“We’ve had a very solid week of practice.

[aubiefifty 16,761]

AUBURN, Alabama – Auburn coach Gus Malzahn talked with reporters via Zoom on Friday. Auburn players had the day off. They will practice Saturday under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Final preparations for the Sept. 26 opener against Kentucky will begin Tuesday. Go inside for what Malzahn had to say:

OPENING STATEMENT

“We’ve had a very solid week of practice. We transitioned this week into focusing on out first opponent, Kentucky. We had a good practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We’re off today. Tomorrow we’ll go to the stadium and do some special situation things. It will be under the lights, and we’re going to turn the crowd noise on and all that and get used to the new normal as far as that goes.

(Photo: Todd Van Emst, Auburn University)

“As far as our COVID update, we had good news. We didn’t have any positive tests this week, which was great. We still have eight guys out. We should get those guys back by Tuesday next week, which is the first day of practice.”

 

ON KENTUCKY

“You look at Kentucky’s team, they’re a veteran team, especially up front. I think not going through spring and everything that goes with that, the veteran teams have an advantage. You look at them, they’re very impressive. You can tell they’re well-coached. As our guys already watching film can tell, they’re a very good team.”

 

ON BUILDING DEPTH

“Well, as far as quality depth, I think that’s the key. We’ve had a plan to develop more depth. We’ve spent a lot more time this year on our twos and threes to get those guys ready. It’s been by design. As far as quality, we’ll have to build that and we’ll do that throughout the season. We’ve given our twos and threes more quality reps than we ever have ,and hopefully that’ll help us as the season goes on.

 

ON THE UNPRECEDENTED JOURNEY TO THE FIRST GAME

“I think the emotional toll it takes on you, the uncertainty and all the ups and downs. There were weeks we were thinking like, ‘It’s going to be really hard to play.’ Then it was the next week when you said, ‘Well, we’ve got a chance to play.’ All the ups and downs, getting adjusted to the new normal as far as COVID is concerned, who’s available, who’s not available, who’s out, adjusting to that takes a toll on you mentally and emotionally.

“Our guys have done a good job. As the season has gotten closer, you can tell the urgency is a lot higher from everyone, the excitement is a lot better from everyone. So I know our guys, our coaches are just ready for game one to get here and start getting in the routine.”

 

ON KENTUCKY QUARTERBACK TERRY WILSON

“You can tell he operates the offense. You can tell he knows what he’s doing. You can tell he’s well-coached. He can run and he can throw. It looks like he has a very good command of the offense.

 

ON SEC GUIDDELINES FOR MINIMUM ROSTERS

“I think my biggest concern is the quality of the game. Watching that first game a couple of weeks ago, their deep snapper wasn’t there and I think they snapped it over the punter’s head twice. My big deal is the quality of the game, so hopefully it will be at a high level.”

 

ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE

“We’re still sorting some of it out. We’ve had some guys that were out this week, so we’re still sorting that out. Hopefully this next week, we’ll get into a routine. One thing I will tell you is that this offensive line will have a chance to grow each week. We’re just trying to get the right five guys, get them beside each other, get them used to communication, get them used to playing beside each other with the steps and everything that goes with that.”

 

ON OFFENSIVE LINE DEPTH

“I think we are getting closer to that first five. The depth chart will come out what next Tuesday,. But at the same time, you have to have the mindset that you don’t just have five starters. You have to have 8-9 guys, the way I look at it, possibly even 10 that have that ability to not only play but really play multiple positions. The good thing is we’ve done a whole lot of that up to this point because of the situations we’ve been in. We’ve got some tackles that have played guard and tackle, and we’ve had one player that played center, guard and tackle. So there’s been more of that. And to a certain point that was by design, but a lot of it had to do just with the people we had out. Hopefully we can get some consistency and keep more players out on the practice field.”

 

ON ATHLETICS DIRECTOR ALLEN GREENE

“I think anything you do with a new job you get experience as you go. Allen has done a super job directing our athletic department. What I like about Allen is that he’s around. He knows our players personally. He comes to practice. They know him. He’s always around. As far as the last couple of months, I know it has been really impressive for me to see him with his leadership. I know our relationship has grown through all this, too. I think he’s doing an outstanding job during all of this. The big thing for me is that he’s around. He’s around our players and they know him.”

 

ON RACE AT CORNERBACK

“The great thing is competition brings out the best in everybody. There’s a lot of healthy competition. I think you can tell with our league and what LSU did last year spreading everything out, I expect the league to have more of that than normal. I think you’re going to have to have more DBs that are ready to play. That has kind of been our message. It has been really good competition. I think it’s helped us develop guys.”

 

ON STRENGTHS, QUESTIONS

“The veteran guys that we know what we're getting, I think that's what you've got to hang your hat on early. As far as not knowing, it's just a matter of not going through spring. We did have an extended fall camp, which is great. And we've done more scrimmaging in fall camp than we've ever done. So we do have good information. Each team is different. How the team is going to adapt and do things. We have a lot of character this season. I think we've got some really good leadership on this team. But it's just the unknowns of getting out there and doing it. I do like our team. I like our staff. I'm excited to watch our guys.”

 

ON RUNNING BACKS

“Well, you know, I think we got five guys that are capable of helping us, OK? You can never have enough depth at the running back position. Worm (Shaun Shivers) and D.J. (Williams) are the two guys that have experience. Harold (Joiner) is a guy that has some experience. Then of course, our two young guys (Mark-Antony Richards and Tank Bigsby), I think, are very talented. You’ll see them in there. too, but they just need more game reps, more experience.”

 

ON PUNTERS OSCAR CHAPMAN, AIDEN MARSHALL

“It has been a good competition. This week was a big week. Tomorrow going to the stadium will be a big night, and we’ll try to get that ironed out by Tuesday. But I will tell you this: Both guys can definitely help us, and both guys are very solid punters. So, that helps you with what could happen throughout the season.”

 

ON NON-COVID INJURIES

“We’ve been very fortunate, I think, as far as any major injuries. We’ve put the ball down and we’ve played old-school football a whole lot, so we’ve been pretty fortunate as far as that goes. We are pretty banged up in a few areas, but our goal has been, by Tuesday of next week, hope everyone is healthy and ready to go. Hopefully that will happen. We do have a chance for that to happen, so we’ll see.”

[Win4AU 4,052]

Undefeated at practice since 2013

[aubiefifty 16,761]

gus finally got the D going. it appears he made a huge upgrade on the o line coach. and i believe he will finally get things right again of offense with coach morris. if these upgrades do not produce more wins i am going to think we might be snakebit in some way. but hey maybe we have seen the last of the ol whirlybird. rumor has it auburn is sending their version to the state fair.

[IronMan70 3,277]

...."and everything that goes with that."

[GTNupe11 2,033]

2 hours ago, IronMan70 said:

...."and everything that goes with that."

That phrase is so annoying...

[tbone1430 1,346]

1 hour ago, GTNupe11 said:

That phrase is so annoying...

“No doubt.”

[IronMan70 3,277]

20 hours ago, tbone1430 said:

“No doubt.”

....or when referring to a coach, a player, a team, an O/D line, or a stadium atmosphere, we have the ever present, "the best in all of college football."

[aucanucktiger 1,791]

Trying to be upbeat about that O line narrative coming from a sugar coater with 1 week to go. I'm really trying.