford,

rushing the passer," Malzahn said. "If it had been a live situation, our quarterback would have been hit quite a few times, taken some pretty good licks."

Widened out and asked to create pressure in Johnson's scheme, Ford's role hasn't shifted much.

Although most teams place their best pass rusher on the right side to take advantage of a right-handed quarterback's blind side, Ford feels most comfortable working from the left, a place he'll be able to stay after switching sides in Auburn's previous defenses.

Help could be on the way this summer. Freshmen

Carl Lawson

and

Elijah Daniel

will get a chance to prove they can handle a pass-rushing role in the fall.

But Ford's going to have to lead the way, a prospect that left him excited after seeing the defense in the spring.

"I feel like we play on the edge," Ford said. "I feel our guys are playing fast and playing with a purpose. I think we have really improved on little things and fundamentals."

Ford's a senior now, with a proven resume to boot.

Now, he's setting the tone.

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