Auburn Tigers News: Hugh Freeze on in-helmet comms with Payton Thorne, wide receiver rotation
In today's edition of Auburn Tigers News, Hugh Freeze talks about adjusting to using in-helmet communication with his QB and the wide receiver rotation heading into the season
One of the changes coming to college football this fall is the ability for coaches to communicate with one player on offense and one player on defense through an in-helmet communication system. The designated player's helmet is marked by a green dot, and the communication is cut off 15 seconds before the play clock runs out.
On the offense, it's likely most teams will select to communicate with the quarterback, and Auburn football head coach Hugh Freeze has been practicing using the technology with Payton Thorne. Freeze is still getting the hang of it, and has to focus on not overloading Thorne with information before the snap.
"He's trying to get the protection set, and I'm trying to talk through the whole dang play," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "... I've got to be careful to tell him what I think quickly without too much information."
Freeze on the wide receiver rotation
Earlier this week, the first Auburn football depth chart of the season was released, and there were eight wide receivers listed. True freshman Cam Coleman and Penn State transfer KeAndre Lambert-Smith are expected to headline the group along with the third listed starter Robert Lewis, but the rest of the Freeze Four (Perry Thompson, Malcolm Simmons, and Bryce Cain) are expected to see the field, too.
Returners Camden Brown and Caleb Burton were listed as backups, too, along with Cal transfer Sam Jackson V. As far as Freeze is concerned, a lot of wide receivers will be hitting the field this fall.
"Yeah, it's a pretty free rotation at that spot," Freeze said, per Auburn Undercover. "I want them fresh. If someone runs a deep, deep, deep route and it's incomplete, or there's not an explosive play, I'd expect the next guy up, so we're ready to snap the ball and are fresher."
With so many talented playmakers in the wide receiver room it's likely that this year's group will look much different than last year's.