All Things Fall Camp Thread

[Randman5000 4,226]

I watched the press conference.. Harsin had some good thoughts regarding having a chip on your shoulder and how that's what they want their football program to have regardless. 4th quarter when the game is on the line, you have to be ready. That's the motivation behind alot of what they do. 

[Hank2020 3,199]

 

I watched the press conference.. Harsin had some good thoughts regarding having a chip on your shoulder and how that's what they want their football program to have regardless. 4th quarter when the game is on the line, you have to be ready. That's the motivation behind alot of what they do. 

I also liked that he made that connection to life in general, not just football and also to staff not just players.

[WFE12 9,191]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChDvO7GA3KJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 

Big Camden

Edited August 10, 2022 by WFE12

[Randman5000 4,226]

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ChDvO7GA3KJ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 

Big Camden

[toddc 13,194]

In His Own Words: Harsin on Day 4 of Auburn preseason practices

75 minutes ago

 

AUBURN, Alabama — The first full week of Auburn preseason practices is here. The Tigers worked in shells for the first time Tuesday on Day 4 of fall camp. The team's first scrimmage of the preseason is set for Saturday night inside Jordan-Hare Stadium. Here's everything Bryan Harsin said Tuesday during his second meeting with reporters in camp.

 

IMPRESSIONS OF CAMP SO FAR ...

 

“It was solid for everybody. I thought today we had the most urgency of all the practices we’ve had so far. That’s just getting from the sidelines onto the field and guys transitioning. Our conditioning happens in practice. I thought we did the split practices, that got a few guys. It was hard on them. We came together and had another hard practice. I thought the guys felt that. We had a day off yesterday and we felt that today in a good way. We came out and the energy was good and the focus was good. The urgency of just getting from drill to drill, on the field, off the field, was what it should look like today. That was better.

“As far as the meetings and the guys understanding of what we’re trying to do, I think the guys are studying and preparing. We’ve got a ways to go in that area. The coaches are doing a good job of teaching them. More guys are trying to understand better what we’re doing. I think they’re bringing some guys along, they just need other guys to do that. Overall today was a good day. Solid, to answer your question, where we are.”

 

HOW'S THE SECONDARY COMING ALONG? ...

 

“I think those guys have done really well. The two groups right now, the wide receivers and the DBs, the execution, we’re still going to improve in those areas, those guys run quite a bit at practice and there has been zero complaints from any of those guys. They just go out there and work. Keionte Scott has been a nice addition to have him. He’s shown up and made an immediate impact out there at practice. The rest of the guys on the back end and some of the new guys we’ve brought in and guys like Pritchett and Simpson, they have elevated their game from what I’ve seen and their training habits from what I’ve seen so far. We’ll find out the consistency because that’s really what you look for in that group through camp. Overall I have been pleased with the secondary. I like where the receivers are as far as just the work. We’ve got a ways to go. We’ve got to catch the ball. You guys saw that today. We’ve got to catch the ball better. As far as the work goes and just the effort because they run so much, those two groups have done a good job.”

 

COULD YOUNG RECEIVERS MAKE AN IMPACT? ...

 

“Camden is a big guy. He brings that size. He can go up and get the ball. He has a lot of range. He didn’t have some of the catches he’s made in the previous practices, today. It’s just consistency from any of our receivers, but from our young guys in particular. He’s a big target. I think he’s starting to understand what we’re doing. Omari catches the ball really well. I think he’s been pretty consistent with his hands and he’s getting better. A better understanding of what his role is and where we can utilize him and just the offense in general. Jay Fair too. He’s another guy. Jay, Var, Dawson, all of those guys are at that same position and all competing and in their own ways are doing some really good things. I thought Jay did some good things today that stood out. Dawson did some things the other day. Var has been doing them throughout camp. He’s got a good knack for getting himself open. Besides Landen, Camden is the other guy that really has some size out there that we can do some things with and they’ve both shown that throughout. The consistency from those big guys is going to help us if we can get that.”

 

BIGGEST IMPROVEMENT FOR DAWSON? ...

