AUBURN — College football programs across the country are getting ready to begin the 2024-2025 season, and the Auburn Tigers are no exception.
The Tigers were solid on the defensive side of the ball last season, and defensive coordinator DJ Durkin hopes for the unit to be even better this season in his first year with the program.
Durkin has talked about wanting to play as many players as possible but highlighted one area that he would like to see get deeper.
"We're still working very hard to create depth with those guys, both outside the corner spots as well as inside," Durkin said on the secondary. "When I say depth it's position multiplicity too. To be able to be in a nickel package or a dime and have those guys learn more than one spot and they'll be able to bounce around."
Durkin credited co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Charles Kelly and cornerbacks coach Wes McGriff with the progress made in the secondary.
"Coach Kelly, Coach Crime (McGriff), those guys do a great job with them in the back end," Durkin said. "We are going to play multiple guys back there, we feel we have enough talent to do that back there. For us, it's honed in on what each guy can handle."
"Sometimes physically they can handle doing multiple things, and it's OK, but are we putting too much on this guy mentally? Are we putting too much on this guy to learn more than one spot?" he added.
Additionally, Durkin talked about helmet communication and what it has been like to implement that.
"We have worked out the kinks, sometimes they tell me I'm too loud in their ear, so I gotta work on that," Durkin said. "I don't know how much on the defensive side it really changes things. It does assist and maybe helps a little bit with communication, but we can't totally go to that as our communication to the players on the field."
Auburn begins the season at home against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs on August 31 at 6:30 p.m. CT. ESPN+/SEC Network+ will carry the broadcast.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email daniel.locke@1819news.com.
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