Malzahn's Radio Show
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn talks with Rod Bramblett during his Tiger Talk radio show broadcast live Thursday, Aug. 29, 2013, from Bob's Victory Grille in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)
AUBURN, Alabama -- The first Tiger Talk of the upcoming season is here.
Check out a full list of affiliates for Gus Malzahn's weekly radio show to see how you can tune in starting at 7 p.m. CT. If you're unable to listen, AL.com will provide live updates in the space below.
Rod Bramblett hosts the show, which broadcasts live from Bob's Victory Grille in Auburn. The show will include questions from the audience at the site, and emails and live call-in questions.
Make sure to refresh the page for the latest updates.
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- "We had a very good fall camp. Our guys worked extremely hard." He says team is hungry and motivated following last season's ending.
- "It's just a mentality that we've got to be 13 seconds better," Malzahn says, referencing the loss to Florida State in the final 13 seconds at the BCS Championship.
- What's difference between last August and this August? "It's completely different. We have more answers now."
- Malzahn feels Auburn had only one practice in preseason camp he felt the Tigers didn't get better.
- Tempo faster in practice now? "It's definitely gotten quicker, and it should."
- Seniors Corey Grant and Cameron Artis-Payne are the first tailbacks mentioned by Malzahn, but he mentions that he likes the freshmen, too.
- "Roc Thomas is everything we thought when we recruited him."
- Malzahn says there are four running backs capable of handling load. No mention of Kamryn Pettway, who will likely redshirt this season.
- Malzahn says Thomas has "that B-button" you use in video games. I'm not sure if the B-button is the one you mash for an extra burst or spin move, but Malzahn wins trying to connect to the youngsters in the crowd.
- Mark Wilson in the audience asks about the kickers: "That's going to be tough," Malzahn says of replacing Cody Parkey and Steven Clark. Daniel Carlson, a redshirt freshman, will handle punt and kick duties.
- Malzahn on Quan Bray handling punt return duties: "I think he'll really come on and have his best year."
- Auburn working to four to five players at kick return, but no names mentioned. Ricardo Louis and Corey Grant, based on our reporting, are likely the top two guys.
- Young fan asks about receivers: "Coach Craig, our wide receiver coach, is pretty happy with the guys he has."
- Frank calls in, but young fan already asked his question about receivers.
- Emailer asks if offense will be faster? "I definitely would like to think so," but Malzahn says that all depends on picking up first downs. "They should be faster and really we should be more efficient."
- "Our goal is to be balanced, take what the defense gives you, but we've got to be good running the football."
- Nick Marshall's improvement at quarterback: "He's very comfortable, very reactive now. Last year he had to think about things" and now he just reacts. Malzahn references Rhett Lashlee's work with Marshall "from the waist down," specifically his footwork.
- Young kid in crowd going by "Big Meat" asks a prank question about Alabama, but no one bites. Malzahn reminds crowd Auburn is playing Arkansas this week.
- Jeremy Johnson "can run the entire offense." Malzahn comfortable with him. "When he's out there, his teammates really respond to him. He's off to a good start."
- A question from Twitter: How has the passing game progressed? "I think the big thing is depth. We've got two guys at each position we feel like, if we put them in, can run our offense."
- AL.com questions of the week now. Question about the defense: "We've got a lot of guys back on Coach Johnson's defense. ... We've worked extremely hard on tackling. Coach Johnson is old school. We're going to tackle every day." Johnson feels good about the defense heading into the season.
- On having same defensive coordinator in back-to-back years: "I know it's helped our linebackers. Both those guys have really come on and established themselves."
- Malzahn, on Star safety/linebacker Justin Garrett: "Expecting big things."
- How are the injuries coming along, coach? "We expect all the guys to be ready."
- How's the secondary? "I like our attitudes."
- Who are you leaders on defense? Kris Frost, Gabe Wright, Jermaine Whitehead and Jonathon Mincy.
- Defensive end Carl Lawson (ACL surgery) is "coming on strong." Malzahn got a "good report" Sunday, but staff still taking a wait-and-see approach.
- Audience member asks about the defensive line: "The good thing is we have a lot of depth up front. ... And I really believe it's quality depth."
- Question from Twitter about tight end C.J. Uzomah: "He's the type of guy you can move around" because he played quarterback in high school.
- How do you replace fullback Jay Prosch? "Brandon Fulse, C.J., they're different. We recruited both those young men specifically for this offense." They can do things Prosch didn't do (ex: catch more passes).
- Jonathan Wallace, now a fourth-team quarterback, "is such a super young man."
- Malzahn asked about staff's connections to state of Arkansas (Malzahn, Rhett Lashlee, Tim Horton and J.B. Grimes). "The unique thing is we have a relationship before we got here" in Arkansas.
- A sneak preview at the depth chart that will be revealed Tuesday: Justin Garrett "is our main guy" at Star safety. T.J. Davis has a chance as well. Malzahn makes no mention of Robenson Therezie, who entered summer as starter but is facing eligibility issues.
- Johnson tries to quiet concerns about Jeremy Johnson struggling with second-team offense in spring game. If he had been with the 1s, he would have looked a lot better, Malzahn says.
- Tiger Talk ends with Malzahn previewing Arkansas, and reminds listeners the game was closer than final score appeared last season.