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Bo Nix discusses the challenge of learning new offense without spring camp, says player-led practices helped the process
This offseason has been unusual for us all but when it comes to young football players hoping to make progressions off the field, it remains to be seen which players made the most of their time away from campus and which failed to do so.
While the same could be said of any player during any offseason, this year featured significantly more time away from campus with most SEC players having little to no spring camp to improve their game.
So how have Auburn’s offensive players progressed considering they are working in a new system under first-year offensive coordinator, Chad Morris?
That’s something Bo Nix touched on during his first press availability since training camp opened up at Auburn this week.
“Not having a spring with a new coach, new OC and kinda new plays has been challenging,” Nix said on Tuesday. “But I think as the summer has gone on, we did a good job of having player-led practices and captain-led practice then when the NCAA allowed us to do some OTA’s and walkthroughs with coaches, I feel like we’re in a great spot moving forward from a fall camp standpoint.
“Obviously, not having spring didn’t allow us to kinda dive deep into the playbook or anything like that. This is kind of our first time repping it in front of the coaches. I think that’s the only difference we’re looking at. Other than that, I feel like from a Day 1, Day 2 standpoint from practice yesterday to going into practice today, I feel like we’re in a great situation. Coach Morris and the quarterbacks and all the rest of the coaches, we’re in a good spot and hopefully looking to get better.”
Considering he and his teammates have had so little time in the system, at least with coaches monitoring their performance, even Nix believes it’s too early to tell what aspects the team needs to improve upon and which they have done thus far in the process.
“I think it’s hard to find strengths and weaknesses going into Day 2, having only the second day of practice since our bowl game,” Nix continued. “I think that’s the craziest part is we’ve only practiced twice since January. But, I mean, if you’re looking around the country, everyone’s kind of doing that.
“So it’s hard to find the strengths and weaknesses right now, going into Day 2. But I think eventually, with the experience we have at other positions, and on defense, I think we’ll begin to find those and begin to correct the weaknesses and hopefully build on the strengths.”
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com