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/ FootballTrojan Football Wraps Up Practice Three with Parents Day
3/28/2015 3:38:00 PM | Football
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TROY, Alabama – The Troy football team worked out in helmets and shoulder pads for over two hours on Saturday. The Trojans' third practice of the spring was in front of the players' friends and family on Family Day.
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The Trojans started practice in similar fashion on the grass fields behind Trojan Arena. At the conclusion of stretching, the Trojans held a one-on-one challenge between the offense and defense, which the offense won for the first time this spring.
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After briefly working on special teams, the Trojans split off into team drills and then worked on ball security.
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The wide receivers and defensive backs squared off, while the tight ends and running backs faced the linebackers in 1-on-1 drills, before the team made its way to Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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On a brisk, windy day, the Trojans worked on team first downs before transitioning to 7-on-7 drills with a focus on pass rush. Troy then went back to working on special teams and ended the day working on team drills.
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The Trojans return to the field on Tuesday for First Responder's Day. Practice is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
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Football head coach Neal Brown
Opening statement
We had really good energy today at practice three. Today we put on the pads. It was a really nice afternoon. We had Family Day, so a lot of parents, brothers and sisters were in attendance today, so I think gave our guys a little (energy). The defense is still ahead of the offense. We are doing some things better on offense, but I've really been excited about the improvements we have made on the defensive side of the ball. Montres Kitchens is really sticking out and Jamal Stadom had a really good day, and the two transfers from East Mississippi, Justin Lucas and William Lloyd, I think those guys are really coming on. I think Brandon Silvers at quarterback had a better day today then he has had, and our offensive line is getting better. That is one of the main focuses for this spring, getting those guys playing with continuity and playing with lower pad level. I think we have made some improvements
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On the individuals he called out…
I think a lot of times coaches focus on what is going wrong, or something that didn't happen. We spend a lot of time worrying about five percent of the people, and those are the people that aren't doing what they are asking to do and aren't performing at a high level. So, I want to make sure that our staff is doing a good job rewarding those that are doing well, and we have had some guys doing really well for us since December.
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On the intensity throughout the first three practices…
It has been good, and we are doing a good job as a coaching staff of mixing it up. Of course the first day of practice energy is going to be high, and the second day we had Academic Day, where the athletes invited their favorite professors, deans and faculty out to watch practice. Then, today we had Family Day. So, we have had a big audience at all three practices. We will continue to do that. We have First Responder's Day on Tuesday.
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Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning
On the defense after the three days of practice…
They are learning. I think every day it seems like we are getting a little bit better. We are really concentrating a lot on fundamentals and technique over scheme right now. Obviously, it is all a learning curve for the players. I think they are starting to understand what is expected of them.
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On the adjustments from last year…
I hesitate to say this because I didn't delve into the calls or alignments, but much like where I just came from, they needed to change it and do something different to give them a new identity and a new face. So that is kind of what we've done. We didn't really go back and say 'this is like that.' We went back and started teaching from new. There is a lot of new verbiage, that is why this is like learning a new language. I have told some of the guys it's like dropping someone in the middle of a foreign country and you have to learn it in a hurry.
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On if the defense is going to be like when he was previously here…
Some, but some will be different because football has changed. Back then, you might play one or two teams that were four wide, spread out, most of the teams weren't like that. The players have changed, somewhat. The way you coach players have changed because people have changed. So, there will be some of the same things. I think we are better understanding schemes and stuff better as coaches, since I was here before.
Â
On what they're teaching…
We are showing them some little clip about something swarming and right now that's the fire ant concept. The 1984 South Carolina defense called themselves the 'fire ants' The old media clips from back from 31 years ago talk about a swarm, fierce, fighting defense. We will do that.
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Senior Safety Montres Kitchens
On where he is on the learning curve of the defense…
It is a pretty complex defense. Every day we learn something new about it and we adjust to all aspects of our defense. It's a pretty good defense because it is flexible for players. Coach (Vic) Koenning is really making it clear what he wants, so it is very good for us.
Â
On the intensity of week one…
It has been pretty intense. Coach Brown has really established himself since he first got here as an intense coach. It has trickled down to the players. So it has been pretty intense, everybody wants to get better. The offense competes against the defense and the defense makes it as hard as they can for the offense.
Â
Sophomore Wide Receiver John Johnson
On how the first week has been…
It has been a learning period, everyone getting all the signs and stuff together. It has been feeling pretty good. It feels like everyone is gelling and clicking very well. We're becoming a real good thing.
Â
On being called a stand out in practice…
It is both (a motivator and pressure). It is a motivator because it tells me I have been working hard. It is a sign that I have to keep working, because if he is calling me out for being a good player, he will also call me out for being a slouch.
