Auburn unveils spread punting

AUBURN — The word “spread” is taboo when discussing Auburn’s offense, but it’s been gladly welcomed on Auburn’s punt team.

Special teams coordinator Jay Boulware has installed a speed-based, spread punt formation this spring, where seven players line up on the line of scrimmage
and three surround the punter.

The unit, Boulware said, will not be your standard punt team. All seven on the line will be there more for their speed rather than their blocking ability.

All seven are to be considered “gunners.” In a normal formation, only two are granted that distinction.

“We basically have six for sure guys that are athletes,” Boulware said. “That’s probably one thing our fans will notice about our punt team next year is that we
have a lot of speed on it. We’re going to look like we’re a lot faster.”

Boulware was first introduced to the formation during his time at Utah. Former Utes coach Urban Meyer can be credited for the original installation.

“It’s to spread the other team out,” punter Ryan Shoemaker said. “We can cover a lot better and force the other team to be a lot harder to block a punt.”

Veterans reign at safety: Tommy Thigpen has liked what he’s seen from Auburn’s young safeties, but it’s going to be tough to budge Mike McNeil and Zac
Etheridge from their top spots on the depth chart.

“Those two guys have a lot of game experience,” Thigpen said.

Etheridge and McNeil, both juniors, finished one-two in total tackles last season.

Both started all 12 games and both have established themselves as leaders on Auburn’s defense — even though neither is outwardly vocal.

“You lead by bringing your pads,” Thigpen said. “I’m not into that rah-rah. I know a lot of people are. If you go out there and knock somebody out, the crowd will
do all that for you. The thing they do is they have a lot of experience and they know what they’re doing out there.”

That’s not to say the pair don’t need to improve.

Etheridge is still not 100 percent, the result of an offseason surgery on his shoulder. He just recently was allowed to hit in practice and has been used
sparingly in hitting drills.

McNeil, at 6-foot-3, needs to work on his tackling, Thigpen said.

“He’s so high cut,” Thigpen said. “Him getting better is going to be essential for him.”

Thigpen has been impressed with his second-team guys, particularly Christian Thompson and Mike Slade. He calls Thompson the unit’s “best tackler” and was
impressed with Slade’s performance in last week’s scrimmage, where the sophomore had 10 tackles.

“They’re still learning their positions and learning their roles,” Thigpen said. “Hopefully once they get a feel for what they’re supposed to be doing, they can push
those guys for a position, not just give in mentally to being a backup.”

He said it: Wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor had a hand in bringing Harry Adams back to wide receiver.

He treated Adams as if he were a prospective high school player who hadn’t made up his mind yet.

“I always say recruiting is like shaving,” Taylor said. “If you don’t do it every day, it shows. When he was at (defensive back), I was still recruiting him. That means those on campus too.”