Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze talks ahead of Vanderbilt game

Yeah, it's *** good day. Excited to, uh, sit here on *** Monday, uh, after an SEC win. And, uh, one that I thought our kids did *** lot of really, really good things in and thought the, uh, the plan, uh, offensively, defensively and special teams by our staffs was *** really solid plan after watching the film and, uh, we had some good answers to, to things that they tried to do and it was *** team that had been, um, very, very difficult to rush the football against, um, in all the games they played with the exception of the, uh, Florida game. And, um, I thought we, we did that better than, than most have done in, in really several years, uh, against them and they market them do *** great job and I'm just really proud of our kids because reality is down 10, 0, uh, with an interception that could have been, could have grown, um, you know, *** lot of teams after going through the, uh, disappointments we've gone through in losing difficult games this year, could have easily, um, said, oh, my. And, and it could have gotten away from us and our, our kids chose to fight and I think it's *** testament to the character on this team and what we're trying to build here. So very, very, very thankful and pleased with *** lot of things uh that happened in that game. I know that, you know, I thought it was *** dominating second half um from the start to the finish. Um with the exception of that one drive when we went up two scores, I, I started thinking, uh man, what, what we had totally just stoned them, you know, for, for like every possession and then all of *** sudden we go up two scores and are we, is this the same team? What are we doing? And, uh and then man, get down there and, and have the, the four down stops inside. The two was just so encouraging and exciting and I don't know if, you know, I think there were six freshmen on the field for those four stops. Um So, um *** lot to build on there. Um And uh I did ask our defensive staff yesterday in the, in the meeting, you know? All right, you got to tell me like, what, what was there anything different? What, what did they try to do something different or do we call different stuff? All of *** sudden they start moving the ball and the reality is, you know, they obviously showed me the, the tape of it and I mean, they completed *** flute third down the ball is wobbling like end over end and, and that was the biggest play of the drive and they popped *** good run. But uh to see us uh to see us get that fourth down stop was, was really encouraging. And the way we, we found *** way to finish should help us build the confidence uh moving forward into even more of *** difficult stretch of games um that we have uh coming ahead. I mean, Jarque's performance one of the best in school history. I think it's the uh most uh rushing yards against an F BS team in SEC play in, in history of ***, of uh Auburn, I believe is what I was just told. I've got some great announcements coming uh earlier. It was the fourth most in school history and his second half performance is the best in school history. So, um that's, that's great for Jar Quiz. I think he took the lead and maybe rushing in the SEC after the game, I believe, I think he'll be announced as uh offensive player of the week later on today. And also T ta um will be announced uh offensive lineman and then, uh Keld ft defensive lineman. So, uh looks like we swept those awards this week, so that's good to see. And I think Jay Crawford is uh maybe national freshman uh of the, of the week. He's getting better and better. So *** lot of good things, obviously excited for our fans. So many made the trip. Um, that was pretty amazing to see. Uh, well, I've, I've, I've gotten used to it now. We have, we have the greatest fans and really excited to be back in Jordan Hare after what seems like *** year and, uh, we'll need them Saturday. We need them to make it loud Saturday and, um, and make it difficult for the opponent that's coming in here, which is Vandy. And obviously they're playing at an extremely high level right now. You, you talked about how you guys had more success running the ball than pretty much anybody had against Kentucky. I mean, I know you don't want to give away all the strategy and all that. But what do you think was the difference like why you guys were able to be as effective as you were running it against them? Well, the plan was, it was really good. Um And then our kids executed it. Um, and we've got really good running backs, you know, and, but our o line really played one of their better games and, um, we, we showed *** few different things but when it came down to it, truthfully, it, it was more, it wasn't like it was extremely fancy runs. It was mostly inside zones that uh we just blocked up really well. And then our, our guys made the first guy miss and, um, and created some explosive runs. So but it starts up front, the tight ends blocked, uh, one of the better games for sure. And, and our running backs, you know, ran it really, really well, Peyton, when we called upon him to run, it had, had some nice runs to, to, to kind of get *** few first downs here and there ST, uh, two quick things. Uh, one, I guess this, in your past experience, what makes Diego Pavia so hard to play against? And second, you know, you mentioned Jay Crawford being *** freshman of the week. What, what have you seen from him this season to do you think made him such *** good player as *** freshman right away? Well, he's got talent for sure. We knew that but it, it, it's *** maturing process of learning how to practice and, and how to focus on the technique that you need with every given call. And we still don't, we're still not perfect at that by any means playing so many young kids and even our older kids. I mean, the and, but