Samford Football Returns To Practice With Full-Pad Workout Monday
The Bulldogs practiced for about two hours Monday morning
Practice Photo Gallery
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in full pads Monday morning at Seibert Stadium. The practice was the 13th workout of the fall for the Bulldogs.
Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said the practice went well and that a few of players who sat out Saturday's scrimmage were back at Monday's practice.
"I thought it was good, they had a little bounce after not practicing on Sunday," Sullivan said. "It was good to have some of the injured players back. Riley Hawkins was back and it was good to see him out there. Justin Sly was also back out there today."
Sullivan said he and his coaching staff have now had time to watch film from Saturday's first scrimmage of the fall.
"It's never as good as you think or as bad as you think," Sullivan said. "There were a lot of them that did some good things. We'd like to be a little more polished, but that's what we have the next two weeks for."
Samford will practice twice on Tuesday. The Bulldogs will practice in full pads at 8:30 a.m., and again in shells at 4 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.
Fall Practice Update #6: Catamount Football Resumes Practice Monday Morning
Worked through a two and a half hour session Monday following Sunday’s off day
Cullowhee, N.C. ? Following Sunday’s off-day for the players, the Western Carolina Catamounts returned to the practice field Monday morning for a 25-period, two and a half hour session under overcast and humid conditions on the turf of Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
Each quarterback split the reps with the various offensive units, with Jaynes seeing the majority of first team snaps. Practice included individual position and unit work, before the offense and defense worked against each other in situational plays and concluded the practice with conditioning sprints.
Senior running back Jayson Williams and redshirt junior wide receiver Marquel Pittman were dressed and saw limited reps during the full-pad practice. Wideout Josh Cockrell and defensive back Brandon Vaught continued to be out with concussions, with freshman DB Michael Johnson also missing the practice for precautionary purposes due to a concussion.
Western Carolina will hold three two-a-day sessions this week beginning on Tuesday with both a morning and afternoon session.
Appalachian State Practice Report
WILLIAMS TAKES IN PRACTICE ON MONDAY MORNING: Another top-notch quarterback from ASU’s lore was on hand at practice on Monday morning, as Richie Williams took in the first workout of the day from the sidelines.
After leading Appalachian to its first national championship in 2005, Williams spent much of the next four years north of the border as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League. He was a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats from 2006-08 and began this season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before returning to the states two weeks ago. He is now trying his hand at another sport, training as a jackman with NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Crew Member Development program.
PRACTICE REPORT: After a 160-play scrimmage on Saturday, the Mountaineers dialed back the intensity a bit for their two practices on Monday. The Apps wore helmets, shoulder pads and shorts and hitting was limited for both the morning and afternoon workouts. Additionally, the afternoon session was about 30 minutes shorter than the usual practice so far this fall.
More physical play will likely return on Tuesday, as Appalachian has only one practice scheduled at Kidd Brewer Stadium.
The Citadel Football Fall Camp Report: Day 9
Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Football returned to the practice field for day nine of fall camp on Monday after having Sunday off. The Bulldogs worked out for three hours and were greeted again by a morning overcast.
Once again on Monday Bulldog Head Coach Kevin Higgins was impressed with the defense, stating they have been doing well and is further ahead than the offense.
"Today we did a live overtime scrimmage and our defense did a great job twice on stopping the offense," said Higgins. "Our field goal block unit ended up blocking a kick so our special teams has been stepping up as well."
Higgins said that the team needs to be more consistent up front from a blocking standpoint. However, with veterans Jameson Bryant and Daniel DeHaven out from practice, younger players have been given the opportunity to step and be evaluated.
The Bulldog Coaching Staff also worked with special teams on kickoff returns on Monday, while offense worked on moving throws which were well executed, according to Higgins.
Alex Carr was reported to have suffered a mildly sprained ankle on Monday. Quarterback Bart Blanchard is still day-to-day. Mel Capers returned to practice on Monday and Bryant and DeHaven are out sick.
The Citadel will return to the practice field on Tuesday for their third of four two-a-days starting at 8 a.m. and then again at 3:15 p.m. Both practices will take place at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility.
The Bulldogs will host "Meet the Bulldogs" on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 1:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility and will consist of free food, a live scrimmage and a player and coach autograph session. The event is free and open to the public.
Elon Football Practice Report: Former NFL Coach Visits
ELON, N.C. ? The Elon Phoenix football squad continued its preseason workouts Sunday afternoon and Monday morning on the Hunt and Tucker practice fields. Sunday’s practice was conducted for two and a half hours in full pads while Monday morning’s session was in uppers only and lasted for two hours and 15 minutes.
