In his Monday press conference, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze did his best to ease expectations from fans heading into Saturday’s A-Day game at Jordan-Hare. He knows fans are excited to get a sneak peek of the program in Freeze’s first season.

I want to prepare the Auburn family that we’re going to do the best we can to hopefully give those that choose to come,” Freeze told reporters. I hope many will come, but we’ll provide them with a game that day that I hope they can enjoy but understand, gosh, we don’t know who we are offensively right now. That’s probably how I want it to be perceived by most because we’re a new staff, and one of the advantages that we might have coming into the season is there’s nothing really on tape of what this new staff is like.”

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There will be several questions that Auburn fans would like to see answered during the scrimmage that starts at 1:20 C.T. on the Plains. It’ll be Tiger defense versus Tiger offense with a 60-minute running clock. The defense will have a 24-0 lead, and the offense will try to catch up.

“They’re going to see us hit, and they’re going to see us tackle, and they’re going see people run the ball and people throw the ball,” Freeze said. “Will it be exactly the same that they see this fall? I sure hope not. I hope it’s better and probably a little different.”

The quarterback competition is where we’ll start with questions for the A-Day scrimmage.

Is the starting quarterback on campus?

Robby Ashford, T.J. Finley, and Holden Geriner are battling to be Auburn’s starting quarterback. Freeze praised each quarterback and called out the group for struggles during spring camp.

“Robby’s pocket presence, quieter feet in the pocket. T.J.’s playing within the system has gotten better. He’s made some accurate throws,” Freeze on how the quarterbacks are progressing. “Just sometimes, it shouldn’t have been thrown; it should’ve been handed off. This is new to him, so he’s done that. Holden’s accuracy, particularly on down-the-field throws. He had several explosives Wednesday; I think he’s improved. He’s still got to get still in the pocket, too, but he’s still young.”

The transfer portal spring window opens April 15th and runs until April 30th, with players getting a chance to attempt to find greener pastures. The window begins after Auburn’s spring game, but with other schools still in spring football could get interesting. Freeze has repeatedly said he’s open to finding a quarterback in the portal if there’s a fit.

Could the spring game create some separation in the quarterback battle, or will it confirm the need for the Tigers to find another quarterback? The portal creates opportunity, but a team can only sign who’s available, much like free agency in pro sports. Will a quarterback who fits the Run Pass Option scheme that Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery want to hit the portal? Or does Auburn already have its starter on the team? Spring might not give the final answer, but it’ll provide insight.

Who’s the next great Tiger wide receiver?

Auburn has a lot of talent in the wide receiver room; however, the unit doesn’t have a wide receiver that put up more than 500 receiving yards last season. There’s potential in the room, but is there a receiver ready to become a trusted option? Koy Moore, Camden Brown, Jay Fair, Cincinnati transfer Nick Mardner, Ja’Varrius Johnson, Landen King, and others are fighting to increase their presence.

Johnson led the team last season with 493 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 catches. Moore had 314 yards and a touchdown. Brown had two touchdowns and 123 yards on nine receptions. If one or two of them can elevate, it’d be impactful for an offense that struggled to throw the ball under Bryan Harsin.

How’s the offensive line doing?

Freeze didn’t hold back when reporters inquired about the possibility of freshman Connor Lew seeing playing time on the O-line this fall. It’s a rarity that incoming freshmen have the physicality and skills to compete in the Southeastern Conference. It usually takes time for them to gain the proper size, strength, and knowledge necessary to protect quarterbacks in the toughest league in college football. However, when a coaching staff takes over a program with seven scholarship o-linemen, it presents opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t exist.

“I think it’s an indictment of where we are, truthfully. I hope that we don’t have to depend on freshmen too much longer to come in and provide significant help, but that’s where we are,” Freeze said. “It’s our recruiting pitch right now: ‘You want to start immediately helping a tradition like Auburn has to get back to where it can be? We’re looking for help now.’ And that’s the case. So it’s a combination of him being a really good and talented player, but also the lack of depth we have there.”

Transfers Avery Jones, Izavion Miller, Dillon Wade, and Gunner Brinton will add experience to the group. Will they be able to gel together? If so, that comforts the quarterback and helps the run game. If not, Lee County will have a surplus of toilet paper because the trees won’t get rolled often if the offensive line can’t provide protection against defensive tackles.