Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Smooth sailing through spring drills so far
3/22/2017 9:47:00 AM | Football
Spring drills conclude on April 15
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Spring practice is well underway for Middle Tennessee's football team, and so far things have been business as usual for head coach Rick Stockstill and his Blue Raiders.
Tuesday's was the fourth practice of the spring, and the team is transitioning from working in shorts for two days to playing fully padded and at mostly full speed in their second week.
"Everybody is competing and working hard and they have a great attitude," Stockstill said. "There's been a great recall offensively – our guys from the first day picked up everything pretty well from where we left off last year. I've also been really pleased with how fast the defense has moved and implemented its schemes four days in."
While the season's opening kickoff against Vanderbilt is still over 20 weeks away, preparation starts now for MT if it wants to better its third-place finish in Conference USA's East division in 2016.
On defense, that preparation starts with learning how to play under new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer.
The new DC may not have a totally different system than what the Raiders are used to – his 4-3 scheme matches the base that old defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix favored – but plenty needs to be learned. So far, everything has been smooth sailing for Shafer and his defense.
"We've had good, bad, beautiful and ugly and everything in between," he said. "I do like the way the kids are working and their work ethic. We have to do a better job, now that we're in full pads, at shedding and getting off blocks.
"The thing I do like is the effort. As long as they keep working hard and provide us with good effort, we'll get better daily."
The other side of the ball features an offense in its second year under offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.
Where last season was much like what Shafer is experiencing now with learning the ins and outs of the team, this year's spring practices are providing Franklin a chance to sit back and teach a little more.
His teachings may be most directed on the backup quarterbacks. With starter Brent Stockstill sidelined all spring due to shoulder surgery, the backups, led by redshirt sophomore John Urzua and redshirt freshman Kyle Banks, are getting all of the reps and plenty of opportunities to show growth.
"It's been the normal spring of good, bad and ugly," Franklin said. "The kids know what to do and know the details. That makes it a lot smoother than it was last year."
Though the start of the season is a ways off, the spring provides a good chance for both Franklin and Shafer to get an idea of who will be playing where once fall camp rolls around.
So far, both have gotten a good idea of where some guys fit based on their effort and motivation. However, there is still plenty of time left this spring for others to step up.
"We have a long way to go in some areas," Rick Stockstill said. "If they'll keep the attitude they have and keep working to get a little better each day, that's what spring is all about."
The team returns to the field on Thursday and Spring practices wrap up April 15.
Tuesday's was the fourth practice of the spring, and the team is transitioning from working in shorts for two days to playing fully padded and at mostly full speed in their second week.
"Everybody is competing and working hard and they have a great attitude," Stockstill said. "There's been a great recall offensively – our guys from the first day picked up everything pretty well from where we left off last year. I've also been really pleased with how fast the defense has moved and implemented its schemes four days in."
While the season's opening kickoff against Vanderbilt is still over 20 weeks away, preparation starts now for MT if it wants to better its third-place finish in Conference USA's East division in 2016.
On defense, that preparation starts with learning how to play under new defensive coordinator Scott Shafer.
The new DC may not have a totally different system than what the Raiders are used to – his 4-3 scheme matches the base that old defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix favored – but plenty needs to be learned. So far, everything has been smooth sailing for Shafer and his defense.
"We've had good, bad, beautiful and ugly and everything in between," he said. "I do like the way the kids are working and their work ethic. We have to do a better job, now that we're in full pads, at shedding and getting off blocks.
"The thing I do like is the effort. As long as they keep working hard and provide us with good effort, we'll get better daily."
The other side of the ball features an offense in its second year under offensive coordinator Tony Franklin.
Where last season was much like what Shafer is experiencing now with learning the ins and outs of the team, this year's spring practices are providing Franklin a chance to sit back and teach a little more.
His teachings may be most directed on the backup quarterbacks. With starter Brent Stockstill sidelined all spring due to shoulder surgery, the backups, led by redshirt sophomore John Urzua and redshirt freshman Kyle Banks, are getting all of the reps and plenty of opportunities to show growth.
"It's been the normal spring of good, bad and ugly," Franklin said. "The kids know what to do and know the details. That makes it a lot smoother than it was last year."
Though the start of the season is a ways off, the spring provides a good chance for both Franklin and Shafer to get an idea of who will be playing where once fall camp rolls around.
So far, both have gotten a good idea of where some guys fit based on their effort and motivation. However, there is still plenty of time left this spring for others to step up.
"We have a long way to go in some areas," Rick Stockstill said. "If they'll keep the attitude they have and keep working to get a little better each day, that's what spring is all about."
The team returns to the field on Thursday and Spring practices wrap up April 15.
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