4/13/23 Football Articles

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al.com

What we learned about each position on Auburn’s defense, special teams this spring

Updated: Apr. 12, 2023, 7:47 a.m.|Published: Apr. 12, 2023, 7:05 a.m.

6–8 minutes

The Hugh Freeze era is in full swing, as Auburn wrapped up its first spring under its new head coach with Saturday’s A-Day game at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

It was the culmination of 15 practices over six weeks, as Freeze and his staff worked to install their offensive/defensive schemes and instill their culture on the program Freeze took over at the end of November. Auburn is still a work in progress, of course; Freeze has a full-on rebuild on his hands after the Tigers posted back-to-back losing seasons under Bryan Harsin, and spring practice was just the first step in the process.

Read more Auburn football: Projecting Auburn’s post-spring 2023 depth chart

Revisiting five key spring position battles for Auburn

Road to the Pros Part 1: Derick Hall’s journey from premature birth to the pride of Gulfport, Mississippi

Freeze and his staff learned a lot about their personnel over the last six weeks. Likewise, players learned a lot about the systems they’ll be running come fall and what to expect under this new regime. We also learned a fair deal about Auburn as it steps into this new era (and will learn more in the months ahead leading up to the season opener against UMass on Sept. 2).

On Tuesday, we took a look at what we learned about each position on the offensive side of the ball this spring. Now, let’s examine the other side and go over what we learned about each position on Auburn’s defense and its specialists.

Defensive end

What we learned: Marcus Harris is the leader of the defensive line, taking the helm after the departures of Colby Wooden and Derick Hall, and Auburn knows what it’s getting with him. Auburn also moved Jeffrey M’ba to defensive end full time after he played a few different roles during his first season on the Plains. M’ba has settled in and found his identity at end, and now his goal for the upcoming season is, simply, to “destroy people.”

Defensive tackle

What we learned: Auburn has a massive tandem to plug the inside of the line at tackle and nose in Roberts’ defensive front with Jayson Jones (6-foot-6, 339 pounds) and Kentucky transfer Justin Rogers (6-foot-3, 340 pounds) getting the most first-team reps together this spring. Rogers started out the spring at nose, but defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett wanted to get him comfortable playing the other tackle spot, and he seemed to settle into that role over the final month or so of practices. Those two aside — and taking a big-picture look at the defensive line overall — Garrett wants to go eight-deep for the three defensive line spots (not including the JACK linebacker, which we’ll get to next).

JACK linebacker

What we learned: Freeze believes Auburn is still “deficient in true pass-rushers” and wants to find more help on that front in the post-spring transfer portal, but after losing Derick Hall, Eku Leota and even Marcus Bragg from last year’s roster, the Tigers leaned on a pair of newcomers this spring: Vanderbilt transfer Elijah McAllister and four-star freshman Keldric Faulk. McAllister brings a veteran presence to the group, along with SEC experience, while Faulk looks the part — he’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds — and should be a factor as a true freshman off the edge. Still, Auburn needs more help at the position. Even if it can find some on the transfer market, don’t be surprised if someone like redshirt freshman Powell Gordon gets some work off the edge to add depth to a room that also includes Dylan Brooks and freshman Brenton Williams.

Inside linebacker

What we learned: Even after losing four-year starter, team captain and leading tackler Owen Pappoe to the NFL, Auburn’s inside linebacker group was a pleasant surprise this spring. Along with returning veteran contributors Cam Riley and Wesley Steiner, the Tigers got an infusion of SEC talent and experience with Ole Miss transfer Austin Keys and LSU transfer DeMario Tolan, plus the continued development of redshirt freshman Robert Woodyard Jr. The Tigers want to go three-deep at linebacker this season, with a more evenly distributed snap-count than last season’s top-heavy rotation that leaned heavily on Pappoe, Riley and Steiner.

