|
‘Dores Prepare for First Practice in Pads 3/16/2006 Two-Hour Session Wednesday John Rich Practice Facility on campus — With their first practice in full pads scheduled Thursday, Vanderbilt players prepared with a Wednesday session that focused on individual instruction, position drills and team teaching. Following the session, Head Coach Bobby Johnson said the Commodores were ready to their first practice in full pads. “I’ve been very pleased with these two practices. The effort, the concentration and the desire of our players is obvious. These first practices are important, especially for getting everyone up to speed on what we want to get accomplished. I think everybody is looking forward to putting the pads on. That’s when you start seeing what you have, and what you need to work on to get better,” Johnson said. More than half of the Wednesday session, staged under ideal conditions, was spent in team teaching segments, with offensive and defensive coaches working separately with their units on the playbook and fundamental instruction. The session ended with 20 minutes of 11-on-11 non-contact drills. A Heavy Load For Offensive Backfield Tailback Jared Hawkins, one of several redshirt freshmen who have looked good, came in to spring drills looking to impress the staff. He’s likely to get his wish. With 10-game starter Jeff Jennings looking to get ready for preseason camp, Hawkins will get plenty of repetitions this spring as one of two tailbacks on the Commodore spring roster. He is sharing duties with the team’s leading rusher from a year ago, junior Cassen Jackson-Garrison. The limited personnel should help both of Vanderbilt’s quarterback candidates, redshirt sophomore Chris Nickson and redshirt freshman Mackenzi Adams. With both being counted on for the 2006 season opener, the staff are throwing as many repetitions as possible to the hopefuls. Each impressed observers Wednesday with an elusive running style and accurate arm. More Former Commodores Attend Practices Several notable former Commodore players attended practice, including one former standout quarterback that doesn’t go by the last name of Cutler. Marcus Wilson, a starting quarterback from 1990-1992 who lives in Murfreesboro, watched the progress of the two young quarterbacks. Commodore fans well remember the elusive Wilson as a dual threat who guided the team to a 24-21 upset over LSU as a sophomore and set passing records with wide receiver Clarence Sevillian that still exist in a narrow loss to Tennessee in 1992. Jovan Haye, a former Commodore defensive end standout and current member of the Carolina Panthers, also attended the practice. Vanderbilt Coaches Clinic March 24-25 Vanderbilt’s first Spring Football Coaching Clinic, which includes presentations by two NFL coaches, is scheduled for March 24-25. The clinic is open to all high school coaches. According to Coach Johnson, the featured speakers will be Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary coach Sean McDermott and Tennessee Titans’ special teams and offensive assistant Marty Galbraith. Vanderbilt’s strength director John Sisk will also discuss the Commodores’ summer training program. The pre-registration cost is $25 per coach, or $30 at the door. To register, contact Michael Hazel, Assistant Director of Football Operations, at 615-322-2251 or via email at michael.hazel@vanderbilt.edu . |
‘Dores Prepare for First Practice in Pads