he's getting better and better each week with. All right, man, I've got to play outside tip right here. I've got to play inside tip here. I need to play off here. I need to play Press Bale here. All of that stuff's moving really, really fast for *** freshman with the hundreds of different calls that you make. And then not to just mention the number of calls but it's, the call is based on what do they come out in and? Oh, well, that's, we gotta change that. I mean, they're in *** tight formation that totally changes the call. And man, there, there's *** lot, *** lot of moving parts for, for those young kids and he just, you know, he's getting more used to the game and more used to the system and, uh, you combine that with his talent and he's getting better. And then tan, number one, I'm sick of seeing that quarterback, I've had enough of him and, uh, what *** competitor he is and the job that Clark Lee is and his staff have done their, uh, man to, to be in the games and have *** chance to win all the games they're playing against the nation's elite is, is so impressive and I don't know what year is this for Clark? Third or 4th, 4th year. I just, I, I do think it speaks to and I know nobody likes to hear this but man, good coaches which there's no bad ones in this league. I mean, you, I don't as you, you know, you get time to really establish your culture and, and, and your locker room and people that believe in your system, you, you should be, you know, better when that fourth year rolls around for sure. And, uh, I think that's definitely happening there and well, he's, he, they're just playing with so much confidence and, and they know who they are. Um, one of the scariest things. I mean, you're basically playing Navy. It doesn't look just like Navy but you're, you're not, I mean, Alabama had 44 real snaps of offensive football against them last year when we played him the first time we touched the ball in the first quarter, I believe, was with five minutes and five seconds left. Uh, that's uncomfortable. And, um, and so they know who they are and, and, and they're, they're good being who they are. And so, and then he just, he moves and makes plays and is savvy and smart and tough. And, uh, again, makes everybody do their assignment on every single play or you get burned and it's, it's three yards here even on *** broken play and then it's four yards and it's third and three and they get 3.5. Um, it's, um, and *** lot of us, you know, due to their system, which they're very well coached and, you know, they got my offensive line coach there from Liberty. He was with me at Liberty coach Kleis and he's doing *** heck of *** job. He's one heck of *** coach and he's, uh, doing *** great job with our offensive line in the run game and, uh, have respect for Jerry Keel for sure and, and Tim Beck and, and obviously Clark, I think is one of the best head coaches in the, in the game. So as important as, as field position is, I believe it's three straight games where your opening kickoff return is *** penalty and you're starting. Did you see my reaction on that this time? Me and Tanner had *** discussion on that one. Is it, is it something that almost makes you think? All right, we're just gonna, we're just gonna, I've begged him. Yeah, it was no more of that after that one. I assure you we're not doing that anymore if I have to start another possession inside the 25 because we have *** penalty on *** return. I think I'm gonna just, I, I'm gonna lose it. Now. You, you, that has to stop and, and how much does that affect your script and, oh everything, everything, it, it, uh, it affects everything. You just, and then it, it usually affects the next possession because you're gonna put your defense about midfield and that's where the 1st 10 points came from, you know, so it's just, um, we can't keep offensively. I don't know where we've got to be one of the top in the nation on fewest penalties. Um, we're not terrible on defense either but special teams, we have way too many penalties this year and we, yeah, if it means us, stay in the end zone, then stay in the end zone. Let's, let's just fair, catch the ball and give it to us on the 25 and, and let us, uh, let us go from there. So we, we've got to get that cleaned up for sure. And we got to start being consistent in field goal attempts also, which I think Alex, uh is, is getting closer and closer to being himself. He had enough leg on that on the one he missed just, uh, pulled it *** little, but we had two penalties. Don't we lost field position on the punt return. Chye returned the punt to midfield and then we start on with the eight. So, I mean, those are those, those in, in these games, those are critical. You *** lot of pictures and videos of players and, and staff and you know, you would just seem like relief Saturday after you walk away with first sec win. Is that the sense Saturday night and even coming into this week is like, all right, we got the one and then the back half of the season is kind of wide open. Um Yeah, chance relief. Yes, it's just II I said this last week and I, and I mean, it, there's just, I've just never experienced *** season where every single game that you, I want to phrase this right? So people don't misquote me or whatever, but every single game that we had *** legitimate chance to win, you've watched them, we had legitimate chances to win. Like every game we've been in maybe not Georgia, but I think that one would have been really close too. Had we not given up that score right before half on that flute, whoever he was throwing it to and because we came out and we stopped him and then we scored and the score would have been 10, 7. Us and I'd love to have seen that, but let's, let's, but every other one, we had *** legitimate chance to win and I'm not saying that we should have won them or we're better, but we