Both sessions featured two pass skeletons and three team periods. Sunday’s team periods consisted of two “thud” periods and a live scrimmage with third down situations. On Monday, the team concentrated on base down and distances for two periods and worked on third down situations for the third. Monday also featured a crossover period in which the tight ends and running backs took on linebackers in pass protection while the wide receivers and defensive backs competed in stalk block drills.
Special teams continued its work as well, drilling on kickoff coverage, kickoff returns, punt protection, punt returns, PATs and field goals throughout both days.
In attendance at the last two practice sessions has been Jim McNally, a former offensive line coach for the Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills. “It’s been an honor to have Coach McNally here and observe our practices for the past two days,” stated head coach Pete Lembo. “He is widely considered to be one of the greatest offensive line coaches of all-time. Jim and (Elon offensive line coach) John Strollo have been close friends for many years.”
On Sunday, Lembo thought that Nolan Ward and Andre Campbell stood out on the defensive side of the ball.
“Nolan made an incredible, diving interception off a Scott Riddle pass on the first play of our first team period,” said Lembo. “Andre Campbell had another solid practice on Sunday and recorded a sack as well as another tackle for a loss in the team period.”
Offensively, Lembo singled out A.J. Harris and Lance Camp for their receiving performance during the pass skeleton period, noting that they each hauled in some big catches. On what Lembo called a “critical play,” receiver Aaron Mellette threw a key block to spring running back Jamal Shuman for a first down run on a third down play. During the team period, Lembo thought that freshmen receivers Rasaun Rorie and Drew Turner stood out and made some nice grabs.
During Monday’s workout, Lembo again singled out Campbell, saying, “Andre continued to give outstanding effort on Monday morning as did nose guard Eric Ludwig.”
Sophomore linebacker Zach Henderson was recognized for his solid play while Walker White blocked a field goal at the end of practice, providing a huge lift to the defensive unit.
Rorie was also recognized as Lembo was pleased with the progress that the freshman has made over the first week of workouts.
The Phoenix gets back on the field for a 7:30 p.m. practice on Monday night. During that session, Lembo said the team will participate in a short live scrimmage. Elon will be off of the practice fields on Tuesday, but check back to elonphoenix.com for an interview with defensive coordinator Jay Bateman.
GOAL LINE, RED ZONE SERIES HIGHLIGHT MONDAY EVENING PRACTICE AT FURMAN
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman capped its second twin practice day of the preseason Monday with red zone and goal line work under the lights of Paladin Stadium.
The Paladins ran approximately 16 plays of 11-on-11 in the red zone and then another 10 plays of goal line work, featuring both first and second team offensive and defensive units.
“The offense looked pretty good, but I expected that given the number of guys we have out right now on defense,” said head coach Bobby Lamb following the two-hour practice. “Our guys fought through the humidity pretty well, but we’ve got to get better and get some bodies back.”
Furman’s defense was minus four projected starters on Monday, including nose tackle Justin Brown (foot), Kyle McKinney (foot), cornerback Jordan Griffin (groin), and rover Max Lerner (concussion). In addition, interior linemen Cody Reynolds (leg), and Pete Sanders (illness) were unavailable, leaving sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Poole to combine with true freshmen Colton Keig and Neal Rodgers for all of the work inside.
Projected starting defensive end Shaun Van Rensburg made his debut on the practice field Monday after recovering from July knee surgery.
“It was good to get Shaun Van Rensburg back. He looked like the fastest guy out there on defense.”
Offensively, Lamb continued to cite the strong play of running back Tersoo Uhaa.
“Tersoo is a ball player who can be a real factor. He has a very impressive running style and also catches it well out of the backfield.”
The evening session also included individual drills, 7-on-7 sessions, and work on the punt team.
Monday morning’s practice involved special teams drills, 7-on-7 sessions, and work on the punt block team. In addition the Paladins implemented their two minute and two minutes defensive schemes and covered situational work.
Freshman linebacker Matt Solomon was mentioned by Lamb as recording an impressive morning practice. He is among maybe a half dozen first year players contending for a spot on the travel squad this fall.
Notes: Furman Furman’s football program will provide a lift to the Greenville Literacy Association on Tuesday when approximately 20 freshmen volunteer to lift and haul boxes full of books at the GLA’s McAlister Square headquarters.
Furman’s volunteer effort will assist the GLA in preparation for the organization’s annual “Really Good, Really Big, Really Cheap Book Sale,” scheduled for Saturday, August 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at McAlister Square.
The Paladin freshmen will wear jerseys and work from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.