March 10, 2009
Listen to Johnson’s Press Conference
Blog: Opportunity Knocks | Blog: The Future
On Campus in Nashville – The Vanderbilt Commodores donned football helmets Tuesday for the first time since celebrating a postseason victory in Nashville’s LP Field on New Year’s Eve.
Judging from the pep and energy shown by more than 80 team members at their first spring practice, the Commodores appear intent on working toward another bowl appearance.
Head Coach Bobby Johnson left the John Rich Practice Facility with a positive impression after directing an upbeat, 2-hour, 30-minute session held under unusually warm conditions that reached 80 degrees.
“I thought the guys showed great tempo and enthusiasm,” the coach said. “Guys were out there trying to learn what to do. That’s what you want to see with one of these (non-pads) practices.
“As a team, we’ve been working hard since the bowl game, just trying to get better and spending a lot of time with conditioning. I could see that effort in the way we practiced. Overall, I’m very pleased with this practice.”
Due to NCAA guidelines, the Commodores wore helmets but practiced without pads on Tuesday. The team will take off Wednesday, then return for three straight days of work. The team’s first practice in full gear will come Friday.
Johnson introduced changes to the Commodores’ practice routine as he entered his eighth year on campus. The team focused on various special teams to start and close the session. In between, the Commodores spent two hours working on improved position skills, individual instruction, 1-on-1, 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills, and offensive/defensive scheme development.
On offense, quarterbacks Mackenzi Adams, Larry Smith and Jared Funk alternated series directing the Commodore offense. In various passing drills, each showed excellent arm strength, finding such receiving targets as Justin Wheeler, Udom Umoh, John Cole, Alex Washington, Brandon Barden and Terence Jeffers.
Cole, Washington and tight end Austin Monahan were among several Commodores back in action after missing much of the 2008 season to injury. Yet prehaps the most surprising participant was receiver Chris Reinert, who suffered an ugly leg fracture late in the South Carolina game.
Five Letterwinners to Miss Drills
While Monahan, Cole and Reinert were among those back at work, Johnson said five others who have played key roles in recent years will miss spring drills recovering from a variety of injuries.
Myron Lewis, a two-year starter who is regarded by many as one of the nation’s premier senior cornerbacks, underwent arthroscropic shoulder surgery last week and will sit out this spring. He expects to be fully healthy for the summer workouts. Defensive end Broderick Stewart is on schedule to return this summer from a lower leg injury suffered against Tennessee. Though out of practice, Stewart completed various conditioning drills during the session. Running back Jared Hawkins, linebacker John Stokes, and linebacker Brandon Bryant also are out, recuperating from foot, shoulder and lower leg injuries, respectively.
2009 Signees Among Practice Visitors
Among the most intent bystanders were three members of the Commodores’ highly regarded 2009 signing class. Wesley Johnson from Nashville’s Montgomery Bell Academy shadowed coach Robbie Caldwell’s offensive line through the practice. Jay Fullam, a safety prospect from The McCallie School in Chattanooga, stood on the sidelines with reserves watching the defensive backfield. Wesley Tate, a running back candidate from Pope John Paul II High School just north of Nashville, watched briefly, greeted Coach Johnson and Wesley Johnson, then left to attend a National Football Foundation banquet at the Nashville Airport Marriott.
Others Taking in the Session
Additional visitors were David Williams II, Vanderbilt Vice Chancellor for University Affairs and Student Athletics, and Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher.
Williams greeted Coach Johnson and watched several practice periods alongside strength and conditioning coordinator John Sisk. Fisher stopped his prep work for the upcoming SEC men’s basketball tournament to greet the coaching staff, numerous players and several media members.