Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Raiders conclude camp; switch focus to Vandy
8/25/2018 1:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Fall camp has finally concluded, and Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill is pleased with where the team's at, though there's still work that can be done before Sept. 1.
"I've been pleased with where we are, but I'm glad we don't play tomorrow," he said. "We still need these next six practices.
"I think we've improved … it's been a pretty good camp."
The Blue Raiders held their final camp practice Saturday, and now their focus switches to Vanderbilt, the season-opening opponent for the second year in a row.
Game week will be filled with implementing a game plan, which is a little different than the four weeks of camp. It'll also provide the players something to look forward to, instead of just another week of hitting each other in camp.
"[The last week of camp] is always the hard week for college football teams," Stockstill said. "You're in your third week, you're tired of going against the same people, it's the same routine and you're still a week and a half, two weeks out of game time. As it approaches, it's easier to get them going."
Injury situation
The main goal of every fall camp is to get through healthy. Middle Tennessee did a pretty good job of that this go-round.
While there were a few players limited towards the end of camp – mostly on the defensive side – most aren't serious injuries. Stockstill expects most of them to be back on the practice field during the week leading up to the game.
"We've had some injuries, but hopefully we can get them back in here at least by Sunday so they can have a chance to play," Stockstill said.
Competition update
Several position groups had good competition through camp, and Stockstill is pleased with where most of them sit entering game week.
There are still some decisions to be made, though. Most notably, competition will continue for the next few practices along the offensive line and in the receiving corps offensively, and defensively, some injuries to linebackers and defensive backs have bred more contests.
"There's a couple of places on each side of the ball where we haven't made decisions on yet," Stockstill said. "We'll make a decision on those in the next four or five days."
On to Vandy
The first game week of the season is here, and if anything is obvious around Middle Tennessee, it's that the Blue Raiders are finally ready to start focusing on an opponent.
The dog days of camp are officially over.
"This is what you practice for, the opportunity to play a game," Stockstill said.
"We're ready to get after it."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
"I've been pleased with where we are, but I'm glad we don't play tomorrow," he said. "We still need these next six practices.
"I think we've improved … it's been a pretty good camp."
The Blue Raiders held their final camp practice Saturday, and now their focus switches to Vanderbilt, the season-opening opponent for the second year in a row.
Game week will be filled with implementing a game plan, which is a little different than the four weeks of camp. It'll also provide the players something to look forward to, instead of just another week of hitting each other in camp.
"[The last week of camp] is always the hard week for college football teams," Stockstill said. "You're in your third week, you're tired of going against the same people, it's the same routine and you're still a week and a half, two weeks out of game time. As it approaches, it's easier to get them going."
Injury situation
The main goal of every fall camp is to get through healthy. Middle Tennessee did a pretty good job of that this go-round.
While there were a few players limited towards the end of camp – mostly on the defensive side – most aren't serious injuries. Stockstill expects most of them to be back on the practice field during the week leading up to the game.
"We've had some injuries, but hopefully we can get them back in here at least by Sunday so they can have a chance to play," Stockstill said.
Competition update
Several position groups had good competition through camp, and Stockstill is pleased with where most of them sit entering game week.
There are still some decisions to be made, though. Most notably, competition will continue for the next few practices along the offensive line and in the receiving corps offensively, and defensively, some injuries to linebackers and defensive backs have bred more contests.
"There's a couple of places on each side of the ball where we haven't made decisions on yet," Stockstill said. "We'll make a decision on those in the next four or five days."
On to Vandy
The first game week of the season is here, and if anything is obvious around Middle Tennessee, it's that the Blue Raiders are finally ready to start focusing on an opponent.
The dog days of camp are officially over.
"This is what you practice for, the opportunity to play a game," Stockstill said.
"We're ready to get after it."
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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