Cornerback

What we learned: Auburn should have one of the better starting cornerback duos in the country, with Nehemiah Pritchett and D.J. James back for another season from a secondary that ranked top-25 against the pass last season. Depth behind them was a concern this spring, though freshman early enrollee Kayin Lee made some noise and will be counted on immediately this season. More reinforcements will arrive this offseason in the form of incoming freshmen Colton Hood and Tyler Scott, plus the return of a healthy J.D. Rhym

STAR

What we learned: Auburn has a “1A and 1B” at STAR, with Keionte Scott and Donovan Kaufman both returning this season. The position will have a bit more importance in Ron Roberts’ defensive scheme, with it not only serving as a nickel/slot defensive back, but a player who will be asked to blitz more often and drop into the box as another linebacker.

Safety

What we learned: Auburn has experience at safety with both Zion Puckett and Jaylin Simpson back, while Marquise Gilbert and Cayden Bridges also return, but the Tigers feel like they need more depth on the back end. Even with a pair of freshmen (Sylvester Smith and Terrance Love) arriving this summer, Auburn will seek some more experienced depth in the post-spring transfer portal window to really bolster the secondary.

Special teams

What we learned: We didn’t get to see too much in terms of special teams this spring, but the kicker and punter jobs are locked in with Alex McPherson taking over full time following the end of the Carlson kicking dynasty and Oscar Chapman back for his senior season at punter. After helping Auburn finish top-10 in net punting last season, Chapman wowed Freeze at times this spring, including during the special teams period before the official start of A-Day. As for the return game, we got limited glimpses of it during practices, but USF transfer Brian Battie should be a lock to be the Tigers’ top kick returner, considering he was a consensus All-American in that role with the Bulls in 2021.

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

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247sports.com

 

Transfer Avery Jones finds a home at Auburn

Jason Caldwell

3–4 minutes

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AUBURN, Alabama—A standout at East Carolina before deciding to enter the transfer portal for his final season of eligibility, Avery Jones committed to Illinois before a last-minute phone call and visit to Auburn changed his plans in a big way. Flying in to Auburn for a visit just hours before the visit window closed, Jones knew it was the right place for him and he hasn’t looked back since.

“I’m just glad to be here,” Jones said following the A-Day game. “Thankful I made the right choice to come to Auburn. It was a whirlwind with my recruiting process. I’m just glad I ended up in the right spot.”

Starting his career at North Carolina before deciding to look for a better fit, Jones wound up at East Carolina where he became a fixture on the offensive line while playing multiple positions. Following the same path that Auburn coaches like Pat Dye and Hal Baird did before him along with defensive lineman Doug Smith, Jones said he’s fortunate to have this opportunity.

“I love being at Auburn,” he said. “I’m glad I got the opportunity to come here after transferring two times. In the past, that wasn’t really a possibility. I wouldn’t be here without the transfer portal and how immediate things can be in this day and age. I’m glad I’m here.”

Jones is one of three transfers that are expected to be starters on Auburn’s offensive line in 2023, joining tackles Dillon Wade and Gunner Britton. That could be a tough process at some places, but Jones said at Auburn the move was made easy because of the current players on the roster.

“I think the other guys have made it easy for us,” Jones said. “Just transferring in and spring ball. Just being friendly, being nice. Helping us. We’re all learning a new scheme together so it wasn’t too hard getting into the mix and building those relationships.”

Saying that the group continues to gel together as they get more comfortable around each other, Jones said he’s already feeling the camaraderie that coach Jake Thornton is building up front on offense. That’s a big deal heading into a hard summer of workouts to prepare for the season.

9COMMENTS

With spring done and in the books, Jones said the offensive line and offense as a whole is happy about the progress that they made. Now it’s time to put the work in to make sure it’s even better when the season kicks off this fall.

“I feel really excited about it,” Jones said. “The whole group feels excited about the season coming up. We all feel like we’re on the same page and stuff. We’re all making calls and working together. As an O-line, you’ve got to be on the same page to be successful. So I think that’s what this whole spring was about, just getting comfortable with each other.”

">247Sports

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

i posted this for me..................

 

 

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

not much out there today but tommorrow is the day the portal opens up so it is going to pick up quick. and picking up bama players? that would be sweet..........

