Takeaways: Hugh Freeze searching for playmakers among Auburn receivers
AUBURN — Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze met the media on Thursday, and other than talking about the quarterbacks, much of the discussion centered around the wide receiver position. Freeze wasn’t happy with their performance last Saturday, and after watching the film, he provided more clarity on the position entering the second and final scrimmage of fall camp.
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Freeze said on Saturday he thought the receivers were possible “loafing,” but certainly missed plenty of assignments. He reiterated that notion on Thursday and provided more context around what he witnessed.
“It was about 88 loafs on Saturday. That’s an exaggeration, but there were a lot. They had a really good week last week and they’ve had a better week this week. They had their best practice on Tuesday night. I think they’re improving. There’s still way too many MA’s (missed assignments), but they’ve had a solid week. We still haven’t had a good scrimmage.
“Truthfully, when I watched the film after the scrimmage, it made me sick. I didn’t think we competed. It was almost like we melted under that heat. We’ve handled that heat pretty well, but when you’re here, you get to take a break inside and you cool down with the water and mist and all of that. When you go over there for the game, there’s none of that. I just didn’t think we handled it extremely well. I’m excited for another opportunity to see how we handled it.”
Who does Freeze feel good about at the receiver position? It’s the usual names. Freeze also mentioned Koy Moore, Camden Brown and Malcolm Johnson Jr. simply missing time and repetitions, causing uncertainty around their role in the offense right now.
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“I feel good about Jay (Fair) and ‘Var’ (Johnson). I feel good about Shane (Hooks), Omari (Kelly)…(Jyaire) Shorter being in the rotation, Nick (Mardner). I’d say outside right now, those four big guys are in the rotation, along with Caleb Burton in the slot also. Those three guys. That’s the ones that have gotten most of the reps.”
Auburn’s last 1,000-yard receiver was Ronney Daniels in 1999. He finished that season with 1,068 yards. Darvin Adams came close, with 997 in 2009 and 963 in 2010. Rarely has an Auburn receiver come close to that 1,000-yard receiving mark in the program’s history, and it’s something that is “shocking” to Freeze.
“We desperately have to get to that point. I don’t know the last time Auburn had a 1,000-yard receiver. It’s been over a decade, I think. That’s shocking to me. I’ve had very few years where we haven’t had one, or at least been close to a thousand.”