had *** legitimate chance to win those and not *** single one went our way and then some of the ways they ended were just like gut punches. And, um, and like, we, we just haven't learned how to win yet. And so I told them at halftime, it was time for them to experience what it's like to find *** way to win. And, uh, that's where the joy came from truthfully is. Um, again, I just mentioned how many freshmen we were playing on the, on that last drive there, uh defensively. And, um, so it was, it was, it was the joy came from seeing them get to experience what it's like to finish *** game. Uh uh Brian Matthew, uh You just want to ask you about uh Key Ron Crawford, um looked like maybe he had some struggles early but maybe turned *** corner game, best game he's had here by far. I don't know, seemed relaxed. Um DJ used him *** little different ways. It seemed more comfortable and, uh, you know, Keld Fall got two sacks, um, and is gonna get player of the week and obviously we love Keld is the most solid player we have. But the reason he got those two, both those sacks if you go watch the film is Key Ron Crawford flushed him right to him. Um So I, I thought it was Key Ron's best game for sure. Hey, offensively you start that game, pitching the ball around and really not going anywhere. Did you kind of feel like here we go again or were you thinking about, hey, maybe we're gonna start gapping him in the run game. Uh, no one, no one had, uh, had really, uh, gashed him in the run game. And so, uh, I didn't go in think I, I always go in thinking we have *** good plan and we've got to be balanced and run it, but I did want to start the game trying to, uh, to throw the football on them and, um, it didn't work out so well to start it like that. So, you know, pretty quickly after the first quarter, I mean, the first quarter flew by. And, um, but I think I told the sideline, um, young lady that was doing that, the broadcast that we, we've got to right now establish the run if we're going to be in this game and, and then started finding out, man, our guys are they handling them up front pretty good and, and we're running it. So then in that four minute drive is maybe the best I've seen in my career to eat the entire clock up with. Like, I mean, there's *** lot of people in the box too now and I was so tempted to throw it. I was so tempted and, uh, and kept on the thing kept calling *** nice no throw, no throw, no throw just handed off. And, uh, man, that was ***, that was *** really nice drive *** second. Ok, sir. Um, yeah, uh, coach solid performance from Peyton. Um, still some instances there where there might have been *** lack of situational awareness from him. Uh, although it didn't matter on Saturday and the end result, you know, those have been the types of plays and situations that have, that have caused y'all game. Yes. Uh you know, the only, um, even the first, uh, the first interception I know people will. Um, but truthfully we had *** young man run, run the wrong route that it should have gone to him. Like, I mean, Peyton's wanting to deliver it to, to Malcolm right now, uh, on the snap and he, uh, he ran the wrong route and, uh, which is, uh, uh Malcolm, I just love him, man. He's gonna be *** phenomenal player, but he's, he's still learning and, um, had he run the right route, uh, the ball would have been out and uh, he came back to his progression and was *** little late to it. And then I thought the guy running, the progression should have shaved that, that route back to him. And so that was kind of iffy. So I'm not too upset over that one. And then outside of that, the only play that I thought he short armed that first throw to Jar Quez too. So tho those two, but that, um, the one right before half is the only one that is, uh, just, he, he can't do that and we just talk through it on the headset. We have no time outs. It has to go out of the end zone. Um, and we have to, we have to handle those situations better and he, he, he knows that and, um, but it just, you know, that, that is, we can't operate like that. And so I'm gonna meet with him today actually. And, um, I, I created *** special place on my call sheet for, um, whatever he wants that to make sure he throws it out of bounds or, or touchdown. We're gonna call it something for that 15 2nd play that, um, where, you know, and they played off coverage, there was nobody gonna be open. So just let it fly. Uh, he'll learn from it. I, I don't expect that to happen again, but that was ***, that was *** frustrating end to the, uh, to the second quarter for sure. You talked about offensive line, just having too tall, healthy and then Rayden Joyner kind of getting in there dealing back. Do you feel like this is the, the, the five that have kind of gelled together maybe for the first time, all season? Well, you, you've got ***, *** small sample size but from the sample size that we have, you got to say yes. Um, who weren't perfect. They never will be with all the looks you see and all the movements you see, we still don't protect extremely well, particularly shockingly. It's more in our max protection stuff. Um, you know, that, uh, we're, that we're, we're not protecting as well. So we, we got to get rid of those and, um, but that, that unit played really solid and so I would, I'd have to say from, you know, from the one game sample size that, uh, it was our best performance. Uh, the starts for the offense have been shaky on the first drive of every sec game. What do you think the key is to just, I guess, start better or start without *** three and out against Vander? Yeah, I don't know. That's, um, it feels like we've had *** penalty on every kickoff that put us back at like the eight yard line for one thing, but that's what it feels like. But I'm certain we could call better things and, uh, have *** better plan, but I do think what you