TIGER TALK REVIEW: Second Off Week '25

It’s once again time for the TIGER TALK REVIEW — this time as Auburn goes into its Second Off Week of the 2025 season.

WHERE TO LISTEN: You can check here to see which radio station near you may be carrying the show. You also can click that link and get hooked into the stream through Auburn’s web portal.

WHERE TO WATCH: You can check here to see if the Tiger Talk Live Stream is active. I am told everyone can watch the stream on War Eagle + even if you’re not a paid member. I am not sure this is true. I will update this as conditions merit.

THE FIRST SEGMENT

WE BEGIN WITH CORNERBACKS COACH CRIME McGRIFF

On the plan this week: “Coach Durkin says we’re going to get back to working on us. The biggest thing this week is focus on getting healthy … and fixing the mistakes we made in the (Vanderbilt) ball game.”

On what Vandy did well: “What a heavyweight fight, huh? They had a good plan. They made some good adjustments. The tempo — they took advantage of that. We have to do a good job of staying poised and making adjustments to that. Our effort was really great. It wasn’t effort. It was attention to detail.”

On young guys learning from this: “Each game, our younger players have matured in terms of that football life, enhancing that football IQ. We’re playing with fanatical effort. This game will teach them to lock into the details.”

On the veterans being reliable: “When you get to the back half of the season and you have an open week, it’s critical now that the leadership steps in while the guys are away from the building, away from the staff. The leadership in the locker room is going to be really critical for those guys. Our younger guys are listening.”

THE SECOND SEGMENT WITH McGRIFF

On learning to adjust with Durkin as the interim head coach: “Coach Durkin is one of the most organized guys I’ve been around. We have a standard that we set about how we do things. We already have our blueprint and our road map just in terms of how we’re going to prepare weekly. He’s counting on us.”

On game planning for Mercer as opposed to Alabama: “Your most important game is your next game. In order to go 2-0, you gotta go 1-0. We’ll focus on ourselves and get healthy.”

On Kayin Lee: “That’s the joy of coaching when you get a guy like Kayin Lee. You get him as a freshman and you watch him grow. That’s what it’s all about — developing guys and watching them develop.”(He says Jay Crawford is coming along as well.)

“The biggest thing is to watch them become a brotherhood, to watch them become close. In order for us to be great, y’all have to learn to love each other.”

(Crime says Rayshawn Pleasant also has been a big-time leader.)

On Champ Anthony: “You take a guy like Champ … he’s going to give you everything he has everyday. He’s going to be the same guy every day. He’s got a championship attitude. Champ is so mentally strong. He’s so positive. We worry about Champ more than Champ worries about himself. It’s a blessing to have someone like that in your program.”

Crime closes his segment with a stern, energetic “War Eagle.”

THE FIRST SEGMENT WITH OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR DERRICK NIX

On the Vandy game: “I kinda charged our staff as we came up with a plan to make it very simple for our guys doing a lot things that we know … but out a spin on it of my thoughts of being able to go fast, being able to put pressure on Vandy. They were excited about that part of that, in a position to be effective in the passing game, finding ways to attack the middle of the field. Just getting better at situational football. We were better in the red zone area. All in all, the plans, the kids I thought they executed it perfectly. It felt like we were all on the same page together.”

On Ashton Daniels: “He kept some plays alive with his feet. Knew exactly where he was going with his No. 1 read. He knew where he was going with this No. 2 read — and even No. 3. And if it wasn’t there, he’d extend the play with his legs to find a receiver down the field or he was taking it upon himself.”

“He had really good self-control out there. He became an extension of the coaching staff.”

On starting Murphy at center: “Just to give us a bigger presence there. A guy with a little big more experience.”

On Izavion Miller at RT: “Too Tall did a phenomenal job. He’s always a high-energy guy. All in all, he was a plus.”

On using the WRs differently: “My job, our job together, is ti find ways to get our best players the football. I told them to think outside the box.”

On Jeremiah Cobb: “We got in some spread sets. We motioned Jeremiah around so he wouldn’t be locked in a box. By going with tempo, it helps your offensive line a little bit. It tires out the defensive line a bit. Those double teams get a little more movement than usual. All of a sudden, pass protection becomes a little easier because they’re not in a position where they can set their feet and just rush you the field. When he did get the lanes … he got the most out of his carries.”

THE SECOND SEGMENT WITH D-NIX

On being so calm during games: “It kinda goes back to me being a football player and going back to just a kid in a fight. I thought better or I played better in the game when I stayed even-keel. Just kinda keep the car in the middle of the road. What’s the next call? What’s the next play?”

On putting up numbers at Vandy and how that affects the offense: “It’s a great stepping-stone for us. It’s a great foundation of what we can be offensively. We had a good game. We didn’t win — that’s the main objective. Still, what we can we do better to improve? Simply not being satisfied. That’s just the start of what we can do and what we can be. That was in about four days. If we get more time, we should be able to play better next Saturday.”

On what needs to be cleaned up: “Just the details. I thought we had a simple game play. Route discipline. Eyes in the right place for the quarterback. Offensive line understanding … some of the protections. Running backs … doing a great job in protection. Understanding all those things is what I want to get cleaned up. Taking care of the football. We had zero turnovers, but we had two (situations) where it came out.”

On penalties: “We’ve got to do a better job of staying onside. We know the snap count. We can’t flinch every time a defensive guy moves. Our guys know that. We’ll continue to stress that at practice. We call those self-inflicted wounds.”

On Mercer: “I see their strength is up front. It’s going to take our best effort … to try to find a win in Jordan-Hare Stadium.”

On playing at home these next two games: “These fans have not quit. I wish we could get them a victory. That’s what we’re working toward. We’re worrying about the process and not being result-driven. It’s awesome to see (great fan support). There’s orange and blue everywhere.”

On what he wants from this week: “Stay healthy. I want the offense to become boring to them … so they know exactly what they’re doing, what the answers are and how we can operate at a high level.”

D-Nix ends with a calm, steely “War Eagle.”

BE GOOD. BE YOU.

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