Football Wraps Week Two of Spring Practice

TROY, Ala. – Troy wrapped its first two weeks of spring practice on Thursday with a two-hour session in The Vet. It marked Troy's first practice in full pads and last workout before an 11-day hiatus for spring break.

"It was a good way to close out this phase of spring practice," head coach Gerad Parker said. "This was our first day of really going in full pads and having cycles and segments of tackling. We've got to look at a lot of players in a lot of different spots in all three phases (during the first five practices) and we've done some heavy installs.

"It was good to get through the segment of heavy installs and play some physical football. We certainly have plenty to fix, but we're pleased with where we are right now."

With full pads, the Trojans were able to implement some new wrinkles into practice with a heavier 1-on-1 period and the reintroduction of "The Race to 18" between the offense and defense at the end of practice. The ball is placed on the plus 25-yard line and touchdowns are good for six points and a field goal is worth three for the offense, while the defense scores seven points for a stop and four points for holding the offense to a field goal.

The offense raced out to a quick 14-0 advantage on touchdown passes from Mathew Caldwell and Goose Crowder before the defense held and Paddy McAteer booted a mid-range field goal, pushing the offense's lead to 17-4. The defense held on consecutive possessions, which resulted in missed field goals and an 18-17 defensive victory.

"I thought the offense was very slow today in their start and the defense was ready to practice," Parker said. "The offense salvaged it and did some good things late in our scrimmage period, but the defense came out, and it just seemed to be a little more urgent in how they approached it.

"That's a good lesson for our offense; it's hard to save once you come out and do that. So, execution-wise and development-wise at certain positions, I'm pleased on offense, but we've got a long way to go there, they are behind where the defense is."

Troy returns to the practice field on March 25 before closing the spring with T-Day on April 12.

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Football Wraps Week Two of Spring Practice

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