[aubiefifty 18,259]

yahoo.com

 

Auburn football: Can QB Robby Ashford be the leader coach Hugh Freeze desires?

Richard Silva, Montgomery Advertiser

~4 minutes

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AUBURN — Auburn football quarterback Robby Ashford, by his own admission, wasn't where he needed to be mentally.

The 6-foot-3 Hoover native, who made nine starts for the Tigers in 2022 and totaled over 2,300 all-purpose yards, was about to begin his second spring at Auburn since transferring from Oregon in January 2022. Ashford was entering the race to be the starting QB for coach Hugh Freeze in his first season back in the SEC.

Then Freeze pulled Ashford to the side: "He challenged me to be that guy, that leader," Ashford explained after A-Day. "If I feel like I'm getting in a down space, come to him. ... Just to hear that from him means a lot because he's a coach that cares. He has challenged me every single day."

POSSIBLE IDENTITY: Can the run game be a strength for Hugh Freeze, Auburn football next season?

AUBURN FOOTBALL: How Tigers took 'the right step' during Hugh Freeze's first spring practice

In a rainy and disjointed spring game Saturday, Ashford completed one of his three passes for 39 yards − the lone connection was a deep ball down the seam to Tar'Varish Dawson − and ran for an additional 38. A-Day's first score came on his 7-yard touchdown run on the opening drive.

Those numbers, rivaled only by solid production from running backs Sean Jackson (77 yards) and Justin Jones (50 yards), were good enough to earn him offensive MVP honors. It's the second year in a row he won the award.

The Tigers went 3-6 in games he started in 2022. At times, he flashed arm talent − his 20-yard touchdown throw in the Iron Bowl sticks out − but he was more often erratic, as he finished with an SEC-worst 49.2% completion rate among starters.

"Last year, I was kind of uptight (and) playing off raw ability," Ashford said. "(I) don't want to say it in a bad way, (but I) didn't feel like I was getting coached as good as I could have been. ... You always have questions as a quarterback, and when you can come to your coach and they have the answer for everything, and then even (answer) in more depth, that just helps you.

"That gives me the confidence to go out there and just be like, 'Hey, just go out there and relax, kid, and have fun and just be you.'"

Where is the Auburn quarterback competition after spring practice?

Signs are pointing toward Ashford taking the starting role come September, but Freeze has said all along that this QB contest would not be resolved at spring practice.

Ashford's teammates and competition are, of course, TJ Finley and Holden Geriner. After Ashford trotted onto the field first at A-Day, Finley came in second. Geriner got the third drive.

There's also potential that Freeze's quarterback isn't even on the roster yet. The second transfer portal window is set to open Saturday: "We are open to any position that'll help us improve our team," Freeze said after A-Day. "... That includes the quarterback room."

Asked if he'd be open to remaining on the team as a backup, Finley said he wasn't sure. But he did express desire to win the job: "If I didn’t want to be (the starter)," he said, "I wouldn’t be here."

Richard Silva is the Auburn athletics beat writer for the Montgomery Advertiser. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football: Coach Hugh Freeze has challenge for QB Robby Ashford

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

i have never heard of this cat before for whatever reason. is he legit? lets take him for a test ride.

 

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

 

[TeamZero77 1,939]

12 hours ago, aubiefifty said:

not much out there today but tommorrow is the day the portal opens up so it is going to pick up quick. and picking up bama players? that would be sweet..........

Portal opens saturday, April 15th.

[aubiefifty 18,259]

Just now, TeamZero77 said:

Portal opens saturday, April 15th.

thanx i guess i read it wrong.

[TeamZero77 1,939]

1 minute ago, aubiefifty said:

thanx i guess i read it wrong.

Yw 

[aubiefifty 18,259]

1 minute ago, TeamZero77 said:

Yw 

i am sure i will miss more. keep me honest......

[TeamZero77 1,939]

1 minute ago, aubiefifty said:

i am sure i will miss more. keep me honest......

We all do. 

Thanks again for what you do here. I know it helps me get caught up pretty quickly from day to day.