 

“I think it’s just maturity. I would say a couple of things. One is maturity and settling into ‘you’re in the SEC and here’s the things you need to do from meetings to everything.’ Then really for him, just kind of technique in running. He could run but he was all over the place when he first got here. That was what made him a little bit slippery. He’s still got some of that to him, but just how to get himself open and how to turn it on and really run straight and go track down a ball. He’s not the biggest receiver so you’ve got to have a lot of range in your speed. You’ve got to be able to catch up to balls because you don’t have that length to go get it. I think he’s done a much better job of that. He’s coming along. Guys like Shed and Malcolm that have been around have helped him. Var has helped him as well. Bringing some other guys in that have played like Dazalin have helped him too.”

 

HOW QUICKLY CAN YOU DETERMINE DEPTH? ...

 

“We’ve been doing it every day. Nothing that is solidified, but just the coaches in there like ‘alright, if we had to play today?’ We’re just kind of moving guys around based off performance. We’ll find out after the scrimmage where we are. This week is going to determine how much work we do in the scrimmage and what that’s going to look like. I’ve got to see from these guys what we saw today. I thought the effort and the urgency, those were what they needed to be. That needs to continue so we can have a really good scrimmage. Then we want to be very specific what we want to get out of that. We’re still a ways away from playing. As we get closer that live work and really getting dialed into tackling and breaking tackles is what you want to make sure you’re focused on. We’re doing it everyday. We’re kind of shuffling guys around. We’ve told our guys that all eyes are on them. Everybody is watching what’s going on out there. It’s body language. It’s what you do on the field and the things you do in the building. Everything is taken into account.

"Right now, it’s — I feel like we’re, two-deep, where we’d be at right now, if we had to play, and some of the guys that have played, some of the young guys that have stood out are starting to work their way in. As we get into the scrimmage, we’ll find out more when we get to go live, who’s going to hit, who’s going to tackle and who’s going to play. Then we’re going to move it from there, and we’ll jockey it around that second scrimmage—into the second scrimmage is where you’ll be cutting the team into the two-deep and the scouts, is what that’s going to look like. So, it’s going to happen fairly quickly, and like I told our guys, this stuff goes quick and you need to be ready, so every rep you get, every practice matters.”

 

ZACH CALZADA'S FINALLY HEALTHY ...

 

“Yeah, I don’t think he’s got any rust. Again, it’s camp, and so you’re seeing a lot of different looks from the defense, and I think all the quarterbacks have had their moments, really good and some where we’ve got to learn from it. I think he’s done well. Today was a good day for him. I thought his footwork was good; he threw the ball well. Like everybody else, he had a sense of urgency on the field. That’s where our quarterbacks, really, each and every day they got to show up and have great days because if they don’t, the rest of us really feel that. So, there’s really no days off for those quarterbacks, and I think today was one of our more consistent days from the QBs—still not what it needs to be but was still more consistent than what it’s been from all those guys.

“Even Holden. Holden’s starting to really show some flashes of understanding what we’re doing, changing a few things mechanically so he’s just a little bit better in those areas. But all those guys, I think, have done a really good job of applying what Coach Kiesau has asked them to do. Now we just got more time. That’s the thing. It’s not a finished product right now. That’s for everybody; we all want to know, and myself included, but coaching that position, doing this for a few years now, you’d know that we have time to keep building through some things. You just got to stick with one thing for a while until they get it, and then move on to the next. You don’t want to throw five or six things at a quarterback, because then they don’t really master anything; you got to master something. You got to figure out what that is, and you got to master it, then you got to move on to the next thing.”

 

ANDERS CARLSON'S HEALTH ...

 

“Yeah, he looks like it. Today, we had kickoff. He was wearing his brace today out there on the kickoff; I still think he hadn’t completely just put everything into his swing, but he put it in the end zone. That’s the thing; he’s got the leg. So, he’s an elite talent that way, but he’s — the thing about Anders is Anders is mature. Anders understands there’s a progression to all this, and by the time we’re ready to go play, he’ll be ready. He’s ready right now, but for his level, right, he can go out there and be as good as most kickers in the country right now. His level and where he’s trying to put himself, there’s a progression to get there. I think Evan McGuire, you know, continues to improve in kickoff and things like that. 

