Why Auburn practices in era of COVID-19 are new, different and built for fast learning
After an abnormal offseason, Auburn must go through an abnormal preseason.
COVID-19 meant no spring practice for college football programs nationwide. Summer workouts were limited, and player-coach interaction up until June took place virtually, over Zoom video calls.
Now, the Tigers must adjust to a preseason routine that won’t include a traditional fall camp. It won’t feature two-a-day practices, and the season itself won’t start until late September, with a home game against Kentucky.
“I think it’s a challenge for everybody,” Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said Monday. “I just told our staff, we’re going to be very creative, unconventional, unique. ... We feel really good about our plan, the way that we’re going to go about it — as far as evaluating our guys, developing depth, not just for players but our coaches. I think that’s a real thing that we have to be prepared for. And so we’re setting up practice different than we’ve ever done.”
Auburn’s opening week will consist of practices Monday through Thursday, with an off day Friday and a full scrimmage Saturday.
Preseason practice will also include more 11-on-11 scrimmaging “than we’ve ever done before,” Malzahn said.
That’s the routine for the first five weeks of practice, according to the Tigers’ head coach.
“I’m excited about it. I think our players are,” Malzahn said. “The goal is to get more information in a faster period of time than we normally do. This isn’t a time for tradition.”
There are several challenges the Tigers must overcome to “get more information.”
Quarterback Bo Nix and the offense missed out on an entire spring with new offensive coordinator Chad Morris, the former Clemson offensive coordinator and Arkansas head coach regarded as one of the brighter offensive minds in the game. The team’s leading rusher from 2019, JaTarvious “Boobee” Whitlow, left the program.
“I think it’s hard to find strengths and weaknesses (this early into practice),” Nix said. “I think that’s the craziest part, that we’ve only practiced twice since January.”
It will take time for the newcomers to adjust to the speed of college ball, so the regular season’s later start time could be viewed as an advantage.
It’s important they adjust fast, because depth will likely be more important this year than in season’s past. Malzahn likes to use the term “two-deep” when talking about depth. He used the term “three-deep” on Monday.
If a player tests positive for COVID-19 during the season — and some players will test positive — he could miss one or two games. That means more pressure rests on those less-experienced to shoulder the load.
The learning curve for both underclassmen and experienced veterans will be steep this offseason, simply due to the odd circumstances.
“A walkthrough is a walkthrough. I think you can get lined up, you can coach somebody up, you can talk about all the ‘what ifs,’ but there’s nothing like the real thing,” Malzahn said. “I think our guys in the next two days, even with helmet only, will probably learn more than they did the whole time during walkthrough.”
Regardless, the Tigers are excited to start practice. Nix and linebacker K.J. Britt both alluded to that on Tuesday.
“You don’t realize how long it’s been since we practiced football, from January 1 until now,” Britt said. “So I really want us to take the time to make sure we get back into the swing of things.”