just said is that first drive against Vandy is pretty critical because you may not get many. And um we, we better have *** dang good plan. You want to go back to Pavia? I mean, is this *** situation where you talk to your team and try to motivate them based off of last year's result or do you just kind of let the game plan play out since *** lot of these guys were, were on the team last year? Yeah. No, we'll just, we, we're gonna tell them the truth. I'm sure we got some good cutups from, um, from their team. They play extremely hard, extra effort. Um, not just him. I mean, I got some good clips to show our defense. This is what you're up against now. I mean, these guys are defensive ends, get knocked on the ground and then run and, and make ***, *** tackle on the other side of the field for *** six yard gain. I mean, their effort is phenomenal. Um And then obviously his toughness and leadership and greediness is, uh, if they don't know it, they will after today when, when they see the tapes and, and uh hear our defensive staff talk about him, him to requiring you to play assignment, football on every play. Uh We won't talk much about last year. Hey, coach, um, after Saturday's game, several players, um compared you to Michael Jordan calling the victory, your flu game you know, kind of what? Now I said they compared you to Michael Jordan calling the victory, your flu game, uh, kind of with everything, you know, going on prior to kickoff, you know, what kind of went to that decision to coach. I, I'm just glad that I'm glad they're, uh, they had fun with it and, um, it did make me feel better for sure. Uh, I probably would have, I don't know, I'd have felt awful if, uh, if we hadn't have won it, but, uh, did feel better and, um, they can call whatever games they want if we win. I, I don't really care but, uh, I'm glad they had some fun with it for sure. Follows for he, I want to ask you about Dorian, you, you guys pick him up in the portal of this office. He had *** monster game this past week. He's had *** really good season so far. Just what has he brought to y'all in defense, that line, uh, maturity, uh, guy studies film all the time has *** list of questions for the defensive staff every day about, about what he sees. And I mean, he has great IQ, great football knowledge, great leader, great kid. He's, uh, what you want in *** Mike linebacker for sure. And, um, we need, uh, we need people to follow him. You know, Riddick is gonna be really good DJ Barber. Um, and it's good that they can see how he prepares you *** lot of talk about the Vanderbilt offense, Diego Pavia and what they can do on that side. But what challenges do they pose defensively that maybe you guys could try to take advantage of Saturday, whether it be throwing, running whatever the case may be. Vanderbilt's defense. Yeah, I've watched, um, ***, *** good bit yesterday, uh, more this morning, really impressed with, um, you're gonna look at them and, and you're gonna say, all right, we have faced maybe better, um, metric size, weight, uh speed, whatever. And in some, and then you watch the tape and you're like, these dudes are never out of position and they tackle well and they're physical and they play with ***, uh an extra sense and an extra motor and it's, then that you say, man, this is, uh this is *** tall, tall challenge and, um, you know, I think Clark's back calling it and, um, are definitely heavily involved and he, he's, uh, that's his forte and he's, um, done *** really, really nice job against some of the, you know, I think Texas does *** great job schematically offensively and he held them in check and held Alabama to, what, 84 yards rushing. And, uh, I mean, those are impressive things, uh for *** Vanderbilt team, no matter what year you're an impressive for any team. And so, um, it's, uh, it doesn't take long that they get your attention real fast. Hey, uh, as far as Cane Scott goes, he didn't play on defense. I don't think the other day is an injury thing or is he, uh, he tweaked his ankle ankle Wednesday and things were going pretty well and just, uh, just felt like, man, let's, let's, let's try to get him healthy for the stretch run. That was it. Um, yeah, he did, he did felt like good enough to do that, but just didn't get the reps in the, in the scheme. It happened right at the beginning of, of practice Wednesday. And um, so he missed all of Wednesday and Thursday reps and, you know, it's just *** lot going on back there and we were playing pretty solid and I think, uh they, they decided it was just best. Let's stay with the rotation. We had, they only had to play, what, 52 snaps, I think of real football. So, um, didn't tax him too much. You, Keanu Lambert Smith gets another one that's seven on the year from him. Um When he was at Penn State, he had *** few four year or four touchdown seasons, but I'm interested you and your staff when you were in the portal looking for receivers, what stood out about him? And did you have any idea he'd be this productive, especially in scoring touchdowns for you this year. Oh yeah, he was explosive on, on the film. He uh was quick twitched. Um Great ball skills, you know, the only thing about portal recruiting is you don't know the work ethic of *** kid truthfully you don't know, um, exactly who he is, personality wise. You don't know, what is he going to jail with the, with, with the, with the guys in the room? And that's probably been the most pleasing thing is he's looked at as the leader of the room, he's the most polished, uh, you can tell he's played football for, for years when you watch. I mean, he's, he's steadily teaching cam and Perry and, and Malcolm and them. Now, man, hey, this is at the top end of the route, man. Do this, that he, uh, he has some knack for that and then obviously his one on one skills are, are pretty talented. Yep. Thank you guys.