We are set to speak with Hugh Freeze as Auburn prepares to host No. 1 Georgia this Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Please follow along and refresh for all updates.
*** Obviously you never like to lose games, especially when you don't think you played your best.
*** The defense played extremely hard. Very easily could have held those guys to 13 points. Mentioned on the two late touchdowns there was a 3rd string safety and that blew 2 coverages.
*** Offensively, and this is hard to believe, Hugh says, you watch the tape and there were some good things. Should have left first half with a minimum of 12 points. We were running the ball effectively. The pressure was on us when we had to get in those throwing downs. "We had people open."
*** Excited to be back home to play one of the gold standards in college football right now. "What Kirby Smart has done there in eight years is amazing."
*** There were four penalties that he didn't like and has turned them in to the SEC office. False starts, can't have those.
*** Controlled the ball in second half for 12 minutes and came away with 3 points. That is something you can't do on the road.
*** On QB situation: "We are still wading through that but that is where we will land this week also." - on Payton being QB1, Robby getting snaps.
*** Says it belongs to the coaching staff to get the offense fixed.
*** How does Payton continue to earn the job? "Be more consistent." Hugh feels like sometimes the coaching staff including him have let the 3 quarterbacks down.
*** Mentions Robby threw two deep balls well but the routes weren't ran correctly.
*** "We're still a work in progress with the roster we have. I kind of divide the season up, there's Season 1 up until the open week and then there is some major evaluation.
*** Damari Alston will be out for a period of time, for sure. Has a dislocated shoulder.
*** Donovan Kaufman and Zion Puckett are day-to-day.
*** On what they were trying to accomplish early in the game: "Loved the game plan. Controlled the entire second quarter with the run game but didn't convert any drives for the reasons I already mentioned. Second half game plan could have been better, especially in the third quarter."
*** On Auburn-Georgia: "I don't sense the hatred that I do in other rivalries." I then tell him he's going to find out. "Love is a great motivator for me."
*** "He was really sharp in practice." - on JG's question on if there is a difference between practice Payton and game Payton. "He owns it. We had a good meeting last night."
*** BMatt throws Hugh for a loop with a PFF stat that Payton was 4-for-5 on play action passes.
*** Auburn had zero RPO in the game against A&M, which Hugh is not happy about. "We have gotten away from that and I don't understand that. We have to figure out our identity."
*** On how importance of recruiting this weekend: "Huge. I don't know if we will have enough tickets for all the kids that want to come. We have official visits. We have kids wanting to come unofficially. It's all hands on deck."
*** Hugh mentions he played Kirby his first year at UGA and he saw what he took over, which is far from where the Dawgs are now.
*** "I am totally comfortable with how we are building the program."
*** How involved is Hugh in the game planning? "This is something I'm struggling with. And that's all I probably need to say ... I do feel like if I got too involved there would be some confusion with the terminology ... I mean, obviously they are going through the game plan with me ... I'm confident that I am going to be more involved. It's difficult when it isn't your terminology. I think Monty and them are doing a great job of trying to correct what they see."
*** On Eugene Asante of the offense?: "We're searching. That was one of the things, I think we need to get more swagger on the offensive side. The most positive guy so far has been Luke Deal. I think he has a good grasp of how this league plays out..."
*** On the team overcoming the talent gap: "I"m always truthful with our team. I tell them whether they are the favorite or the underdog. I've done that everywhere I have ever been. I feel like it creates a transparency. But I am very clear that I have never walked into a game feeling like I shouldn't win."
*** On Holden getting last drive: "I think Holden, if he ends up being the guy at some point, he's just has to have a lot of reps. I loved the way he seemed poise. His balls were inaccurate. There were two balls out of bounds. But really, he was probably 1-of-5 on accuracy. But again, you're talking about a guy that we haven't given quality reps and with those he could be more accurate."
That's it for Hugh. Have a great Monday.
Please follow along and refresh for all updates.
*** Obviously you never like to lose games, especially when you don't think you played your best.
*** The defense played extremely hard. Very easily could have held those guys to 13 points. Mentioned on the two late touchdowns there was a 3rd string safety and that blew 2 coverages.
*** Offensively, and this is hard to believe, Hugh says, you watch the tape and there were some good things. Should have left first half with a minimum of 12 points. We were running the ball effectively. The pressure was on us when we had to get in those throwing downs. "We had people open."
*** Excited to be back home to play one of the gold standards in college football right now. "What Kirby Smart has done there in eight years is amazing."
*** There were four penalties that he didn't like and has turned them in to the SEC office. False starts, can't have those.
*** Controlled the ball in second half for 12 minutes and came away with 3 points. That is something you can't do on the road.
*** On QB situation: "We are still wading through that but that is where we will land this week also." - on Payton being QB1, Robby getting snaps.
*** Says it belongs to the coaching staff to get the offense fixed.
*** How does Payton continue to earn the job? "Be more consistent." Hugh feels like sometimes the coaching staff including him have let the 3 quarterbacks down.
*** Mentions Robby threw two deep balls well but the routes weren't ran correctly.
*** "We're still a work in progress with the roster we have. I kind of divide the season up, there's Season 1 up until the open week and then there is some major evaluation.
*** Damari Alston will be out for a period of time, for sure. Has a dislocated shoulder.
*** Donovan Kaufman and Zion Puckett are day-to-day.
*** On what they were trying to accomplish early in the game: "Loved the game plan. Controlled the entire second quarter with the run game but didn't convert any drives for the reasons I already mentioned. Second half game plan could have been better, especially in the third quarter."
*** On Auburn-Georgia: "I don't sense the hatred that I do in other rivalries." I then tell him he's going to find out. "Love is a great motivator for me."
*** "He was really sharp in practice." - on JG's question on if there is a difference between practice Payton and game Payton. "He owns it. We had a good meeting last night."
*** BMatt throws Hugh for a loop with a PFF stat that Payton was 4-for-5 on play action passes.
*** Auburn had zero RPO in the game against A&M, which Hugh is not happy about. "We have gotten away from that and I don't understand that. We have to figure out our identity."
*** On how importance of recruiting this weekend: "Huge. I don't know if we will have enough tickets for all the kids that want to come. We have official visits. We have kids wanting to come unofficially. It's all hands on deck."
*** Hugh mentions he played Kirby his first year at UGA and he saw what he took over, which is far from where the Dawgs are now.
*** "I am totally comfortable with how we are building the program."
*** How involved is Hugh in the game planning? "This is something I'm struggling with. And that's all I probably need to say ... I do feel like if I got too involved there would be some confusion with the terminology ... I mean, obviously they are going through the game plan with me ... I'm confident that I am going to be more involved. It's difficult when it isn't your terminology. I think Monty and them are doing a great job of trying to correct what they see."
*** On Eugene Asante of the offense?: "We're searching. That was one of the things, I think we need to get more swagger on the offensive side. The most positive guy so far has been Luke Deal. I think he has a good grasp of how this league plays out..."
*** On the team overcoming the talent gap: "I"m always truthful with our team. I tell them whether they are the favorite or the underdog. I've done that everywhere I have ever been. I feel like it creates a transparency. But I am very clear that I have never walked into a game feeling like I shouldn't win."
*** On Holden getting last drive: "I think Holden, if he ends up being the guy at some point, he's just has to have a lot of reps. I loved the way he seemed poise. His balls were inaccurate. There were two balls out of bounds. But really, he was probably 1-of-5 on accuracy. But again, you're talking about a guy that we haven't given quality reps and with those he could be more accurate."
That's it for Hugh. Have a great Monday.
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