"Then Alex McPherson has been pretty good. Alex is not as big as Anders; you can see that, but he packs a punch now, when you watch a kick. He’s got some torque, and that guy can boom it. He’s also a special talent. So, both those guys, I think, are pushing each other, and that specialist group—you guys have seen the TVs, they’ve been on the TVs a few times, so they’re pretty proud of themselves, alright? When I called them out today, they were sitting in that back corner right there, and there was a big cheering section for themselves. But they really are — Anders, Oscar, all those guys — they’re doing some really good things. So our specialists are in a really good spot right now.”

 

ROBBY ASHFORD'S BIGGEST IMPROVEMENTS? ...

 

“I think his decision making. That’s the one thing. That’s—for Robby, he’s a weapon, too, when he takes off and runs. That’s one thing you guys have probably seen him do that, so he’s got that ability. Then he’s a force when he does it, so just decision making, right? If everybody’s covered, he’s going to have a chance to go out there and make a play with his feet, but I also think he’s throwing the ball better, his decision making in the pass game. I thought he had a couple throws the other day that were really special, that he put into some windows with some accuracy, and just his command of the offense too—calling plays, making checks, audibles, all those things. He’s got a better feel for those things right now, and that’s why he was able to be the player (of the day Sunday).

“Today was pretty good. I thought T.J. had a good day today. Zach stepped up in some areas. All those guys did some good things. I think every one of those quarterbacks have been player of the day at some point. Just, those guys are still competing; they’re all getting somewhat equal reps. I like where Robby’s progressing right now.”

 

IKE HILLIARD'S IMPACT ...

 

“Yeah, I think Coach Hilliard—I would absolutely tell you that he’s made an impact in that room. No doubt about it. Those guys, like I said, other than just those guys out there working, which is a really positive thing, there’s been very little distraction. That’s a large group; you have large numbers at the wide receiver position, but they’re just going. I think that’s because of his leadership in the meeting room and all of that. He has an expectation of this is how we’re going to do it, and those guys are doing it. Can we do it better? Absolutely. Does he work with them after practice? Yep. He’s going to spend time with them, and he’ll come in meetings and tell them exactly what they need to do.

“A guy like Ze Capers today, Ze has gotten better and better every single day, so I think he’s one of the guys that has stood out. I thought today for sure. We threw one—he was running a deep post; the ball was thrown over his right shoulder, he’s running that way, it’s thrown over his right shoulder and he curves, turns and adjusts, catches the ball for a touchdown. I mean, you don’t see many guys do that, and I think for a guy like that, he’s one of the guys that really stood out and has stood out through this camp. I think he’s a guy that, because of Coach Hilliard, he's really taken the next step. He's a big, long target, and he's making a lot of plays for us right now. I should have mentioned him earlier, but he had some good things through these practices that we've seen. He continues to do that, so those guys -- definitely he's made an impact with that group."

 

IMPORTANCE OF 5 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES ...

 

"Yeah, I think that's a unique — somebody else had five games? I saw it. Isn't there somebody else who has five games? You guys should know that. Well, look it up. There was another team that had five home games, as well. I've never been in a situation like that. We're going to try to take advantage of it. To be at home -- look, we know our routine, right? That's one of the things. For our guys, too: That needs to be our advantage. It can't be one of those things where you get board with it. You want to go on the road, sometimes I think that breaks things up a little bit. You've been at home, you've been practicing. It's good to get on the road. You have five straight home games, and in that stadium, that needs to be our advantage. We've talked about that since January -- what that schedule's going to look like -- because it's going to be unique. As far as I'm concerned, I want to be right there in our stadium, playing at home. We've got eight home games, and we need to take advantage of it. We start that way, and that needs to be an advantage for us."

 

HOW HAVE DEFENSIVE TRANSFERS HELPED? ...

