Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Ricky Hazel
Tuesday Practice Report
8/10/2010 12:51:21 PM | Football
Offensive Line Making Strides
The Troy University football team completed its final day or morning practice sessions on Tuesday prior to the start of the fall semester on Wednesday.
The long practice session was blessed with lower humidity, but mixed results on the field.
“We had some good and bad out here today, but we kept them out for a long time,” Trojans head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We still have a lot of work to do, and we have also talked a lot about getting off on the right foot in the classroom tomorrow.”
One area where the Trojans are looking to fill vacancies is on the offensive line, where a pair of three-year starters – Danny Franks and Steven Adams – graduated. The competition to fill those spots, as well as to get into position to play, has been good.
“We have gotten a lot of good work from those guys up front,” Blakeney said. “ We are getting a lot of leadership from Tyler Clark, who has moved to center from guard, but some of the young guys are showing some good things.
“As always, we are going to look to mix and match there to get the best five guys on the field, whoever they may be. After that, we are looking for the next two or three guys who will be ready to step in when needed.”
In addition to Clark, an All-Sun Belt performer who is moving to center after starting at guard for three years, the Trojans return starting tackles James Brown and Kyle Wilborn.
Besides the returning players, Blakeney singled out a pair of others who have caught his eye.
“Nate Newland has looked really good behind big James at left tackle, and we may have to look to find a way to get him on the field,” Blakeney said. “I thought Jarred Fleming really made a move during the scrimmage on Saturday and looks like he is going to be able to help us.”
The severe heat and humidity that has plagued the Trojans since the start of camp has been especially tough on some of the big offensive linemen. Junior college transfer DeMarkus Underwood, who at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds is the biggest of the Troy linemen, has especially had it tough.
“This heat is tough on all the big guys, but they are all working hard to fight through it, and that is going to make them better in the long run.”
The other key position battle on offense is at the quarterback spot where junior Jamie Hampton and redshirt freshman Corey Robinson are in a closely contested race for the starting spot. Blakeney said there has still been little sign of separation between the two.
“It seems as if every day one of them will look like he is starting to make a move and the other answers,” Blakeney said. “We are going to be comfortable with whichever one winds up starting because we feel good about having either one lead this team.”
On the defensive side of the ball the Trojans got some good news on Tuesday with the return of senior Daniel Sheffield to practice. A returning starter the hybrid linebacker/nickel back position, Sheffield suffered an ankle injury on the first day of fall camp, but was able to get back into drills today.
With school starting on Wednesday, the Trojans will go back to having afternoon practice sessions during the week. The team is scheduled to have its second scrimmage this Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
The long practice session was blessed with lower humidity, but mixed results on the field.
“We had some good and bad out here today, but we kept them out for a long time,” Trojans head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We still have a lot of work to do, and we have also talked a lot about getting off on the right foot in the classroom tomorrow.”
One area where the Trojans are looking to fill vacancies is on the offensive line, where a pair of three-year starters – Danny Franks and Steven Adams – graduated. The competition to fill those spots, as well as to get into position to play, has been good.
“We have gotten a lot of good work from those guys up front,” Blakeney said. “ We are getting a lot of leadership from Tyler Clark, who has moved to center from guard, but some of the young guys are showing some good things.
“As always, we are going to look to mix and match there to get the best five guys on the field, whoever they may be. After that, we are looking for the next two or three guys who will be ready to step in when needed.”
In addition to Clark, an All-Sun Belt performer who is moving to center after starting at guard for three years, the Trojans return starting tackles James Brown and Kyle Wilborn.
Besides the returning players, Blakeney singled out a pair of others who have caught his eye.
“Nate Newland has looked really good behind big James at left tackle, and we may have to look to find a way to get him on the field,” Blakeney said. “I thought Jarred Fleming really made a move during the scrimmage on Saturday and looks like he is going to be able to help us.”
The severe heat and humidity that has plagued the Trojans since the start of camp has been especially tough on some of the big offensive linemen. Junior college transfer DeMarkus Underwood, who at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds is the biggest of the Troy linemen, has especially had it tough.
“This heat is tough on all the big guys, but they are all working hard to fight through it, and that is going to make them better in the long run.”
The other key position battle on offense is at the quarterback spot where junior Jamie Hampton and redshirt freshman Corey Robinson are in a closely contested race for the starting spot. Blakeney said there has still been little sign of separation between the two.
“It seems as if every day one of them will look like he is starting to make a move and the other answers,” Blakeney said. “We are going to be comfortable with whichever one winds up starting because we feel good about having either one lead this team.”
On the defensive side of the ball the Trojans got some good news on Tuesday with the return of senior Daniel Sheffield to practice. A returning starter the hybrid linebacker/nickel back position, Sheffield suffered an ankle injury on the first day of fall camp, but was able to get back into drills today.
With school starting on Wednesday, the Trojans will go back to having afternoon practice sessions during the week. The team is scheduled to have its second scrimmage this Saturday at 10:30 a.m.
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