Hugh Freeze admits giving up play calling is 'a lot harder' than he anticipated

Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze is dealing with some withdrawals as he tries to kick a coaching staple for most of his career: Offensive play calling. With offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery handling those duties for the Tigers as Freeze tries to be more of a CEO head coach, it’s been a transitional time for Freeze.

He clarified on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday that he’s found it more difficult than anticipated to give up down-to-down control over the offense. And while Freeze can still call the shots, he’s trying his best not to impede on Montgomery.

“It’s been — I’m very transparent and this is no reflection on coach Montgomery, it’s just, it’s a lot harder than I anticipated it being not making the calls on game day, offensively,” Freeze said.

It’s a topic that Freeze had brought up on Monday following a loss to Texas A&M over the weekend. He had offered a similar sentiment then, and doubled down on Wednesday.

Freeze shared that he had been prepped for it to be difficult, but it’s been harder than even he anticipated.

“And when you’ve done it so long, people told me that would be the case,” Freeze said. “I just didn’t know that it would really be this difficult and you miss it a lot. So yeah, you heard me right.”

Freeze and his squad are still trying to sort out the quarterback position, too

Payton Thorne has struggled against both Power Five opponents (Cal and Texas A&M) he’s faced this season, and despite the Tigers’ 3-1 start to the season, isn’t going to cut it moving forward. Head coach Hugh Freeze understands this, but believes it’s on him to turn it around, not the quarterbacks, no matter if it’s Thorne, Robby Ashford or Holden Geriner

“There are times I feel like where we’ve let both Payton (Thorne) and Robby or Holden down,” Freeze said on Monday. “Because of all the other components that go into the passing game, that is where I’m determined to help get fixed this week before you give some final grade on quarterback play.

“When Robby came in, I thought he made two really nice throws on two deeps balls and I thought the routes were not run correctly. I know the quarterbacks and coaches get the blame. The coaches, we deserve it and the quarterbacks don’t always deserve it.

All three quarterbacks made appearances during Week 4’s 27-10 loss, but the trio combined for a measly 9 of 23 passing for 56 total yards and no touchdowns. Ashford was arguably the most productive with eight carries for 25 yards, but Thorne led the way with 44 passing yards compared for Ashford’s one completion totaling four yards.