 

"Morris, he was a guy that, the first day I put out examples of practice habits, he was on it. He was the very first guy I showed. So he's not as long as some of the other D-linemen that we have, but he packs a punch. That's the one thing about him — he's really athletic. He's got some suddenness to him; he's powerful, he's athletic. He's got leverage; he's not as tall as the other guys. Craig is coming off a foot injury, so he's just starting to get back into it. You're starting to see that. I don't think there's anything negative, but now it's the conditioning and getting a chance to go out there, run and cut, and really just trust that ankle that he can do those things. Bragg, the edge position, we know how important that is. You've Eku, you've got Derick there. Both of those guys are good. Bragg's come in — he's working on special teams and he's in there playing. I think his maturity, and obviously this being his last year, that's really stood out, too. He's come in and he's figured it out. He's made an impact already. Those three guys right there — at that edge position, he's a huge addition. He's certainly come in here and made an impact. I feel like those guys have all been really good additions to the team."

 

DONOVAN KAUFMAN'S LEADERSHIP ...

 

"Donovan, he's very focused on — and has been since January — the day-to-day of what he has to do to get better. I think he came in with that mentality, but he's really honed in on what his process is. To me, he's a guy that has become a leader on this team, really by example, now, verbally. He knows what we're doing; he knows the calls. He's a guy that's going to help us on special teams. So just an all-around good football player that, in the summertime, he stood out in decks. That last day of decks, he's pushing himself — I think he did his best on that day. He's been at every meeting, locked in, every practice, locked in, every walkthrough, locked in. He's very purposeful in what he does. To me, that stands out because he gets an advantage — he's not wasting opportunities. That needs to continue. He can play for us. For him, he's worked on tackling, he's worked on coverage. He's worked on his skills on the defensive side of being able to move around and play safety and nickel and different spots. He understands the defense. So he's making himself more versatile — where we can utilize him in different packages and different areas on the field."

 

KAUFMAN'S VERSATILITY

 

"He's flexible. He gives you the versatility to do some different things. You can have him in one spot, nickel, you can put him at safety, you can bounce him around. So, again, just for defenses, you don't have one guy in one spot and just identify who that is. They have to know where he's lined, who's lined up and where. I think that helps the defense with the offense, trying to identify players and numbers and things like that, he's not at the same position. He might on a different call or a different position. He gives us that versatility that helps us on the defensive side."

 

HOW IS THE OFFENSE BEING MORE CREATIVE? ...

 

"I think that's what we do, really. I would say from the offensive philosophy, that's always been it. We tried to do some last year; we probably didn't do it as much. I also think we know our personnel better; we have some better personnel and some more depth in there, which allows us to be able to do those things. You want to train everybody to do it all, so they know the positions. You're just training them to be a good football player; that's all you're doing. In the offseason, you're training guys to be good football players. Special teams, you're applying yourself to tackle. So you're still teaching guys how to tackle. You're teaching guys how to block, how to defeat blocks. Then you start getting into more specifics when you get into schemes, and you say, OK, everybody runs a certain route this way. Find the guys who do it best -- alright, that might be the guy that's going to be on that particular play and in that position. The players have to understand that, too. You might be a guy who's playing on one spot, but on this play, you're playing another. You've got to see the big picture of the offense. You're trying to teach guys — it's not only that you do this; you need to know this whole thing. If you want to play and be more versatile in our offense — and give yourself a chance to be on more plays — you need to know the whole thing. It's kind of that whole-part-whole concept.

"... And that's more of a credit to our coaches and players is that they're starting to understand football, at least what we want them to do. Alright? So our offense, what we're trying to get done, what the concept, how it's going to beat the coverages or the front, whatever it is, so those guys can be more versatile and we can bounce the around. So we're just a more smart team at this point than what we were, and I think the coaches right now are identifying 'OK, who does what well?' And then you start getting into more of the game planning and specifics of that."

 

HOW BIG IS THE CHIP ON YOUR TEAM'S SHOULDER? ...

