“I don’t think there’s any question that this is coming at a good time,” Chizik said Sunday. “It’s definitely well-needed. We’ve been playing now for — with four or five weeks of two-a-days — 14 straight weeks, with low numbers. And so, we’re a beat up team. We’re a tired team. So I think it’s coming at the right time. I think it’ll be good for our team.”
Auburn (6-3, 4-2 SEC) is coming off a stretch of five games in October, capped by Saturday night’s 41-23 victory over Ole Miss.
The Tigers definitely head into the off week on a positive note, after multiple big contributions against the Rebels.
Auburn quarterback Clint Moseley, making his second career start, threw for four touchdowns. Wide receiver Emory Blake, returning from injury, caught five passes. Tailback Mike Dyer rushed for 177 yards and linebacker Eltoro Freeman was in on 11 tackles.
“It was good to see those guys all on the field collectively at one time together,” Chizik said. “Again, it wasn’t always pretty, but they played well most of the night. So again, it’s just going to be big this week to get our guys healthy and get some more continuity in guys playing together and becoming a healthier football team so that we can have the continuation of that continuity.”
The Tigers will practice Wednesday and Thursday before resuming game-week preparations for Georgia on Sunday.
Things should set up nicely for the Tigers in their remaining three games. They catch Georgia after an off week, then play a non-conference game at home against Samford that shouldn’t be particularly demanding, setting them up for their Iron Bowl showdown with Alabama.
Charles Bennett covers Auburn University sports for The Star. Follow him on Twitter @AUTigers_Star
