Tech’s football team has nearly finished their first full week of practice in full pads, which is also their second week of spring practice.
Coach Watson Brown said he was very pleased with the energy of spring practice thus far, and that the team is meeting the goals for the spring that they’ve set for themselves.
“Spring goals are always the same,” Brown said. “We want to find the best players we can and make sure they’re at the right positions, and then make sure our offense and defense fits what they are doing.”
Defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Willy Taylor was also pleased with the spring’s results, up to this point.
“We’re getting better everyday,” Taylor said.
He also made mention of the position battles that are going on, saying that “every position” is up for grabs.
“There are no starters right now,” Taylor said. “We want everybody competing for a starting job.”
Rising senior defensive tackle Lamar Moore, who finished last season tied for the lead in total sacks, said that the days in full pads have been physical.
“We ‘turnt’ up,” Moore said, in reference to the defensive line specifically. “We are always trying to do our best and we are performing well.”
The defense, as a whole, is a bit short in the secondary, because a few defensive backs that are currently out due to injury.
“We’re still practicing with about five defensive backs that aren’t healthy right now,” Taylor said.
The defense did however acquire Doug Page, a rising senior and former tight end/short yardage back, from the offense. Page has moved to the inside linebacker position.
“He’s a very good athlete,” Coach Taylor said about Page, who finished the season with one touchdown reception and eight rushing touchdowns.
“He brings a lot of athleticism to our linebacking position,” Taylor said.
This added depth to an already stout inside linebacking core, which is what coach Brown said the team was lacking last season.
“When we won the OVC two years ago we had more players than other teams,” Brown said. “Last year we had a lot of injuries, didn’t have the depth and I felt like we wore down in the second half.”
The team will have another practice today at 3 p.m. and a scrimmage tomorrow at 1 p.m. The Purple/Gold Spring Scrimmage is April 20 at 1 p.m. at Tucker Stadium.
