Spring Practice?

[Maxell]

Does anybody know when it begins? and what quarterbacks will be on the spring roster?

[Aggie911]

Spring practice begins after Spring break (3/14). Spring Practice game is now schedule for April 16,2005.

[Bornthrilla]

Spring football: Out with the old, in with the new


By Craig Turner

bluedeathvalley.com



The advance of spring has always brought a renewal and transformation in nature, and the same can be said for college football. The month of March marks the beginning of spring practice for North Carolina A&T with a lot of new personnel, a new offensive coordinator, and a little different approach from a year ago.

That approach is marked by a sense of urgency.

Last season the wheels came off early with a spree of season-ending injuries and the decimation of the offensive backfield just three weeks into the season. By week five the defensive line was is the same situation, losing three key interior linemen which left the Aggies extremely vulnerable to the run. Without a creditable rushing game on offense (which had already lacked consistent quarterback play) and the inability to stop the run on defense, 2004 ended on a disappointing 3-8 note. This was after the Aggies had been picked in the preseason polls to either repeat their run of 2003 or at least challenge for the MEAC championship .

So where does head coach George Small begin to right the ship and help the Aggies regain the chemistry of two years ago?

It will have to start first with new offensive coordinator Ken Schoolfield. He is an outstanding former SAIC head coach who comes to A&T via a one-year stop over at Capital University, a D-III power in Columbus, OH. Schoolfield will be retooling an offensive line that, despite having four starters (including three seniors) back, failed to produce a single 200-yard rushing day in eleven games last year.

He will need to build this year’s unit from the floor up with a fairly new lineup. However, a strong recruiting class by Small last year allowed for the red shirting of a very deep, impressive, and physically imposing group of young offensive linemen. A key here is that this year’s players are those that Small can claim as his own recruits, without the attitude problems and undisciplined play that plagued last year’s group.

New names like Ron Foxx, Juan Williams, Tim Bess, Will Carter, Dexter Stroman, Brad Donaldson, and Walter Stith will be seen often and heard from a lot when spring practice does begin. Both Schoolfield and offensive line coach Chennis Berry will have to be on the same page philosophically because everything on this season’s offense will be new with Schoolfield, from the playbook to the warm-up routines.

What’s second? Improve the run defense. And that means a real decision has to be made to stay in the 3-4 or move to what Small and defensive coordinator Alonzo Lee have always wanted- a traditional 4-3. The answer to that question will depend if tackles Brandon Greeson, Jermaine Brantley, and Christian Hill can all return healthy from season ending injuries from last year. As of now they appear to be on track to be ready to go later this month. The defensive ends appear to be fairly well manned with All-America and MEAC Player-of-the-Year candidate Ricky Lewis,, a much larger and stronger Antonio Goode, and an underrated LeShawn McLean. The infusion of some heavy hitting JUCO transfers, the return of Montray Jackson from injury, and nearly all of the 2004 linebacking corps will also be a huge plus no matter what defensive set is chosen.


What’s number three on the list? Find and stay with a starting quarterback.

A&T has played musical chairs with its quarterbacks for the last two years. The only time the position has seen any stability was during the four game stretch run to the MEAC title in 2003, when Small went with Rico Watkins exclusively. Watkins ended up as a 1000-yard passer. That year he had a monster performance against Bethune-Cookman- exhibiting his cool leadership in a tough physical game- and against Hampton with a brilliant passing performance.

Last year, Watkins- who was a preseason All-MEAC pick- was shelved in place of Marshall Glenn in a move which befuddled both Aggie fans and reporters alike. To make matters worse, the 6-6 signal caller had his foot broken after being stepped on by one of his own offensive linemen during a quarterback sneak, just when it appeared A&T was about to put Alcorn State away on the road. The offense never regained any consistency and A&T’s season rapidly went downhill shortly after that.

Watkins should emerge the starter, pure and simple. He has the experience and the physical talent to be a dominate quarterback in the MEAC, and with a year away from the field just studying the opposition, his decision making should be much better. Rod Stevens, the 6-3, 200 pound East Mississippi JUCO transfer, comes to A&T with some fanfare after a MVP performance in the JUCO All-star game and has great feet and is a fair passer.

Marshall Glenn should slide to the number two role because he is a senior and has experience, but with Schoolfield now calling the shots, that could change. Glenn’s on-going problem has been his inconsistency in making proper decisions and a woeful interception rate. Most likely he will not start in 2004. Although neither has played a down, talented freshmen recruits Brent Smith and Herb Miller are most likely destined to be red shirted, which puts A&T in great shape for the future.

So those are the top three priorities that will need to be answered this spring for A&T. If the Aggies can win the battle of installing a new offense, getting it’s cache of talented young lineman to perform up to their physical skills, toughen the interior run defense, and establish a clear cut number one quarterback, George Small and his A&T team will be back in the thick of the MEAC championship race and the 1-AA national playoff picture come November.

[Bornthrilla]

I hear they are just doing light drills this week but Saturday is supposed to be the first day of hitting.

[Maxell]

bornthrilla said:

I hear they are just doing light drills this week but Saturday is supposed to be the first day of hitting.

It's that time again!! ;D

[Bigboy]

The two D-1 transfers Walter Stith and Derrick Eddington are both participating in spring practice. They both look as if they can be impact players. Walter Stith, the transfer from Western Mich. is a legitimate 6 foot 9 inch 320lb OL. He stands out over everyone on the team. Derrick Eddington is all muscle and very quick and fast. If you go to see a practice Stith wears practice jersey #76, Eddington wears practice jersey #2.

[Bornthrilla]

Big boy, what time will they be practing during the week?

[bluehaze]

www.ncataggies.com/Football/Spring%20Practice.htm

[Bornthrilla]

Thanks. I'm glad they are having most of the practices at night. I'll be sure to make it out there.

[Maxell]

bornthrilla said:

Thanks. I glad they are having most of the practices at night. I'll be sure to make it out there.

Thrilla,
You know we'll expect a photo album like last year.

[exterminator]

If you want to see practice today it will be at Dudley High because of a track meet at A&T.

[Bornthrilla]

I'll be out there. I think it starts at 7:30.

[exterminator]

They change there minds, practice wil not be untill Monday at 2:30

[Bornthrilla]

Yeah, I spoke with Rico yesterday afternoon and he gave me the heads up that the practice at Dudley was gonna be cancelled. However, I drove by there anyway and the new Dudley classroom buildings looks very nice. They haven taken a page from Renick's playbook with the way they have remolded that campus.

[exterminator]

The team will be in full gear tonight at 7:45 p.m with full contact.