With an important pair of games coming up to close the regular season, the Tigers are constantly evaluating their process.
Following a game in which the Auburn Tigers nearly got over the hump against the Vanderbilt Commodores, interim head coach DJ Durkin has been taking time to reevaluate things with the staff and players.
"I think it’s important in any profession, especially ours, that you take time and reflect," Durkin said. "You have to go back and reflect. We coach our guys all the time and grade them on the film on what they did. I think as a coach, we do the same things. There are certainly things that I, and our defensive staff, could have done better in that game. We’ve talked about them and addressed that, and I think moving forward we will be smoother with that, too."
Additionally, Durkin is determined to perform to the best of his ability as he wants to have a chance to be the Tigers' head coach with the interim label removed.
"I view every day here on the job as an interview," Durkin said. "I think you’re getting a good glimpse of what I would be as a head coach here, so I just treat it that way. Certainly, there’s conversations almost daily with our administration about a lot of things in the program. So that’s how it is. Our focus is solely on this team right now and preparing for a game this week, and that’s it. Those things I think will play out and handle themselves.”
Durkin has been a defensive head coach throughout his career, but is now having to spend time on the offensive part of the game as well.
This has been an adjustment for him, but having Derrick Nix to count on makes things easier.
“It’s really important the team understands that you are present on both sides of the ball and supported in every way," Durkin said. "I think Derrick Nix did a great job preparing our offense. He and I have a lot of conversations about what the plan is, what we want it to look like. He does a great job of executing from that plan."