How TJ Finley said Auburn football offense has changed with Bryan Harsin calling plays

AUBURN — T.J. Finley has enjoyed an increase in Auburn football's offensive tempo at recent practices while coach Bryan Harsin has been "100% in control," the sophomore quarterback said Friday.

Auburn fired offensive coordinator Mike Bobo two days after the regular season ended and has not announced a replacement. For now, Auburn (6-6) is moving forward with Birmingham Bowl prep with Harsin calling plays.

"I wouldn’t say it’s a new system," Finley said. "I would just say it’s a different rhythm to the team, how we go about doing things at times. The rhythm of the play-calling is a little different and things of that nature. So I would say that would be the only adjustment we have made offensively. This has been Coach Harsin’s terminology all along, so it’s not really a change of terminology."

Auburn takes on No. 21 Houston (11-2) on Dec. 28 (11 a.m., ESPN) at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.

Boise State also used Harsin's terminology in its offense when Harsin was the head coach. He had been the Broncos' offensive coordinator from 2006-10. In his first season at Auburn, he has "always had his hand on the offense," Finley said, even with Bobo primarily in charge of calling plays.

"Now that he's 100% in control, like I said earlier, the only real difference in the two, Mike Bobo and Coach Harsin, is the tempo," Finley said. "Coach Harsin likes an upbeat, a tempo type of offense, which I love. Getting guys lined up, shifts and motions and things of that nature, getting them crisp."

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Harsin acknowledged that he's "a lot more involved than what I was." He added that receivers coach Eric Kiesau, a former assistant at Boise State, has been helping out.

"The offensive side of the ball is a little bit different because I've been part of that," Harsin said. "The quarterback position and coaching that position is different because I've been a part of that as well. And I'm enjoying that."

Offensive analyst Bodie Reeder has also been involved in coaching quarterbacks. On national signing day when Auburn football's official social media posted videos of coaches talking about each signee, Reeder spoke about quarterback commit Holden Geriner.

"He's full of energy all the time, which I love," Finley said. "He gets the offense pumped up before team periods and things of that nature, one-on-ones and things like that, so he's done an amazing job coaching us as a quarterback group, not only myself. Coach Harsin has his opinions and things like that that he wants to see get done during practice, but I think he's done a great job really trusting Coach Bodie Reeder with us."

Finley's bowl game start will be his third of the season after taking over for an injured Bo Nix at South Carolina. Nix entered the transfer portal Monday. Freshman Dematrius Davis is getting second-team reps during bowl game practices.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: How Bryan Harsin calling plays has changed Auburn football offense