DJ Durkin previews the Baylor Game

**DJ Durkin** (0:03)
Good afternoon, everyone.

**Mike G** (0:04)
Here we go.

**Bryson Williams** (0:06)
We've got Jason, Bill, Brian, Mike, there we go.

**Jason Caldwell** (0:11)
DJ Jason Caldwell, Auburn 247
Talk to Alex and Joel about going through this mock week and how much prepared for you. What did you see out of that from your players and from coach's perspective about going through that week a week early just to kind of prepare for game week?

**DJ Durkin** (0:27)
Yeah, extremely valuable. Obviously, us as a full staff for the first time going through it, it was valuable to go through that and kind of work out the kinks and talk through.
I know I've said it before, right? I think AG just does a great job communicating. So the communication of this is a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and so on and so forth of what the expectation is and how we do it. And I think it's good for our players. We're also routine as players and coaches and you want to get in that routine and find out like this is what we do on a morning meeting on a Tuesday or whatever it might be. So it was great, great for our planning.

**Bill Cameron** (1:03)
DJ, Bill Cameron with ESPN 1067 You've got quite a few guys that have been in the system with you for a couple or more years as you head into the fall. I mean, where do you feel like you are? Are you pretty comfortable with where you are heading in and what's your biggest concern?

**DJ Durkin** (1:19)
Yeah, there is a good nucleus of guys back, as you mentioned, and that's been big for us. I think, especially at the positions where there's the most communication, at linebacker and safety, those are the guys that kind of everything goes through on the field in terms of checking and getting the formations right and getting guys lined up. And so to have those guys returning for the most part and also experiencing guys have been out there before us before.
I think it really helped our install as we went through both spring ball and training camp to really be ahead and feel like, I know it's hard nowadays to ever feel like you got a good group back. But I feel like we do defensively. I think it will play to our advantage for sure.

**Bryson Williams** (2:01)
So Brian, first.

**Brian Matthews** (2:04)
DJ Brian Matthews, auburnsports.com. Just when you look back at your previous couple defenses, how do you think this defense stacks up in comparison? And how do you feel about your front seven or six and their ability to sort of attack that line of scrimmage?

**DJ Durkin** (2:16)
Yeah, we always believe a strength of ours is our depth. And you guys know we play a lot of guys. I think we have good versatility. We're going to play several guys in several spots. And I think that helps us to be able to be multiple in what we do.
And obviously, you have to have the players to do that. And so I think as you go through it, we'll see as we go. We feel really good about our depth. Like I said, you'll see a lot of guys out there playing.
Our guys embrace that in the room. I think we really, really strive to play at a very high level of effort and run the ball and all those things. And so to do that consistently throughout the game, you gotta have guys roll in, especially up front. And so we will certainly, that's the plan going into this season as well.

**Justin Ferguson** (3:04)
Justin Ferguson, Albert Zerber, DJ Goulash was in here just a moment ago talking about the challenge of facing DJ Lagway, their quarterback. And just saying the healthiest version of him might be one of the better quarterbacks in the country. What do you see out of him as you get your guys prepared to play him?

**DJ Durkin** (3:17)
Yeah, I mean, I agree with that. We've had conversations about it. I remember him when he was a player coming out of high school in Texas. And he's extremely talented.
He looks like they're supposed to. He can make all the throws. He can beat you throwing the ball as well with his legs. And so we're preparing for that. I think obviously it's a fresh start for him.
Coach Pavlo does a great job with the offense. And I'm sure through their off season, he's gotten comfortable in what they're doing. And so we're expecting to see that. Our guys know it would be a great challenge for us. And anytime you have a guy at that spot, the quarterback spot, that's versatile like that and can make all the throws, obviously it forces you to defend the whole field.