quarterbacks have ‘plenty to correct’

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1. Auburn Football

Auburn quarterbacks have ‘plenty to correct’ after 1st scrimmage

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Auburn quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021 in Auburn, Ala. Todd Van Emst/AU AthleticsTodd Van Emst/AU Athletics

 

 

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

Bryan Harsin wants his quarterbacks to treat every rep like a game rep. After one week of practice, Auburn’s quarterbacks got to experience their most game-like opportunity of fall camp when the team held its first scrimmage under the lights at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday night.

 

The 100-play affair, which was split close to evenly between the first-, second- and third-team units, provided the Tigers’ quarterbacks with a chance to show what they can do when the lights are on and bullets are flying. It also provided Harsin with an opportunity to get some better intel on his quarterbacks’ progress at this point in the preseason.

 

“There’s some really good things tonight at the quarterback position,” Harsin said after the scrimmage. “I thought all the guys ran the ball well and did some things and threw the ball well at times. There’s plenty to correct.”

 

 

Bo Nix, T.J. Finley and Dematrius Davis all had chances to lead Auburn’s offense during the scrimmage, and while the Tigers created some explosive plays in the passing game — with Harsin impressed by the consistency and playmaking shown by team’s young receiving corps — some missed opportunities came in the form of turnovers.

 

Auburn wide receivers step up, show progress during first scrimmage

Bryan Harsin lauded Auburn's receivers for some timely and explosive plays during the team's first scrimmage of fall camp.

 

 

Auburn’s quarterbacks accounted for some interceptions during the scrimmage, and though Harsin didn’t provide an exact number of turnovers, he said the offense was at fault on “some” of them. On others, he credited the defense for going up and making plays in the secondary while also acknowledging that the defense was ahead of the offense, as is typically the case at this point in the preseason.

 

 

Despite the interceptions, Harsin seemed generally pleased with the decision-making shown by Auburn’s quarterbacks during the scrimmage.

 

“All the time at the quarterback position it really comes down to decision-making,” Harsin said. “That’s a huge part of what we’re working through now, just learning and making progress as far as what we’re doing and learning to execute the offense and how it needs to look each and every day and every practice, and then making great decisions on the field. When you go out there and it’s time to play, you’ve got to make great decisions.

 

 

“You’ve got to make sure you’re putting your team in the best position to win and taking care of the football and making the right checks and knowing what you’re doing…. That will be the focus with that position moving forward this week is the decision-making process.”

 

 

It goes back to Harsin’s overarching approach to the quarterback position and wanting those players to treat every snap like a game rep so they realize that there aren’t any days off at that position. At least, there can’t be if they hope to play the position at a high level in Harsin and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s pro-style system.

 

 

Auburn is still at the point in fall camp where it is working on the installation of its base offense — reintroducing a lot of what it accomplished in the spring, from the run game, to pass protections to general fundamentals of each position — while working to build upon it as the season opener approaches. And while Finley continues to push Nix in practice, with the competition between the two forcing each other to elevate their performance each day on the field, the job appears to still be Nix’s to lose, as he has received the majority of the first-team reps in fall camp.

 

When asked about the possibility of playing two quarterbacks in the opener against Akron, though, Harsin didn’t rule it out. It is something he has done before while at Boise State, but he added that’s certainly not the goal for the position in fall camp. He prefers to have one quarterback take the reins of the offense and execute it at the high standard Harsin holds it to.

 

 

“Let’s be clear: That’s not what were working toward right now,” Harsin said of a two-quarterback system. “Right now, we’re developing each quarterback to go out there and play the position and be the quarterback. I’ve used multiple quarterbacks for situational things, and because guys deserve to play at that position; I’ve coached some good players, starters and backups.”

 

 

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

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Long way to go before September 4

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Joey Gatewood has entered the transfer portal again

 

 

 

Zac Blackerby

Sun, August 15, 2021, 6:21 PM

 

 

The former Auburn quarterback has entered the transfer portal after losing another battle for a starting quarterback role.

Joey Gatwood transferred to Kentucky from Auburn after losing the battle against Bo Nix. Now, after Kentucky named Will Levis the starting quarterback for the Wildcats.

Both Auburn and Kentucky fans look at the decision and ask the question, “What’s next for the former 4-star quarterback?”.

It looks like if Gatewood would have stayed, he would have had to compete with Beau Allen for the backup spot.

 

Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops made all of the news official at a Sunday night press conference.