First full contact scrimmage goes well for Kats
3/28/2015 12:07:00 PM | Football
For Sam Houston head football coach K. C. Keeler and his staff, 2015 spring ball and last year's spring camp are as different as night and day.
“It's so much different this year. We're light years ahead of last year and have improved so much just in the first two weeks,” Keeler said after the first game-condition scrimmage of spring practice Saturday morning.
The Bearkats ran 90 plays the coaches and players alike enjoyed the contact.
“We're only going to be in full pads three times this spring – today, next Friday and the spring game (April 10),” Keeler said. “The reason is that I really like where this team is going right now. I want to keep the team healthy. We're going to work on things like assignments, technique and alignment. I know it's a corny phrase, but, to be successful we have to play clean and that's what we're working towards.”
The scrimmage Saturday marked the halfway point of spring practice.
Sam Houston State lost only two senior starters to graduation from the 11-5 Southland Conference championship squad. Seven players who earned either first or second team All-America honors are back. Six other All-Southland honorable mention selections also are back on the field.
“I don't have to toughen this team up,” Keeler said. “These guys have worked hard and improved dramatically. The kids feel good about where they are. Keeping guys fresher we're getting great workouts. And the guys are doing a great job in the weight room with Coach (Brian) Hess getting bigger, faster and stronger.”
UAB transfer Jeremiah Briscoe and redshirt freshman Cole Martin shared quarterbacking duties during the scrimmage.
“Don King is a little banged up so we held him out and we look to get Jared Johnson back soon,” Keeler said of the quarterback situation. “We're not in a real hurry to get Jared back. We want him 100 percent. We know what he can do. He's working every day with the offense. He knows the offense so well he's like another coach out there.”
Keeler also pointed to the competition being provided by the Bearkats talented group of young players.
“We had to opportunity to get a lot of reps for the young guys in the scrimmage,” Keeler said. “The offense did a great job of moving the ball and the defense did well with the first time with real live tackling. We loved the competition. That's what is going to make everyone better.”
Spring practice has not been just about X's and 0's on the field for the Bearkats.
“We've really tried to emphasize the importance of team work and leadership with the guys by bringing in some outstanding speakers,” Keeler said. “We have focused on the important of accountability and being part of a team.”
Keeler and his staff will look at video of the scrimmage this weekend to find areas where the defense and the offense need work.
“For the most part, we played fairly clean today,” Keeler said. “Some of the young defensive guys got a little out of alignment at times. But you could see that the offense's tempo caused that. Things are going so fast and the young guys are having to keep up and they can get out of alignment easily. It was great work today and the competition was all good.”
Sam Houston will hold practice sessions Monday and Wednesday morning and scrimmage Friday before Easter weekend. The Orange-White Spring Game is Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Elliott T. Bower Stadium.