TROY, Alabama – The Troy football team worked out in helmets and shoulder pads for over two hours on Saturday. The Trojans' third practice of the spring was in front of the players' friends and family on Family Day.
Â
The Trojans started practice in similar fashion on the grass fields behind Trojan Arena. At the conclusion of stretching, the Trojans held a one-on-one challenge between the offense and defense, which the offense won for the first time this spring.
Â
After briefly working on special teams, the Trojans split off into team drills and then worked on ball security.
Â
The wide receivers and defensive backs squared off, while the tight ends and running backs faced the linebackers in 1-on-1 drills, before the team made its way to Veterans Memorial Stadium.
Â
On a brisk, windy day, the Trojans worked on team first downs before transitioning to 7-on-7 drills with a focus on pass rush. Troy then went back to working on special teams and ended the day working on team drills.
Â
The Trojans return to the field on Tuesday for First Responder's Day. Practice is slated to start at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public.
Â
Football head coach Neal Brown
Opening statement
We had really good energy today at practice three. Today we put on the pads. It was a really nice afternoon. We had Family Day, so a lot of parents, brothers and sisters were in attendance today, so I think gave our guys a little (energy). The defense is still ahead of the offense. We are doing some things better on offense, but I've really been excited about the improvements we have made on the defensive side of the ball. Montres Kitchens is really sticking out and Jamal Stadom had a really good day, and the two transfers from East Mississippi, Justin Lucas and William Lloyd, I think those guys are really coming on. I think Brandon Silvers at quarterback had a better day today then he has had, and our offensive line is getting better. That is one of the main focuses for this spring, getting those guys playing with continuity and playing with lower pad level. I think we have made some improvements
Â
On the individuals he called out…
I think a lot of times coaches focus on what is going wrong, or something that didn't happen. We spend a lot of time worrying about five percent of the people, and those are the people that aren't doing what they are asking to do and aren't performing at a high level. So, I want to make sure that our staff is doing a good job rewarding those that are doing well, and we have had some guys doing really well for us since December.
Â
On the intensity throughout the first three practices…
It has been good, and we are doing a good job as a coaching staff of mixing it up. Of course the first day of practice energy is going to be high, and the second day we had Academic Day, where the athletes invited their favorite professors, deans and faculty out to watch practice. Then, today we had Family Day. So, we have had a big audience at all three practices. We will continue to do that. We have First Responder's Day on Tuesday.
Â
Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning
On the defense after the three days of practice…
They are learning. I think every day it seems like we are getting a little bit better. We are really concentrating a lot on fundamentals and technique over scheme right now. Obviously, it is all a learning curve for the players. I think they are starting to understand what is expected of them.
Â
On the adjustments from last year…
I hesitate to say this because I didn't delve into the calls or alignments, but much like where I just came from, they needed to change it and do something different to give them a new identity and a new face. So that is kind of what we've done. We didn't really go back and say 'this is like that.' We went back and started teaching from new. There is a lot of new verbiage, that is why this is like learning a new language. I have told some of the guys it's like dropping someone in the middle of a foreign country and you have to learn it in a hurry.
Â
On if the defense is going to be like when he was previously here…
Some, but some will be different because football has changed. Back then, you might play one or two teams that were four wide, spread out, most of the teams weren't like that. The players have changed, somewhat. The way you coach players have changed because people have changed. So, there will be some of the same things. I think we are better understanding schemes and stuff better as coaches, since I was here before.
Â
On what they're teaching…
We are showing them some little clip about something swarming and right now that's the fire ant concept. The 1984 South Carolina defense called themselves the 'fire ants' The old media clips from back from 31 years ago talk about a swarm, fierce, fighting defense. We will do that.
Â
Senior Safety Montres Kitchens
On where he is on the learning curve of the defense…
It is a pretty complex defense. Every day we learn something new about it and we adjust to all aspects of our defense. It's a pretty good defense because it is flexible for players. Coach (Vic) Koenning is really making it clear what he wants, so it is very good for us.
Â
On the intensity of week one…
It has been pretty intense. Coach Brown has really established himself since he first got here as an intense coach. It has trickled down to the players. So it has been pretty intense, everybody wants to get better. The offense competes against the defense and the defense makes it as hard as they can for the offense.
Â
Sophomore Wide Receiver John Johnson
On how the first week has been…
It has been a learning period, everyone getting all the signs and stuff together. It has been feeling pretty good. It feels like everyone is gelling and clicking very well. We're becoming a real good thing.
Â
On being called a stand out in practice…
It is both (a motivator and pressure). It is a motivator because it tells me I have been working hard. It is a sign that I have to keep working, because if he is calling me out for being a good player, he will also call me out for being a slouch.
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