Day 4: Pride

Sorry to keep you waiting, it was a busy weekend, stay tuned for a lot posts coming up...


Thursday April 2
Day 4 of practice was all about pride. For each player, pride in themselves meant earning their spot on the depth chart. For each coach, pride meant pushing their players to perform at and/or beyond the level expected of them. For the team as a whole, pride means entering the upcoming season prepared to shake off a 3-9 season.

Thursday was the first practice of the year in full pads. This day is often cliched as the day that "separates the men from the boys." For Head Coach Rob Ambrose's perspective, this separates the men from the better men, as the majority of practice was some sort of competition. Besides position drills, a good amount of practice consisted of 7 v 7 drills, offensive line v defensive line drills, etc. Ambrose rotated through drills throughout practice, observing position battles, carrying his clipboard and jotting notes.

"The depth chart is fluid," Ambrose reminded his players continuously.

Day 4 also revealed a new drill in the Rob Ambrose practice arsenal, the Pride Drill. Offense vs defense in a situational scrimmage. The defense was the clear winner for the day. In the offense's first possession they failed to convert on several 3rd and short scenarios.

In the second round of the drill, the offense struck quick and scored a touchdown on their second play from scrimmage. After they got hot, the defense put out the flame and forced fumbles on back-to-back third down scenarios.

Now that full pads are on, things will only get more intense to what has already been an intense spring.