Good morning, Bunker. We are at the Woltosz on this lovely day to speak with Hugh Freeze following Auburn's practice this morning. I will do my best to summarize this occasion. Click refresh, will continue to update...
** Opens by congratulating Coach Pearl and Auburn's basketball team. He said he'd be there Friday night, but would have preferred an earlier tip time. Pearl has done a great job of managing expectations and toughness of league. Excited for Butch Thompson and his 300th win. Got to know him much better over offseason. Very excited for Coach Vickers and what he'll bring to the women's basketball program.
** Thought Pro Day went very well. Players performed well. Impressed with how well Payton Thorne threw the ball.
** Said Brother Chette and the impact he's had on so many lives at Auburn in legendary. Former player Mike Blanc will be taking over that role.
** First week was probably three of the better practices he's had for spring. Spent a lot of time in February preparing for the install. Energy was good today and we competed well.
** Very optimistic on Jackson Arnold. Calm demeanor, confident, arm is good. His decision-making as been on point. Very few wrong decisions first three days, throwing accurate balls. Eyes stay downfield under pressure.
**Deuce Knight's maturity is farther along than expected. Always wanting to learn. Have to run him off field so he doesn't throw too much.
** Wide receiver room is one of the most talented he's been associated with. Better make plays. Seeing a lot of the 2nd-year guys executing better. Very dependent on that room having success.
** Mike Blanc has humility and a love for Auburn. Similar to Chette because they worked together. Gus Malzahn recommended him.
** Freeze said he's thankful for all the doctors. He said he struggles believing he has cancer because he feels great. Had a short time of self pity and now deciding on right next step. Waiting on one more test on the aggressiveness of these cells and that will help make decision on how aggressive to treat it.
** Eric Singleton makes the DB's very uncomfortable. His speed and quickness is pretty elite. He's added another dimension to our offense.
** Spring injuries: Connor Lew, Demarcus Riddick, Xavier Chaplin, Keldric Faulk, Durrell Robinson, Hollis Davidson, Bryce Cain all banged up, out or missing contact. Freeze wants to do away with spring practice and have OTA's in June. You have these postseason injuries and surgeries, and they're not ready yet.
** We need to play better and win games. Loves his kids, staff. There's confidence and it's growing. Hopefully we respond to that confidence and not the outside world.
** Freeze says they still need a little more help at some positions that will be addressed.
** Alex McPherson is looking good. Procedure he had has helped. Has gained more weight and looks better. Has kicked the ball well.
** Not changing anything on offense or defense from last year, verbiage and schemes, gives players more confidence. We should execute better. Not trying to do too much this spring and see what kids can do. They're going to do a lot on defense. Need those young guys to play upfront and some in the backend.
** The sense of urgency has to be on defense, playing with relentless effort. Will need a few more guys at certain spots on that side of the ball.
** Only going to do nine padded practices. Trying to teach and keep the players healthy.
** Freeze likes cohesion of staff, culture of his program and the improved depth chart. Gives him confidence for this season. Everybody is pitching in to make sure we recruit at the level we need to at the top of the SEC.
** Freeze said he's tried for years to get college football to switch to OTA's and drop spring. With all the changes in recruiting calendar, there might be some momentum to OTA's. The days of the spring game that televised and the portal opens the next week just don't make much sense anymore.
** Malcolm Simmons looks like a different guy. Cam Coleman is more confident and is understanding making adjustments to routes better. Perry Thompson has to play faster at times and he's starting to get it. Singleton has played a long time and is adjusting to our system.
** Sam Turner made plays today. Horatio was the same way. Got some great depth at WR. Sam's a true freshman but think we nailed our evaluation of him.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
** Opens by congratulating Coach Pearl and Auburn's basketball team. He said he'd be there Friday night, but would have preferred an earlier tip time. Pearl has done a great job of managing expectations and toughness of league. Excited for Butch Thompson and his 300th win. Got to know him much better over offseason. Very excited for Coach Vickers and what he'll bring to the women's basketball program.
** Thought Pro Day went very well. Players performed well. Impressed with how well Payton Thorne threw the ball.
** Said Brother Chette and the impact he's had on so many lives at Auburn in legendary. Former player Mike Blanc will be taking over that role.
** First week was probably three of the better practices he's had for spring. Spent a lot of time in February preparing for the install. Energy was good today and we competed well.
** Very optimistic on Jackson Arnold. Calm demeanor, confident, arm is good. His decision-making as been on point. Very few wrong decisions first three days, throwing accurate balls. Eyes stay downfield under pressure.
**Deuce Knight's maturity is farther along than expected. Always wanting to learn. Have to run him off field so he doesn't throw too much.
** Wide receiver room is one of the most talented he's been associated with. Better make plays. Seeing a lot of the 2nd-year guys executing better. Very dependent on that room having success.
** Mike Blanc has humility and a love for Auburn. Similar to Chette because they worked together. Gus Malzahn recommended him.
** Freeze said he's thankful for all the doctors. He said he struggles believing he has cancer because he feels great. Had a short time of self pity and now deciding on right next step. Waiting on one more test on the aggressiveness of these cells and that will help make decision on how aggressive to treat it.
** Eric Singleton makes the DB's very uncomfortable. His speed and quickness is pretty elite. He's added another dimension to our offense.
** Spring injuries: Connor Lew, Demarcus Riddick, Xavier Chaplin, Keldric Faulk, Durrell Robinson, Hollis Davidson, Bryce Cain all banged up, out or missing contact. Freeze wants to do away with spring practice and have OTA's in June. You have these postseason injuries and surgeries, and they're not ready yet.
** We need to play better and win games. Loves his kids, staff. There's confidence and it's growing. Hopefully we respond to that confidence and not the outside world.
** Freeze says they still need a little more help at some positions that will be addressed.
** Alex McPherson is looking good. Procedure he had has helped. Has gained more weight and looks better. Has kicked the ball well.
** Not changing anything on offense or defense from last year, verbiage and schemes, gives players more confidence. We should execute better. Not trying to do too much this spring and see what kids can do. They're going to do a lot on defense. Need those young guys to play upfront and some in the backend.
** The sense of urgency has to be on defense, playing with relentless effort. Will need a few more guys at certain spots on that side of the ball.
** Only going to do nine padded practices. Trying to teach and keep the players healthy.
** Freeze likes cohesion of staff, culture of his program and the improved depth chart. Gives him confidence for this season. Everybody is pitching in to make sure we recruit at the level we need to at the top of the SEC.
** Freeze said he's tried for years to get college football to switch to OTA's and drop spring. With all the changes in recruiting calendar, there might be some momentum to OTA's. The days of the spring game that televised and the portal opens the next week just don't make much sense anymore.
** Malcolm Simmons looks like a different guy. Cam Coleman is more confident and is understanding making adjustments to routes better. Perry Thompson has to play faster at times and he's starting to get it. Singleton has played a long time and is adjusting to our system.
** Sam Turner made plays today. Horatio was the same way. Got some great depth at WR. Sam's a true freshman but think we nailed our evaluation of him.
*****THAT'S ALL*****
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