Gardner-Webb Spring Practice Report - 3-27-10
Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2010 8:33 am
Made the short trip to Boiling Springs on Saturday to check out the Runnin' Bulldogs end up their first week of spring drills. Got to enjoy a spirited practice with several of the Bulldog faithful and came away with some good feelings about the program. GW modified their spring practice schedule this year and I think it is a great move. New S&C coach [and QB coach] Jeremy Martin convinced the staff to move spring practice back nearly a month so he could work with the kids in the weight room and in their running. This has really paid off as the players have gained some good weight and really look solid.
O Line: Got about 10 O linemen ready to play football and several more on the way in our recent recruiting class. Left side is set and will be well anchored with Jamie Dunaway [LT] and Corey O'Daniel [LG] and center CJ Bryant [C] returning from a complete season of experience. I expect to see some good competition for the RG spot vacated by Marion Gramling and RT spot vacated by Kyle Webber. Several players got limited PT last year and will be in the running.
QBs: There will be a good competition in Spring Practice to replace the graduating Stan Doolittle. John Rock [RFR - #3] will likely get the nod with his experience, but he will be closely followed by Chandler Browning [FR - #12]. Both QBs can throw the deep ball which should help us force opposing defenses to cover more field than last year. Keenan Grissett [FR - #10] will also compete for playing time although he may step into another role as a WR or a DB depending on how the competition winds up.
Linebackers: Big South leading tackler Marty Patterson [S - #39] returns for his final season to anchor the LB corps next year and he looked impressive in practice. He only knows one way to play football and that is all out whether he is hitting his own players or some other team and that is what he did on Saturday. The LB corps was thin with 6 kids unable to practice due to injury or recent surgeries. Hudson Smith [F - #97] took an opportunity to learn from the master. Jonathan Langston [F - #44] was the other LB that got significant PT during practice.
New DL Coach: I think we got an excellent replacement for Coach Wright who moved on to Furman. Coach Shawn Howe comes to Boiling Springs after 3 years at Memphis. His FBS coaching experience will be a plus for our staff and the DL looked crisp. During the scrimmage I overheard Coach Howe tell his 2nd string to get ready to go in. After the next play, he reminded the 2s that ready to play means "Helmet on, mouthpiece in!" Very intense personality and a good hire for GW.
Overall a good day of practice and helped to get me a football fix. I'll look forward to our Spring Game on April 17 at 1:00. Hope some of the Runnin' Bulldog faithful will come out and let the boys know their hard work is appreciated.
Go Runnin' Bulldogs!
O Line: Got about 10 O linemen ready to play football and several more on the way in our recent recruiting class. Left side is set and will be well anchored with Jamie Dunaway [LT] and Corey O'Daniel [LG] and center CJ Bryant [C] returning from a complete season of experience. I expect to see some good competition for the RG spot vacated by Marion Gramling and RT spot vacated by Kyle Webber. Several players got limited PT last year and will be in the running.
QBs: There will be a good competition in Spring Practice to replace the graduating Stan Doolittle. John Rock [RFR - #3] will likely get the nod with his experience, but he will be closely followed by Chandler Browning [FR - #12]. Both QBs can throw the deep ball which should help us force opposing defenses to cover more field than last year. Keenan Grissett [FR - #10] will also compete for playing time although he may step into another role as a WR or a DB depending on how the competition winds up.
Linebackers: Big South leading tackler Marty Patterson [S - #39] returns for his final season to anchor the LB corps next year and he looked impressive in practice. He only knows one way to play football and that is all out whether he is hitting his own players or some other team and that is what he did on Saturday. The LB corps was thin with 6 kids unable to practice due to injury or recent surgeries. Hudson Smith [F - #97] took an opportunity to learn from the master. Jonathan Langston [F - #44] was the other LB that got significant PT during practice.
New DL Coach: I think we got an excellent replacement for Coach Wright who moved on to Furman. Coach Shawn Howe comes to Boiling Springs after 3 years at Memphis. His FBS coaching experience will be a plus for our staff and the DL looked crisp. During the scrimmage I overheard Coach Howe tell his 2nd string to get ready to go in. After the next play, he reminded the 2s that ready to play means "Helmet on, mouthpiece in!" Very intense personality and a good hire for GW.
Overall a good day of practice and helped to get me a football fix. I'll look forward to our Spring Game on April 17 at 1:00. Hope some of the Runnin' Bulldog faithful will come out and let the boys know their hard work is appreciated.
Go Runnin' Bulldogs!
