Apr 19, 2014; Auburn, AL, USA; Auburn Tigers receiver Ricardo Louis (5) carries the ball during the first half of the A-Day spring game at Jordan Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports
Auburn Football Spring Practice Preview
The 2015 Auburn football season is more than six months away, but spring practice begins this week on the Plains. The Tigers will practice fifteen times this spring, beginning Tuesday March 10 and concluding with a final session on Monday April 20 following the A-Day spring game April 18.
Set to a bit of a different schedule than previous spring camps, head coach Gus Malzhan and his staff determined the Tigers would practice five times in just over a week and then take Spring Break with the rest of the campus community. After 11 days away from the practice field, Auburn will return for ten practices over the final 20 days.
The Tigers released a complete list of practice dates late last week:
"Tuesday, March 10, 3:30 PM Thursday, March 12, 3:30 PM Saturday, March 14, 11:15 AM, Jordan-Hare Stadium Tuesday, March 17, 3:30 PM Thursday, March 19, 3:30 PM Tuesday, March 31, 3:30 PM Thursday, April 2, 3:30 PM Saturday, April 4, 11:15 AM, Jordan-Hare Stadium Tuesday, April 7, 3:30 PM Thursday, April 9, 3:30 PM Saturday, April 11, 11:15 AM, Jordan-Hare Stadium Tuesday, April 14, 3:30 PM Thursday, April 16, 3:30 PM Saturday, April 18, A-Day, 1 PM, Jordan-Hare Stadium Monday, April 20, 3:30 PM"
With at least one day off between each practice, the Auburn football coaching staff is taking their time this spring. New defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and his coaches will install a new defensive system that is sure to be the talk of the spring (and summer, probably).
“He’s going to install his defense from the ground up, and spring is going to be that foundation where he’s laying the foundation, so it’s very important,” Malzahn said last week during the Tigers’ Pro Day.
There are a lot of questions, especially who will play where as the Tigers transition from Ellis Johnson’s 4-2-5 to Muschamp’s multiple 4-3.
“He’ll decide all that,” Malzahn said. “He’s been there, done this before, and like I’ve said numerous times before, I believe he’s the best in the business at doing it, so we’re looking forward to spring, and him implementing his defense.”
But of course there is much to look forward to on each side of the football – and several questions that must be answered before the Tigers play Louisville in the season opener in the Georgia Dome.
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