Hugh Freeze says kicking in bad weather was ‘invaluable’ for Auburn special teams
Hugh Freeze was high on special teams during the A-day scrimmage for Auburn and said bad weather was “invaluable” for the group.
Generally, special teams can win or lose you a game or two during the season. It’s the highest of highs when a kicker nails a game winning field goal. But the lowest of lows if the unit misses or botches a kick or punt.
In the end, Freeze was very complimentary of his special teams unit after the spring game.
“Yeah, I go back to before the scrimmage started, our punter was dynamite,” Freeze said. “Man, we need to bottle that and carry that over. Some of those punts he hit were incredible and then For your snapper, holder and kicker to have to operate in these conditions, I think that’s invaluable for their experience and it’s not the same timing. The snap’s waterlogged and the holder’s got to hang in there and get it on the ground quick and the kickers got to change his timing a little bit.
“We handled all that really well. We missed one, but I thought the operation was good. And obviously there was the game on the line, to step in there and all three of them get it done, I think that’s really good for their experience (and they can use it).”
While there were some good moments in the scrimmage, Freeze went into A-day with tempered expectations.
The biggest thing? Roster movement with the next transfer portal window coming fast.
“None of us has dealt with the spring portal,” Freeze said. “It can affect you both ways. You can lose some that you don’t want to lose, but there’s some out there you hope you can attract that can add more depth and experience to our team.”
Not only that, it takes a longer time to evaluate the quarterback room and pick a starter. Right now, it’s a group featuring Robby Ashford, T.J. Finley and Holden Geriner.
“I don’t think the evaluation of the quarterback is a one-day deal,” Freeze said. “This will just be a piece of the pie. We have a folder and a book that has every grade for their execution and decision-making, and that book will go long beyond spring practice 15. Every one is an opportunity for them to prove they are prepared for that job. It’s going to take great competition and doing it over a length of time, even how they lead and operate when they aren’t in practice sessions.
“That’s something that’s been missing that they haven’t been challenged on much. If you want to be the guy, what’s that look like in May, June or July? Is it bringing the locker room together or apart? We’ll see how it happens. This thing is going into fall camp and if you can’t handle that as one of the guys, that tells me a lot. We’re a long way away from being able to say who that guy is.”
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