What Hugh Freeze said with Auburn A-Day on the horizon
AUBURN — It’s Week Five of Auburn football spring camp. Hugh Freeze met the media on Monday afternoon to chat about the progress on a number of fronts, as the Tigers will practice three times this week before Saturday’s spring A-Day game inside Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Here’s the high points from Freeze’s meeting with the media as practice No. 12 gets underway:
— Robby Ashford had soreness in his shoulder, but Freeze said last Wednesday he was “fairly close” to full speed. “He’s going today, so I think he’s OK.”
— Holden Geriner had a “solid” week of practice last week. He mentions Ashford and T.J. Finley also having good moments. It remains a competition.
— Ashford’s pocket presence, T.J.’s playing within the system, and Holden’s accuracy (specifically downfield) are all areas Freeze mentions as elements that each QB has improved upon.
— “Being the QB at a SEC school and a school like Auburn carries a lot of weight.” The competition goes into the summer, into the fall, saying it all matters.
— On the spring game format: “As it stands, we’re healthy enough to do that format. Spring games when it’s us against us, I don’t want to waste a day. The temptation and challenge is it can be a wasted day, not a wasted day for the fans or recruiting, but for the practice itself. That’s a difficult setting for us to do what we want to do.” Freeze talked about it being televised, etc.
— “I want to prepare the Auburn family that we’re going to do the best we can. We’re going to give them a game that I hope they can enjoy, but understand, we don’t know who we are offensively right now.”
— The defense will start with a set amount of points and the offense will try and top that to win the game.
— Freeze really wants to be able to scrimmage another school for A-Day, adding adopting a charity for proceeds to go to.
— Freeze adds: “Don’t expect too much. Unrealistic expectations lead to frustration.” He’s making it a point to simply set expectations for fans before Saturday’s A-Day. “I don’t want to show too much of what we think we’re going to be really good at.”
— Hugh Freeze has been pleased with tackling during tackling periods. “We’ve tackled fairly well in the scrimmages.”
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— Offensively, we feel good about “two or three” run schemes that have been “successful.” They are still searching for consistency for the “bread and butter” in the passing game. Defensively, “how much more are we going to add to have enough in the arsenal to have a great game plan?”
— On the offense: “Truthfully, Wednesday was the exact opposite of the last Friday (scrimmage) and it was complete domination by the offense.”
— On the linebackers: “There have been some inconsistencies.” He mentions the linebackers having the most on their plate of any position group on defense.
— Hugh Freeze says the tight end room “has the most” on their plate of any position group on the team.
— Freeze says Jarquez Hunter “is the best running back I’ve ever coached.” He “keeps his mouth shut and goes to work.”
— Anyone improved from practice one to 12: “Mosiah Nasili-Kite.” He said the Maryland DL transfer has really disrupted lately and played well.
— “I thought we improved at receiver” last week. He mentions Rivaldo Fairweather being the “most consistent” catching the football, especially in tight quarters. He mentions Jay Fair and Ja’Varrius Johnson also standing out, then goes on to mention Nick Mardner, Camden Brown, Tar’Varish Dawson all making plays at time. “It’s way too early.”