 

"Yeah, I mean I think that whole concept of the chip and all that, you kind of got it, right? I think that's one thing. There's certain things that motivate you and you can get upset about whatever. I think what we're trying to teach our guys is just how to be that way regardless. I think that's the whole idea of our football program is to teach people in our football program, players and coaches, how to be that way on a day-to-day basis — is what it is. How to go out there and really have the chip, so to speak, on your shoulder, every day. For whatever it is you're trying to do. You made it, you're at the bottom, it doesn't matter what anybody says or if they're patting you on the back. I've been there in both positions everybody's loving you and telling you that you're all this, and you're not. Everybody's telling you that you're not, and that's not true either. Just trying to be a consistent human being and focus on the things you can control and then go out there and try to be the very best you can be, so to me all that stuff is really just the drama that surrounds what we do, but that's not what we talk about. 

"We talk about what we have to do today, like what's on that board right there. Those are things we talk about. Those are things that matter to us, and that's the motivating factor, right? Because after the pregame speech and all the hype wears off in the game, what's driving you? Hopefully you want to be the best you can be. You're going to be accountable to your team. Those type of things are important to you, that's how you're wired. Because that's really what you want from anybody you're working with, or what you're trying to share with these guys. That's what you want from these guys. That's what you want from yourself, too. So that's not a focus for us. In these walls, what we're trying to do on a day-to-day basis, how we develop our players, how they improve, giving them a chance to go live their goals and dreams and making sure they're doing things the right way, to the best of our ability, that's the stuff that matters."

 

HOW MUCH SHUFFLING ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE? ...

 

"It's different. It's not as much of a rotation. You're trying to get — your tackles are your tackles, your guards are your guards. So not everybody's bouncing around all over the place. It's really now off who's available. If a guy's not in, you're going to have to adjust and play some guys and bounce them around a little bit. And like any position. That's one of the things about camp, you've got to be able to get through camp. That's one of the things that's really important in football. And when you don't, you hurt your team. You obviously hurt yourself, you take your reps away, but you also hurt your team. You've got to start now making the coaches bounce guys around and do all that. So we're not trying to do all that. Some of it happens because guys can't practice for whatever reason, but we'd like to have everybody right now available. 

"We're not that far into practice, so guys should be able to be out there, and when they're not, and we've got to bounce some guys around, which happens, it'll happen through the season, I think sometimes it's good to do that, but you'd like to have that core working together and have them at the right spots more now than when we first got here. Because we were still trying to figure out who they are. We've got a better idea who they are. Now we want to spend more time with them in the right positions."

 

WHOSE IDEA WAS THE TOP GUN VIDEO? ...

 

"Yeah, we had a couple hours on our hands right there to do that. Everybody talks about the QB competition, right? So we embraced it a little bit. Guys did a good job. Just having a little bit of fun going into camp. I think that's one thing that we lose, too, is that this season we're about to play in, there's a lot that goes into it. There's a lot of training. And for those guys and our players in particular, just having a little bit of fun was kind of the whole concept behind that. We enjoyed doing it. They had some fun with it. They got to see the actual scenes, they saw that. I'm not sure how we performed it right to a T. But also just being with those guys too, right? Coaches and the quarterbacks having a chance to be together right before we're going to go out there and get into the storm was part of the idea of that."

[WFE12 9,191]

Yeah I think we know about this guy….smh

[NWALA Tiger 3,535]

Anybody heard any new developments in the QB race. Rumor has it that Finley may be in the lead.  Anyone else hearing anything?

[Didba 5,256]

 

Anybody heard any new developments in the QB race. Rumor has it that Finley may be in the lead.  Anyone else hearing anything?

The rumor that Finley is in the lead is based off what the media saw in a limited window. I take it with a grain of salt. 

[WFE12 9,191]

 

[Sizzle 3,912]

 

Anybody heard any new developments in the QB race. Rumor has it that Finley may be in the lead.  Anyone else hearing anything?

Developments don’t happen with QB’s until scrimmages. That’s when somebody starts to separate 

[FASTCOMPANY 394]

Is there an update on the injured OL?

