Faulkner gets ready for the pads
Freshman defensive end Justin Hurd storms the backfield in a defensive drill
August 6, 2008
Faulkner completed its final day of practice in shorts and helmets Wednesday at Cramton Bowl, working on offensive and defensive schemes in the two-hour workout. According to head coach Jim Nichols, the Eagles got a "good look at formations and setups’’ as the team prepares to start getting physical on Thursday.
Faulkner will don shoulder pads on Thursday before working out in full pads Friday. The Eagles will have a short 50-play scrimmage Saturday morning at 8:30 at Cramton Bowl. The scrimmage is open to the public.
"We’re looking forward to seeing what these guys can do with the pads on,’’ said Nichols, whose team opens its season on Sept. 6 in Birmingham against Samford. "Obviously you learn a lot more when guys are hitting each other. To this point we really haven’t done anything in-depth, but that’s about to change.’’
Ryan Williams, the freshman running back from Chilton County High School, has already turned some heads in early workouts.
"This guy is extremely well-conditioned, and it’s showing out here,’’ Nichols said. "We knew coming in that he was a hard runner and we’re excited to see how he does with the full pads on.’’
Other players on offense who have performed well according to Nichols include running back Brandon Lockhart and receivers Luther Burton and Daniel Ross.
Coach Gregg Baker works on blocking technique with the offensive line
Defensively, the returnee with the most experience is linebacker Sean Thom, who was among the nation’s leaders in tackles a year ago. Thom has moved from the outside to middle linebacker, and thus far Nichols has been pleased with the transition.
"You have to be smart and agile to play there, and Sean is that kind of guy,’’ he said. "We feel very confident that he will be one of the guys who continues to get the job done for us.’’
Also back on defense for the Eagles is end Jason Evans, a guy who Nichols says made "big play after big play for us last year.’’ Frank Chinoski returns as the Eagles’ starter at strong safety.
"We’ve always felt that playing effectively at this level is 90 percent mental and 10 percent physical, and that’s what we’re trying to teach our guys,’’ Nichols said. "We need all 11 guys on defense to be ready mentally and physically. Having 10 guys ready isn’t good enough.’’