CSN Log
March 10th, 2009, 02:50 PM
03-10-2009 02:49 PM
Georgia Southern back in full pads
What a difference one week makes. Last week when the Eagles began spring football Tuesday morning the temperatures and wind chill was in the 30s. Exactly a week later in practice number six, many were sporting shorts outside.
Spring Football Practice #6
“It’s amazing how a week difference in weather will keep the morale up with the team. We’ve had a good week and a half (six practices), the intensity has been good. We’ve had a lot of good live hitting. I’ve been real pleased with the work of the group,” said head coach Chris Hatcher. “More importantly, just our attitude and our wanting to learn. We’ve got a lot of guys that understand that we’re not anywhere where we need to be and have a long ways to go, but they come out everyday and try to find a point in there game where they can get better.”
Back in full pads, the team worked board drills (1-on-1 blocking) and scrimmaged near the end.
“Well I thought we flew around good. We had a lot of guys that missed assignments on both sides of the ball. We had a lot of effort and a lot of guys wanting to stick their face mask in there and try to make some plays defensively,” said Hatcher. “Offensively, we are getting close to clicking on all cylinders, things are coming along nicely. We’ve got two more days before spring break and hopefully we’ll have two more good days of work.”
The team will take Wednesday off and return to the practice fields on Thursday.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Next to wide receivers, the defensive line took the biggest hit of losing seniors. Dakota Walker turned in an All-America season at defensive end. Larry Beard and Damon Suggs were all-conference caliber performers and Casey Wingard proved to be a valuable back-up. But the cupboard is not completely empty.
Brent Russell turned in an impressive fall camp and earned the start at Georgia. He suffered a season-ending knee injury, will have four years of eligibility remaining, and should challenge for the starting defensive tackle role again. Kerry Bonds was also having a stellar fall camp but suffered a knee injury. The rising senior could be penciled in at defensive end.
Sophomore Roderick Tinsley saw significant playing time as the season progressed and could challenge for the other D-End spot. Senior Harland Bower has moved between linebacker and defensive end throughout his career. His experience could help him challenge for a starting role on the end as well. Markeith Wylie, another senior, started a couple of times at defensive tackle.
“Defensive line is the position that will make or break you. Roderick Tinsley came on throughout the season and he’s going to be relied on heavily. Brent Russell and Kerry Bonds both battled injury so what they do in the spring will be limited but both of those guys are projected starters along with Markeith Wylie,” said Hatcher. “Wylie played sparingly for us, but we need him to really come along well. There are other names that you’ve never heard of that we’re going to throw out there and see what they can do.”
Returning Letterwinners: Kerry Bonds, Harland Bower, Roderick Tinsley, Markeith Wylie
Letterwinners Lost: Larry Beard, Damon Suggs, Dakota Walker, Brandon Lee Williams, Casey Wingard.
2009 Spring Practice Schedule
Thursday, March 12
Friday, March 13
Tuesday, March 24
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Tuesday, March 31
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4 - Annual Blue-White Game, 1 p.m.
By Georgia Southern University Athletic Media Relations
Georgia Southern back in full pads
What a difference one week makes. Last week when the Eagles began spring football Tuesday morning the temperatures and wind chill was in the 30s. Exactly a week later in practice number six, many were sporting shorts outside.
Spring Football Practice #6
“It’s amazing how a week difference in weather will keep the morale up with the team. We’ve had a good week and a half (six practices), the intensity has been good. We’ve had a lot of good live hitting. I’ve been real pleased with the work of the group,” said head coach Chris Hatcher. “More importantly, just our attitude and our wanting to learn. We’ve got a lot of guys that understand that we’re not anywhere where we need to be and have a long ways to go, but they come out everyday and try to find a point in there game where they can get better.”
Back in full pads, the team worked board drills (1-on-1 blocking) and scrimmaged near the end.
“Well I thought we flew around good. We had a lot of guys that missed assignments on both sides of the ball. We had a lot of effort and a lot of guys wanting to stick their face mask in there and try to make some plays defensively,” said Hatcher. “Offensively, we are getting close to clicking on all cylinders, things are coming along nicely. We’ve got two more days before spring break and hopefully we’ll have two more good days of work.”
The team will take Wednesday off and return to the practice fields on Thursday.
DEFENSIVE LINE: Next to wide receivers, the defensive line took the biggest hit of losing seniors. Dakota Walker turned in an All-America season at defensive end. Larry Beard and Damon Suggs were all-conference caliber performers and Casey Wingard proved to be a valuable back-up. But the cupboard is not completely empty.
Brent Russell turned in an impressive fall camp and earned the start at Georgia. He suffered a season-ending knee injury, will have four years of eligibility remaining, and should challenge for the starting defensive tackle role again. Kerry Bonds was also having a stellar fall camp but suffered a knee injury. The rising senior could be penciled in at defensive end.
Sophomore Roderick Tinsley saw significant playing time as the season progressed and could challenge for the other D-End spot. Senior Harland Bower has moved between linebacker and defensive end throughout his career. His experience could help him challenge for a starting role on the end as well. Markeith Wylie, another senior, started a couple of times at defensive tackle.
“Defensive line is the position that will make or break you. Roderick Tinsley came on throughout the season and he’s going to be relied on heavily. Brent Russell and Kerry Bonds both battled injury so what they do in the spring will be limited but both of those guys are projected starters along with Markeith Wylie,” said Hatcher. “Wylie played sparingly for us, but we need him to really come along well. There are other names that you’ve never heard of that we’re going to throw out there and see what they can do.”
Returning Letterwinners: Kerry Bonds, Harland Bower, Roderick Tinsley, Markeith Wylie
Letterwinners Lost: Larry Beard, Damon Suggs, Dakota Walker, Brandon Lee Williams, Casey Wingard.
2009 Spring Practice Schedule
Thursday, March 12
Friday, March 13
Tuesday, March 24
Thursday, March 26
Friday, March 27
Tuesday, March 31
Thursday, April 2
Friday, April 3
Saturday, April 4 - Annual Blue-White Game, 1 p.m.
By Georgia Southern University Athletic Media Relations