11/25 at 12:49 AM

Talk to defensive end Antonio Coleman, and you’d think Auburn was 0-11 heading into Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

But if you move down the line and chat with defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks, you’ll likely come away thinking all is right on the Plains. He might even give that message to you through song if you catch him at the right moment.

The mix of fire and nice Coleman and Marks bring to Auburn’s defensive line is certainly a drastic contrast, but their production (when healthy) has helped keep it among the SEC’s elite.

That status will face its biggest test Saturday against Alabama’s offensive line, which averages 6 feet, 4 inches and 306 pounds per member and has paced the Tide’s tough rushing attack.

“They have one of the best offensive lines in the SEC,” defensive end Michael Goggans said. “This is going to be a tough task. They’re fast, they’re quick.

“But we have a defensive line to match their intensity.”

Coleman’s intensity never really fluctuates.

Whether it’s on the sidelines or in a comfortable chair during an interview, Coleman wears the struggles Auburn has faced all season-long.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen him in a joking manner when it comes to any game,” defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said. “Through disappointments and through celebrations, he remains the same. He’s never satisfied.

“It always starts with himself, but whether it be himself or the team, he’s never satisfied.”

Strong personal results have done little to give Coleman even the least bit of satisfaction.

Coleman leads the Tigers and ranks fourth and fifth in the SEC, respectively, in sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (10.5). When his totals were both good for the conference lead late in October, Coleman was asked how it felt.

“I don’t care. It means nothing to me,” Coleman said. “Like I told you before, that’s null and void to me. Look at our season … I couldn’t care if I’m last right now.”

Coleman’s intensity has yet to get the best of him, never translating into a depression that might alter his performance.

Rhoads said he has kept an eye out to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“We don’t want our kids to ever be satisfied. So we never want to be satisfied with what we’re doing,” Rhoads said. “But you can’t get frustrated if on occasion you get blocked, somebody doesn’t get their assignment. We got to encourage them to not make those mistakes and get back in it.

“Frustration will strangle you.”

Marks has had every reason to be frustrated this season.

Marks has said he takes winning just as seriously as Coleman, so, obviously, the 5-6 season hasn’t treated him well and he hasn’t been healthy since Oct. 4. Marks sprained his left ankle on that day against Vanderbilt and sprained his right ankle against Ole Miss a month later.

“It’s tough,” Marks said. “When I was 100 percent, a lot of other guys had one bad ankle ... For me not to have one but have two, I can see how much that can bring your game down.”

It just hasn’t brought his spirits down.

On Monday, Marks walked into the Rane Room at the Auburn Athletic Complex with a smile on his face and immediately began joking with reporters. On his way there, he stopped to sing a Bob Marley tune to an Auburn employee.

“He has a good time wherever we are,” nose guard and good friend Tez Doolittle said. “You need a guy like that. You don’t want to be out there all day, everybody’s heads down, upset about being out there.

“You need to have a guy that’s singing and keeping everybody happy and laughing while making plays at practice.”

Because of the injuries, the plays from Marks have not been as plentiful as expected heading into the season, even though he’s still picked up nine tackles for loss.

His draft stock — if he were to forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft — hasn’t really taken a hit, as many scouting services still project him as a mid- to late-first round selection.

Apparently, those Web sites and analysts have seen what middle linebacker Josh Bynes plays behind.

“That’s the factor there, especially up front,” Bynes said. “I know he’s going to take care of his business and open up the gap for us to make plays.”

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