A fresh start is what Alex Golesh and his staff are bring to the Auburn football program, seeking to create a porgram that has a solid foundation, a vibrant identity, physicality and violence.
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Through the first two days of preseason camp, Golesh feels the team is in a good spot in many areas, but also has a long way to go to get to where he wants them to be.
A couple hours after the media viewing window during Thursday’s session, Golesh took a chance to speak to the media on a number of topics after what according to him has been a “solid” beginning.
Now reaching the end of the week, Golesh said that the team is ahead of the game on both sides of the ball, and after two days of no pads, there will be an accelerated walk through on Friday before putting shells on on Saturday and beginning to tackle next week.
The Tigers have been able to participate in various types of drills with the way their schedule is set up. Drills like working on situational third down plays is part of what has made them optimistic. However, he knows there is still a ways to go.
“I thought the guys are learning what it really looks like—learning how to take care of each other, but play hard,” Golesh said. “I’m good with where we are. We’re nowhere near where we’ve got to be and we certainly will get there.”
One of the biggest highlights and pieces of news that has come out of the early part of preseason camp is the adjustment of the offensive line, as it was announced that redshirt freshman Tai Buster will be out for at least the first half of the year with an undisclosed injury.
That has caused some players to move around and step up, with one of those being Oregon State transfer Jacob Strand.
Strand was not able to be seen a lot in the spring, but through the first two days of action, he is receiving high praise from Golesh for his abilities with his position flexibility, size and toughness, which is valuable due to Buster’s injury.
“That kid’s a tough athletic kid that’s played a bunch of football,” Golesh said. “You always want to know how it translates, but he’s held his own the last two days no pads, but highly intelligent. That kid had to do a lot to be able to be eligible. He had to graduate from Oregon State. He took 46 hours between here and there in spring and summer… What a nice addition here this summer.”
Just like Strand, where the offensive line goes as a whole has yet to be worked out, but the optimism is present.
Golesh said it remains to be seen what this group looks like in full-contact action, but the drive the players have shown is pleasing.
“These dudes are working,” Golesh said. “There’s some really good competition in there as well, which is helping, but they’re working. We’ll have a better feel here as we put some pads on and can actually be physical.”
Another place that’s flexible though is the tight end room, something Golesh is excited about in terms of how the offense will work with them in it.
From the veteranship that Jake Johnson and Arlis Boardingham provide to the youth of Jonathan Echols to the versatility of Hunter Ousley and Xavier Newsom, Golesh has optimism that if the room stays healthy, the offense can go places.
“Those guys healthy, and they’re so different and so unique, they’re what gives us the multiplicity on offense that I think will allow us to take a huge step,” Golesh said. “I get a little bit giddy thinking about how many different things you can do with those guys.”
The head coach also continued to tout running back Omar Mabson as someone who has cemented himself in a deep room filled with a heavy amount of competition.
What has stuck him apart though is his consistency, which is something Golesh loves to see out of the young sophomore.
“When you’re in a battle like he is and there’s certain spots where there is really, really good competition, you’re looking for consistency,” Golesh said. “He is the definition of you know what you’re going to get every single day. He works, he’s consistent, the ball security is consistent, the way he catches the ball is consistent, his vision is consistent. He just works.”
It is also about the consistency with Cody Sigler as well, and the senior transfer from Arkansas State is making an impact because of his work ethic and pass rushing ability.
It’s a passion that does not go unnoticed, especially in a room that has a high ceiling on the defensive line and a lot of talented pieces next to him.
“He has so much value because he can do so many different things,” Golesh said. “You talk about a kid who this place means something to, and that’s how he practices, that’s how he works.”
It’s an overall sense of trust that Golesh is building between himiself, his staff and his team. Even with all of the optimism that is present, he knows that there is a standard that he wants to achieve.
It shows when players drop passes or make mistakes, as Golesh himself joins the players when doing push-ups as a method of accountability.
He wants to constantly instill that in his team, as doing it early will set a stage for what is to come.
“I think how you respond to situations builds trust more than anything else,” Golesh said. “We’re working there, we’re certainly not there and I think it’s a continuous process. It starts player to player, but it goes player to coach. They’ve got to see it coach to coach too. They have to see the way we communicate, the way we handle adverse situations.”
Auburn Undercover is an independent Auburn sports media company covering Auburn athletics, recruiting and insider news.
