Hugh Freeze outlines Phillip Montgomery’s play-calling approach, QB plan entering season
By Keith Farner
Published:
Hugh Freeze has already outlined to his offensive staff led by offensive coordinator Phillip Montgomery that next week he expects to see a 10-day plan to get his 3-man QB battle down to 2 during fall camp. Robby Ashford and Payton Thorne are the expected frontrunners with Holden Geriner also in the mix.
The Auburn coach was at the main podium on Tuesday at SEC Media Days and outlined his offensive philosophy with Montgomery, and how he’s changed the terminology because of his SEC history.
Freeze was asked about melding his system with Montgomery’s.
“The great thing is, so I want to say this the right way,” Freeze said. “I think once upon a time, I was probably one of the better play callers in college football. Obviously better players make you a better play caller. I don’t know that I was the greatest play callers, or one of the best play callers the last few years at Liberty. I managed the game really well and gave our kids a chance to obviously win some huge games, and we played some good defense.”
However, Freeze knew coming back to the SEC and what decisions he had to make during the course of a game, that he needed help.
“I think the first priority is hire somebody that does and believe exactly what I believe offensively, which Phillip does,” Freeze said.
Freeze said Montgomery would be the primary play caller, but Freeze has the right to step in and “say, ‘I need to see something. … I have great trust in him and have been impressed. … Phillip is going to be the play caller unless I want to change that in the course of a game, which that happens all the time.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
