AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn football is back. After a long off-season, or a short one depending on your perspective, Auburn will return to Jordan-Hare stadium Saturday night to host Alabama A&M in the season opener. Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze's first season ended in disappointment - finishing the season with three straight losses. What will year two of the Freeze era entail? We will find out the answer soon.
Auburn fans might have their opinion as to what they expect this season from Auburn, but what about Hugh Freeze?
“I think most of you think that those of us who’ve done this a while know what to expect from our team and that’s so far from the truth, at least for me,” Freeze said. “I think you really are two, three games in before you are really like, all right, this is who we really are and what we can do."
Freeze has shared optimism throughout the offseason about his program and team heading into his second season. Freeze made multiple changes to his staff after last season including both coordinators. Those changes along with a seemingly better culture have the Tigers' head coach more comfortable in year two, but that does not mean there are not plenty of concerns too.
"As much as I've enjoyed preparing and coaching this team and being with this staff, I still think it's an accurate statement to say, 'I still don't know who we are just yet,' Freeze said. "I think we're better at a lot of spots for sure, but you've got to go prove it each and every Saturday."
Most head coaches, if not all, would share similar comments as Freeze did about their team before a season kicks off. When the lights come on a team is exposed, either in a good way or a bad way. What are the points of concern for Auburn this season?
For starters, it begins with a team that is much more talented than last year's squad but is inexperienced. Auburn will rely on talented true freshmen as well as young sophomores and redshirt freshmen with limited playing experience at the collegiate level.
At no position group is this more evident than wide receiver. Auburn brought in four wide receivers in last year's recruiting class and all four will more than likely have a role this season. Auburn's wide receiver room was one of the worst in the SEC last season and how well the freshmen receivers fair along with the three transfer wide receivers Auburn brought in will go a long way in determining how successful Auburn's offense is this season.
Sticking on the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line, from an outsider's perspective seemed to be a position of little concern heading into the season, but Freeze says that is not the case. Auburn has struggled to solidify the left side of the offensive line so far in fall camp. Four guys, Dillon Wade, Percy Lewis, Tyler Johnson, and Bradyn Joiner are competing for the left tackle and left guard positions.
“I think it’ll be a few games in before we kind of settle into exactly what it looks like, but we actually rotated Tyler Johnson, Percy, and D-Wade in kind of a three-way rotation there, along with Bradyn Joiner at that guard only guard position,” Freeze said. “And I think the most likelihood is you’re going to see D-Wade play a little of both and us rotate around him at that tackle position and kind of see who plays the best."
On the defensive side of the ball, there might be even more question marks. Auburn's official depth chart handed out to the media Monday included 37 players listed as starters on the defensive side of the ball and Freeze said it was not a smokescreen.
"Honestly it's not. Y'all know how I feel about depth charts from day one," Freeze said. "I think they're ridiculous and not accurate."
Despite Freeze's comments, 37 players cannot and will not start on defense, but Auburn will rotate plenty at multiple positions. The biggest question on Auburn's defense is more than likely the secondary. Auburn lost multiple players to the NFL draft last year from the secondary and is replacing many of those guys with young talent. The talent is there, but the experience is lacking. How will young players like Kayin Lee, J.C. Hart, Sylvester Smith, and others step into their roles this season?
While there are plenty of unknowns surrounding Auburn's team this season, the Tigers do return starting quarterback Payton Thorne who has the full confidence of his head coach entering his second year on the plains.
"I'm very confident sitting here today and at the same time I've said every since spring practice that ultimately he's got to get the job done," Freeze said.
Along with Thorne getting the job done, can Auburn as a whole get the job done this season? What does Hugh Freeze want to see from his team in year two?
"I want us to play with a passion at Jordan-Hare that is one that would be consistent all year long and a confident football team that looks like they one another and that love being together at Auburn and it shows in the way we play and execute," Freeze said.
If Auburn plays to Freeze's standard Saturday and for the season as a whole, the questions many have entering the season will have been answered in a good way. Auburn coaches, players, and fans alike are hopeful that will be the case. The rabid Auburn fanbase is ready for a team and program they can once again be proud of. Will Hugh Freeze and his team deliver?
