Hugh Freeze looking for Payton Thorne to 'settle down' against Cal

Auburn finds itself in a weird position on the West Coast. A road trip to Cal means the Tigers are kicking off at 9:30 p.m. local time. Head coach Hugh Freeze has been attempting to get his team accustomed to the time change all week to prepare for what should be a tough game.

Thus far, Auburn has not settled into the game. Freeze spoke with the ESPN broadcast following the first quarter and wants his team to settle down — specifically quarterback Payton Thorne. The game might be moving quickly for him at the moment and Freeze wants a deep breath out of his quarterback.

“He needs to settle down,” Freeze said. “He’s got to take care of the ball, No. 1. We’ve got to protect him better too. But I think he’s had a couple throws — he went to the wrong side twice. You know, it’s not just him. Our defense is playing great so far. We’ve got to get into a rhythm here offensively.”

When Freeze mentions Thorne needing to take care of the ball, he is referencing a play on the first drive of the game. Thorne was near the sideline before the ball popped out, giving Cal possession. While the review did not allow the Golden Bear to take it in for a touchdown, it was still a big turnover for Auburn.

Heading into the week, Freeze was complimentary of Thorne. However, if he is not able to settle down in the next few drives, Freeze will not be afraid to turn to the bench. Robby Ashford is available and someone Freeze is high on. He believes Auburn is able to win football games, no matter who is under center.

“Payton continues to show that he has a great understanding of things,” Freeze said on Wednesday. “He has great leadership qualities. Can move well enough with his legs and obviously think he’s a bit more accurate in his decisions and his passing than the others and then Robby is, like I said, is one of the most talented athletes that I’ve ever coached. And he has to be a part of the plan week in, week out, because he’s just different.”

Auburn has plenty of time to settle into the game. Especially in a different setting such as Berkeley, CA, there are some adjustments to be made. Thorne was named the starter for a reason, though, and needs to show his composure.