Auburn defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has indicated for the past two weeks that the AU coaching staff didn't want to put pass rusher Dee Ford, coming off a knee injury, back on the field prematurely.
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Based on Saturday's performance, they certainly didn't.
The Tigers' top pass rusher led his unit with six tackles and two quarterback hurries, helping AU to a 24-20 win that snapped a 10-game SEC losing streak that dated back to 2011.
"I just knew I had to knock some rust off and really get back into the feel, because it's one thing to practice and it's one thing to play the game. So I definitely got that feel back for game-like situations," Ford said.
Ford led the Tigers in sacks last season with six. His preparation for this season was cut short by a ligament strain in his left knee sustained in fall camp. Ford's debut met with a mobile quarterback in MSU's Dak Prescott, who rushed for more than 100 yards. He'll have a much more stationary target -- albeit a more talented one than Prescott -- next Saturday against LSU quarterback Zach Mettenberger.
He'll also have a formidable task in talented LSU left tackle La'El Collins, one of the SEC's best pass protectors.
Ford's size (6-foot-2, 240 pounds) make the senior more of a linebacker prospect for the NFL than a defensive end.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter @ChaseGoodbread.