At one-point, back years ago, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze would call himself one of the best play-callers in the country. And for a man known as an offensive coach and known for developing quarterbacks, it’s not hard to see why he’d think that.

Yet now as he comes back into the SEC with the task of now, in his own words, “resuscitating” Auburn and its struggling offense, Freeze doesn’t think he’s quite the play caller he used to be.

“I haven’t felt like I was quite on my game, but I could still manage a game and figure out a way to win,” Freeze said.

So, Freeze will join what seems to be a growing trend among SEC head coaches who have spoken in Nashville through Tuesday: assigning play calling duties to coordinators.

In a meeting with local media, Freeze said former Tulsa head coach Philip Montgomery was hired for the main reason of calling plays.

With Montgomery’s hire, Freeze seemed to reflect on his time calling plays at Liberty. He said his team “lost some we shouldn’t have lost,” and he put those losses on himself. That was a key part of the thinking that prompted Freeze’s change.

Giving away play-calling duties comes coupled with the role Freeze sees for himself in trying to lead Auburn back to national prominence which he described as “all-encompassing.” Giving Montgomery the main play-calling role is one less thing Freeze has on his plate.

Montgomery’s job, too, will be even down to the basics of terminology on offense. Freeze didn’t always believe he’d be coming back to the SEC, and at times, he said he’s talked scheme with other coaches in the conference — implying those at Alabama and Georgia. Except he is back now, and not making a change would mean Auburn’s biggest rivals would already have a head start in scouting.

“Someone whose terminology is as simple as mine, I do think I need a new terminology because there are too many people in this league that I went and talked ball with and probably told too much to, particularly up the road from us on both sides,” Freeze said in the main media room.

Though it’s not as if Freeze will have his hands off. Montgomery will call the plays, but this is Freeze’s system. Freeze said he will be one of the multiple people involved in creating game plans each week.

And frankly, Freeze said he could take over the main play calling duties in the middle of a game if he felt the need — or even the desire.

“I certainly reserve the right to jump in at any time and say, ‘I’ve got a good feeling right now, let me help a little bit,’” Freeze said. “There’s also gonna be suggestions from a lot of other people, including me. And he knows that. But he’s challenged with calling them.”