Favorite emerges in Auburn football quarterback competition: Reading between the lines
AUBURN — Reading between the lines is a tricky business, but it might be the best way to evaluate the state of Auburn football's quarterback competition after offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau's latest evaluation.
For instance, after Auburn's second closed preseason scrimmage Friday night, the order in which Kiesau addressed their performances (as well as the words themselves) might have been telling.
"I need to watch the film to really evaluate it," he said. "My feel, my gut – just without watching it, just from calling the game – was that T.J. (Finley) had a really good command. He had a lot of precision. He checked some plays for us and got us in the right play, which is good."
From Finley, Kiesau moved on to Oregon transfer Robby Ashford.
"Robby, obviously Robby is flashy," he said. "He can run around. He is really – and I'm speaking for all of camp, but obviously today, it materialized a little bit – he's doing a better job maturing in the position. He's really athletic. He can really run. But he's starting to play the quarterback position, which is important."
And third, keeping with the order of practice reps this week, was Texas A&M transfer Zach Calzada.
"Zach, we've got to keep bringing him along," Kiesau said. "He's kind of been, like I said, intertwined with all these groups: first, second and third groups and first, second and third teams. He has good days and bad days. We've got to kind of keep him consistent."
Kiesau emphasized the need to watch the film and said that naming a starter is "going to be a hard" decision. But a clearer view seems to be crystalizing after this second scrimmage, which was entirely situational: red zone simulations, goal line, increased tempo.
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Finley has taken the majority of first-team reps this preseason, and his traits as a field general have been the constant. His experience has also been played up: Finley is the only quarterback candidate going through his second year in Bryan Harsin's system.
Even if the method of charting quarterback performance has changed. Last preseason, Auburn used a simple "plus" and "minus" daily evaluation system. This year, "we got a little more in detail" because of the nature of the competition, Kiesau said. "Now we have a grading system that we use. And we grade them out every day, every period. And obviously it accumulates during camp. And obviously tonight in the game. So it’s very detailed in everything they’re doing."
Kiesau's most revealing line? It was about Finley's experience.
"He has a different confidence about him when he's in that huddle or when he's at the line of scrimmage, running the play," he said." I'm excited about T.J. T.J. has a lot of ability. He's a smart football player. Football is important to him. I think you'll kind of see that on Saturdays."
No Tank Bigsby in scrimmage
The Tigers' top running back did not play in the scrimmage, but it was not injury-related.
"We wanted to get those other guys reps," Kiesau said, becoming the latest to compliment freshman Damari Alston's preseason.
Defensive standouts: starting safety emerges?
Defensive coordinator Jeff Schmedding's standouts from the scrimmage were freshman defensive back Austin Ausberry, redshirt freshman safety Cayden Bridges and senior edge Eku Leota. Ausberry had a "clutch" interception, Schmedding said.
Bridges is a particularly compelling player to name-drop because it appears he is distancing himself in the starting safety competition.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Auburn football QBs: TJ Finley gets most praise after second scrimmage