[toddc 13,194]

I don’t have 24/7 access-it’s vip 

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

 

Is there an update on the injured OL?

Al.com said it was Jones but he was banged up and returned to practice on a limited basis today. He is expected to be back completely tomorrow. He has been out a couple of days today he did about half the practice with Stutts taking his reps as starter he is expected back tomorrow.

https://www.al.com/auburnfootball/2022/08/injured-auburn-starting-offensive-lineman-returns-to-practice.html

 

 

[Tigerpro2a 5,650]

 

 

unit of the day....WRS!!!!!!!

[TigerPAC 965]

Saturday scrimmage....

will it be open to former lettermen etc.?  just wondering bc there are a few of those that do some talk radio and curious if could hear an opinion from someone there who is not on staff 

[gr82b4au 5,568]

ZC took the first team reps today

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

 

ZC took the first team reps today

I wonder does that mean he has moved ahead of TJ or if just rotating 1st team reps while waiting for a decision. I would assume the scrimmage will have biggest impact on who wins QB1.

[DAG 33,979]

Guys relax...this is all fodder haha. We will know soon enough who is QB1

[maryland tiger 616]

For a quick second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me and Derrick Brown returned. MBA certainly looks the part. 

 

[au302 2,669]

 

I wonder does that mean he has moved ahead of TJ or if just rotating 1st team reps while waiting for a decision. I would assume the scrimmage will have biggest impact on who wins QB1.

I've learned this past week to not read anything into any of it. Apparently Hars is one that wants to stretch it as long as he can to keep the competition going and everyone engaged. Not sure if I agree, but that's how it goes.

Agree though that things gotta narrow down, at least somewhat, after Saturday's scrimmage. He's gonna want the front two to start getting more reps with the ones

[Didba 5,256]

 

ZC took the first team reps today

I bet they have been switching the QBs getting first team reps during the media period 

[Didba 5,256]

 

For a quick second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me and Derrick Brown returned. MBA certainly looks the part. 

 

Just needs to work on his technique, can't be playing high when you are that big. Have to get your pad level lower than the OL with a good first step/read on the OL's block.  Really difficult for some guys, others pick it up really quick.  Took me forever to read the OL's blocks.  

DL have to watch the L of the neck/shoulder to determine what block is coming and where the ball is going. Down/angle block, reach block, trap block, double team, slide block, zone block, drive block all require a different response from the DL and you have to do it within milliseconds of the snap or you get pancaked/run yourself out of the play.

[AuburnNTexas 7,140]

 

Just needs to work on his technique, can't be playing high when you are that big. Have to get your pad level lower than the OL with a good first step/read on the OL's block.  Really difficult for some guys, others pick it up really quick.  Took me forever to read the OL's blocks.  

DL have to watch the L of the neck/shoulder to determine what block is coming and where the ball is going. Down/angle block, reach block, trap block, double team, slide block, zone block, drive block all require a different response from the DL and you have to do it within milliseconds of the snap or you get pancaked/run yourself out of the play.

Sounds like you know what you are talking about. I am impressed.

[Didba 5,256]

 

Sounds like you know what you are talking about. I am impressed.

My DL coach would be proud I can remember all of it.  Course it helped I dabbled a bit in coaching before I went to law school, not a lot but enough to know my way around DL, Edge, LBs and a general understanding of defensive scheme/playcalling.  I know nothing about secondary play or offensive skill positions.

[Auburn93 527]

 

Just needs to work on his technique, can't be playing high when you are that big. Have to get your pad level lower than the OL with a good first step/read on the OL's block.  Really difficult for some guys, others pick it up really quick.  Took me forever to read the OL's blocks.  

DL have to watch the L of the neck/shoulder to determine what block is coming and where the ball is going. Down/angle block, reach block, trap block, double team, slide block, zone block, drive block all require a different response from the DL and you have to do it within milliseconds of the snap or you get pancaked/run yourself out of the play.

He is going to struggle against the run until he fixes this.  I wouldn't expect too much out of MBA this year.