Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Offseason football workouts beneficial in multiple ways
2/16/2020 5:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — With the 2020 recruiting class pretty much finalized, the focus for the Middle Tennessee football team is now on building towards the season opener.
More than six months still separate the Blue Raiders from their trip to Duke on Sept. 5 to start the season, but work the student-athletes are doing now is crucial to building to that point.
Since they've been back on campus for the spring semester, the players have been working at building a solid base before they start mat drills this week. That means plenty of weight training and conditioning, all with a focus on injury prevention and being smart.
"I've been really impressed with the growth and the development of the team this offseason in the short amount of time we've been back at it," strength and conditioning coach Matt Hickmann said. "We give the guys a program to do when they go home for Christmas break, but you never know what to expect. When they came back, you could tell the guys were doing some really good work on their own.
"We're trying to push the guys but be smart about everything we're doing. If you aren't being smart and 100% focused on the details of what you're doing, that's where injuries can occur."
With the first game barely a blip on the radar at this point, one would think the intensity and focus in the weight room could be lacking.
That's far from the truth for this year's Blue Raiders.
Hickmann, now in his third year at MT, has been thrilled so far with the attention to detail the team has shown, in addition to the bonding and brotherhood that's already growing.
It's made some of the team's competitions this offseason fun for the coaches looking on.
"We really wanted to bring it back and really focus on the fine details — accountability, ownership … we want to do more than we've done in the past, with recovery, teamwork, leadership, and along with that, we have to do them smartly," Hickmann said. "We have to do a good job of being locked in on the task at hand and know exactly what we're doing. These guys are holding each other accountable and allowing others to hold them accountable. … We're really locking it in right now."
Getting to know teammates and coaches is even more critical this time of year for newcomers.
Middle Tennessee added 21 players to the roster in this year's recruiting class, and some of those are already on campus. Being able to get onto campus early and start going through the daily routines should prove beneficial.
"It's really, really helpful for them because they get to be around us and see what type of culture we have," rising redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "It's also good for us to start learning about them and become close.
"One thing I felt like we needed to do this year is become more one as on offense and have more chemistry. We've been working really hard in the weight room and building relationships, and that's been going great."
Starting this week, the Blue Raiders will take part in one of the most fun — and challenging — portions of the offseason: mat drills.
Mat drills are pretty much exactly what the name says — the players come into the Murphy Center to do intense workouts on mats, focusing on responding to fatigue and adverse situations while encouraging and pushing each other.
It's a great chance for the coaches to see each player's competition level and grit.
"It's going to be fun," O'Hara said. "It's a test, for sure, but we're ready for it. We've been working hard.
"We'll see how we feel afterward on Monday, but right now we're ready to get to work."
Getting in proper shape now will be critical for MT down the road, most notably when fall camp starts in August. Building a base now will make it easier for the players to expand on their workouts as the summer comes and transitions into camp, and it'll hopefully go a long way towards preventing some non-contact injuries.
Maybe just as important as the physical workouts, though, are the bonds that come from this time of year.
"What we're doing in here is creating a bond within the guys," Hickmann said. "Instead of guys working by themselves at a platform, we break the room up into groups of eight to 10 guys. That helps create more energy and enthusiasm, and bonding comes from that.
"On the football field, no one is out there on that field but them. They have to do it together, and that brotherhood is key."
It may technically be the offseason, but the Blue Raiders are plenty busy.
More than six months still separate the Blue Raiders from their trip to Duke on Sept. 5 to start the season, but work the student-athletes are doing now is crucial to building to that point.
Since they've been back on campus for the spring semester, the players have been working at building a solid base before they start mat drills this week. That means plenty of weight training and conditioning, all with a focus on injury prevention and being smart.
"I've been really impressed with the growth and the development of the team this offseason in the short amount of time we've been back at it," strength and conditioning coach Matt Hickmann said. "We give the guys a program to do when they go home for Christmas break, but you never know what to expect. When they came back, you could tell the guys were doing some really good work on their own.
"We're trying to push the guys but be smart about everything we're doing. If you aren't being smart and 100% focused on the details of what you're doing, that's where injuries can occur."
With the first game barely a blip on the radar at this point, one would think the intensity and focus in the weight room could be lacking.
That's far from the truth for this year's Blue Raiders.
Hickmann, now in his third year at MT, has been thrilled so far with the attention to detail the team has shown, in addition to the bonding and brotherhood that's already growing.
It's made some of the team's competitions this offseason fun for the coaches looking on.
"We really wanted to bring it back and really focus on the fine details — accountability, ownership … we want to do more than we've done in the past, with recovery, teamwork, leadership, and along with that, we have to do them smartly," Hickmann said. "We have to do a good job of being locked in on the task at hand and know exactly what we're doing. These guys are holding each other accountable and allowing others to hold them accountable. … We're really locking it in right now."
Getting to know teammates and coaches is even more critical this time of year for newcomers.
Middle Tennessee added 21 players to the roster in this year's recruiting class, and some of those are already on campus. Being able to get onto campus early and start going through the daily routines should prove beneficial.
"It's really, really helpful for them because they get to be around us and see what type of culture we have," rising redshirt junior quarterback Asher O'Hara said. "It's also good for us to start learning about them and become close.
"One thing I felt like we needed to do this year is become more one as on offense and have more chemistry. We've been working really hard in the weight room and building relationships, and that's been going great."
Starting this week, the Blue Raiders will take part in one of the most fun — and challenging — portions of the offseason: mat drills.
Mat drills are pretty much exactly what the name says — the players come into the Murphy Center to do intense workouts on mats, focusing on responding to fatigue and adverse situations while encouraging and pushing each other.
It's a great chance for the coaches to see each player's competition level and grit.
"It's going to be fun," O'Hara said. "It's a test, for sure, but we're ready for it. We've been working hard.
"We'll see how we feel afterward on Monday, but right now we're ready to get to work."
Getting in proper shape now will be critical for MT down the road, most notably when fall camp starts in August. Building a base now will make it easier for the players to expand on their workouts as the summer comes and transitions into camp, and it'll hopefully go a long way towards preventing some non-contact injuries.
Maybe just as important as the physical workouts, though, are the bonds that come from this time of year.
"What we're doing in here is creating a bond within the guys," Hickmann said. "Instead of guys working by themselves at a platform, we break the room up into groups of eight to 10 guys. That helps create more energy and enthusiasm, and bonding comes from that.
"On the football field, no one is out there on that field but them. They have to do it together, and that brotherhood is key."
It may technically be the offseason, but the Blue Raiders are plenty busy.
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