Auburn scrimmage notes, observations, and analysis

Everything Auburn Live was able to gather from a two hour Auburn football scrimmage. The defense probably had an advantage most of the time. Offense was working on situations depending on where they were on the field. These notes are gathered from observing without always knowing what situation is being worked on..

Notes and analysis

— We saw Caleb Burton more on the outside than in the slot on Saturday.

— Perry Thompson was in the slot with a nice grab over two defenders. The ball placement was interesting. Looked like the inside shoulder. Good ball placement, but it was a bit unorthodox. It was a great grab by Thompson.

— Hank Brown struggled with a zone look. Let the safety drift back in and didn’t see him. He clutched back and pulled down for what would be a sack.

— During 7-on-7, Freeze stood with a play sheet and his headset on and looked to be calling plays. We did not see Derrick Nix during this portion. He was more than likely in the box.

— Malik Blocton was seen with the first team defense to start the day, but the defensive line was in a constant rotation.

— A nice back shoulder throw to Robert Lewis against Kite. Great timing.

— They tried a bubble Sam Jackson and he kept moving up field. Thorne had to throw away. It looked a little off.

— Freeze was visibly upset about a missed assignment on a play fake. Geriner turned the wrong way based on Freeze’s body language.

— Auburn’s offense often showed tempo after a first down.

— Walker White had Malcolm Simmons on a seam wide open. He missed.. Pushed it too hard. Great read though.

— Thorne made a pre-snap check to a run.. that was different. Usually he just makes the choice without alerting.

— Fairweather had a nice catch on a slant over the middle. Champ Anthony was not in bad shape covering him. Great throw by Thorne.

— Bryce Cain got a ton of separation from Jahquez Robinson on an out route. Looked like a good play design that got him that open.

— Jet motion with a flat route behind it was a common play. The flat route would pop open quickly from the tight end/H-back.

— Somehow the offense got a safety matched on a quicker receiver. Kaleb Harris made the play, though. Keandre Lambert-Smith, who did not participate in the scrimmage, was signaling touchdown before the play. He knew where the ball was going.

— A slot fade to Sam Jackson was underthrown but covered very well by Champ Anthony.

— Auburn tried to max protect and go with three routes. Coverage sack/throwaway was the result.

— Jalen McLeod and Keyron Crawford both with great edge pressure for a big sack.. Would be a 3rd down stop in a game. Thorne had a late flash of Fairweather on an out, but he couldnt get it there.

— After the big throw to Perry Thompson, who was very busy Saturday, the offense went fast with a hand off for a touchdown by Jeremiah Cobb.

— I really liked the accuracy displayed by Hank Brown on Saturday.

— Love the throwback screen play. Walker White had a bubble look, pump fake , then go to slow screen to the back. Great execution for a big play.

— Walker White was out of control early, but started to settle down as the scrimmage went on. He had a few nice throws and a few bad ones.. Not much in between.

— White waited way too late to throw the corner to Thompson. They got Thompson a mismatch in the slot on purpose. Goal line. They moved him around a good bit.

— GREAT job by Jay Crawford closing Cam Coleman out on a fade. Coleman still caught it, but he was closed out to the boundary. Crawford with the win against a tough cover. That is a big deal.

— Antonio Kite is one we have not heard much about. He is a bit of a gamer. He covered well and play physically. A little wreckless at times.

— White was talked to by Freeze after the deep throw decision.. Looked like he was asking why.

— Laquan Robinson came up and got a big hit while playing LB. He read it well. He’s quick down hil.. I think his niche is at backer.

— Peryy Thompson had a big catch wide open for a hitch. He made Robinson Miss in open field and probably would have made this a 30+ yard play.

— Good placement on a throw by White.. Thompson slowed a touch and it was off. Still figuring that part out.

— Play of the day: Malcolm Simmons tracks down a tipped ball. They went to him and it was knocked up. He tracked it down again and was VERY close to a touchdown. Caleb Wooden had to cover him and got beat. The throw was a little late.

Timeline of events

** The clock time was not known for these notes, but these are notable plays that we tried to put in chronological order.

— Perry Thompson high-points a ball in the slot with two defenders around him. Throw by Geriner

— Gabe Russo punted for nearly 65 yards in the air.

— Sack by Keyron Crawford.

— A nice pass breakup by Jay Crawford.

— Walker White finds Sean Jackson open on a swing route. Good timing.

— Perry Thompson made a good block downfield on a longer play.

— A mixup on a slant throw to Bryce Cain from Walker White. Cain was not looking.

— Hank Brown hit Bryce Cain on a dig over the middle for a first down.

— Another completion to Bryce Cain on an out. Jahquez Robinson was having to come from the middle of the field to cover.

— Hank Brown throws an interception to Kaleb Harris in the endzone.

— Jamonta Waller got off the ball quickly and added some pass rush pressure more than once.

— Hank Brown with a deep throw to Perry Thompson completed for a big gain

— TJ Lindsey worked with the third team defensive line and made some plays. He had a big tackle for loss.

— Walker White threw a quick strike to Malcolm Simmon in between two defenders.

— Perry Thompson with a great catch on a late throw. He was out of bounds.

— Izavion Miller was called for a hold on Keldric Faulk.

— Geriner hit Bryce Cain late on an out route.

— Ian Vachon, a transfer kicker from Birmingham Southern made a 30+ yard field goal.

— Walker White finds Perry Thompson again on a hitch that turned into a big gain.

The post Auburn scrimmage notes, observations, and analysis appeared first on On3.