John Reed-Imagn Images
By Chris Marler
There’s a reason why coordinators don’t get a lot of face time with the media throughout the season. Most programs stick to a structure of one meeting with the media before the season and then, unlike the expectations of the fanbase, they disappear until December when it’s hopefully bowl season.
Auburn head coach learned that the hard way earlier this week when his offensive coordinator Derrick Nix spoke to the media during fall camp. During his time with the media he shed some light on the structure and philosophy of Auburn’s offensive staff for this upcoming season.
“I try to do a good job on first-and-10, drive-starters. Kent does our third downs,” Nix said. “Head coach has the authority to overrule anything we say or do.”
Hold on. So there are at least two people calling plays every three downs, and Hugh Freeze can jump in whenever he feels like it?
Wow. Let’s backtrack for a second.
Auburn, a team that hasn’t had a winning season since COVID and hired a self-proclaimed quarterback whisperer in Hugh Freeze as their head coach, is divvying up their plays like some Oprah episode. You get a play call, you get a play call, and on third downs, you get a play call.
Incredible stuff.
Auburn has struggled offensively for several seasons now, and the hiring of Freeze hasn’t alleviated those issues. They were a top-10 team in yards per play last season, but just 71st in scoring at 27.8 points a game.
It would be one thing if this was a new approach the Tigers were trying out in year three of the Freeze era. But, this is the same system they implemented a season ago and, objectively speaking, it didn’t work.
Maybe this year will be different, but having too many cooks in the kitchen hasn’t been a plan that’s worked in, well, even a lot of kitchens. Let alone a coaching staff and program desperately seeking a turnaround.
But again, maybe this will be different. I mean what’s the worst that could happen, Auburn? It’s not like this offensive guru is from Boise.
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