The Georgia Southern Eagles returned to the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek for their final practice of the week on Wednesday, and — with players’ jerseys still inside out and tape still covering the logos of the coaches’ hats – the wide receivers continued to learn about the “Hatch Attack.”
“(The receivers) have picked it up pretty well,” said eagle coach Chris Hatcher. “We’ve got a lot of little things we’re working on, and they’ve got to realize there is only one ball out there and only one guy can carry it at a time. But overall I have been real pleased with their progress — we’re not where we need to be — but at least we are moving in the right direction.”
Many of the receivers at GSU have been through three different offensive systems since they arrived in Statesboro, so learning a new system is nothing new. The group of receivers is excited about the new challenges that go along with a new offensive philosophy.
“We’re coming along great,” said Eagle quarterback-turned-wide receiver and current running back Jayson Foster, the team’s leading receiver in 2006. “A lot of people are out there making plays — they are playing fast. For the most part, I think everybody likes it. We’re throwing the ball out here a lot. They’re giving us a chance to make plays, so people are excited about it.”
New Eagle wide receiver coach Ron Dugans — who played ball at Florida State and in the NFL before becoming a graduate assistant at FSU and ultimately ended up in Statesboro on Hatcher’s staff — has been there before, and doesn’t mind getting down and dirty to help his team along.
“I’ll get out there and show them how it’s supposed to be done,” said Dugans. “For some guys, you just can’t draw it on the board — you can’t just tell them how to do it — you’ve got to show them how to do it.”
Everyone on the team is in a position where they must prove themselves and earn their positions. The playing field for positions on the depth chart is wide open, but for the wide receivers, leaders are starting to emerge.
“We’ve got a guy — Irving Campbell — he’s probably our leader right now. He’s a senior. He has been adjusting, and with him it’s more of the mental part of the game. He is catching on a little quicker than the other guys. We’ve got some other guys, but he is one of the guys that kind of sticks out.”
The players aren’t the only ones trying to learn a whole new philosophy. Many of the coaches are new to Hatcher’s system and have a lot to learn in a short period of time, and Dugans is no exception.
“If this is what you choose to do,” Dugans said, “if you want to make kids better — you want to coach — you’ve got to do your job. Your job is learning what to do and teaching the guys what to do and how to do it. I had to adjust to it rather quickly because we had to come out and had coaches throwing it up there. We teach them fast because we want them to play fast.”
It is still spring, and there is a long way to go until the Blue and White game (April 21) culminates the spring practice season, so Dugans knows that mistakes will be made early on.
“I tell them, I say, ‘You’re going to make mistakes’,” said Dugans. “That’s football. But you’ve got to correct them. If you’re going to make mistakes, you’ve got to make your mistakes full speed. If you’re out here and you’re not playing full speed, just playing around, I don’t like that.”
Dugans’ philosophy is based on having his receivers play team ball, and there is more to that than catching passes.
“I want my receivers to play physical,” he said. “Every now and then you have a couple of guys that are just finesse receivers — just get the ball in their hands and they are going to make some things happen — but I want you to block, too. The (offensive) line is standing there busting their butt for you, and for the quarterback to throw it down field. Why aren’t you busting your butt for the running back… If you don’t do that, you’re playing selfish ball.”
How far have they come?
The Eagles have upped the intensity since day one, and Hatcher is pleased to see signs of life from his team. More minor fights have broken out as the emotions have run high, but for Hatcher and the Eagles, it is good sign.
“At least we’ve got some life to us,” said Hatcher.
Going in to Easter weekend — a long break for the team — Hatcher is pleased with how far they team have come since the first day of practice.
“We’re not where I would like for us to be,” Hatcher said. “I have high expectations. But I think we are where we need to be at this time. As far as the intensity for today — it was probably the most intense practice we’ve had. We got after it good and I was hoping we had a pulse. Now I think that we do. Our key is — can we continue to play at that kind of intensity? If we can, we’ve got a chance to have a pretty decent team.
Injury Front
Last week redshirt-freshman tight end Michael Veal suffered an ACL injury and will miss the 2007 season. Sophomore linebacker Harland Bower tore his triceps muscle and could miss up to six months. Junior defensive lineman Matt Wise suffered a foot injury and will miss the rest of spring practice.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.
“(The receivers) have picked it up pretty well,” said eagle coach Chris Hatcher. “We’ve got a lot of little things we’re working on, and they’ve got to realize there is only one ball out there and only one guy can carry it at a time. But overall I have been real pleased with their progress — we’re not where we need to be — but at least we are moving in the right direction.”
Many of the receivers at GSU have been through three different offensive systems since they arrived in Statesboro, so learning a new system is nothing new. The group of receivers is excited about the new challenges that go along with a new offensive philosophy.
“We’re coming along great,” said Eagle quarterback-turned-wide receiver and current running back Jayson Foster, the team’s leading receiver in 2006. “A lot of people are out there making plays — they are playing fast. For the most part, I think everybody likes it. We’re throwing the ball out here a lot. They’re giving us a chance to make plays, so people are excited about it.”
New Eagle wide receiver coach Ron Dugans — who played ball at Florida State and in the NFL before becoming a graduate assistant at FSU and ultimately ended up in Statesboro on Hatcher’s staff — has been there before, and doesn’t mind getting down and dirty to help his team along.
“I’ll get out there and show them how it’s supposed to be done,” said Dugans. “For some guys, you just can’t draw it on the board — you can’t just tell them how to do it — you’ve got to show them how to do it.”
Everyone on the team is in a position where they must prove themselves and earn their positions. The playing field for positions on the depth chart is wide open, but for the wide receivers, leaders are starting to emerge.
“We’ve got a guy — Irving Campbell — he’s probably our leader right now. He’s a senior. He has been adjusting, and with him it’s more of the mental part of the game. He is catching on a little quicker than the other guys. We’ve got some other guys, but he is one of the guys that kind of sticks out.”
The players aren’t the only ones trying to learn a whole new philosophy. Many of the coaches are new to Hatcher’s system and have a lot to learn in a short period of time, and Dugans is no exception.
“If this is what you choose to do,” Dugans said, “if you want to make kids better — you want to coach — you’ve got to do your job. Your job is learning what to do and teaching the guys what to do and how to do it. I had to adjust to it rather quickly because we had to come out and had coaches throwing it up there. We teach them fast because we want them to play fast.”
It is still spring, and there is a long way to go until the Blue and White game (April 21) culminates the spring practice season, so Dugans knows that mistakes will be made early on.
“I tell them, I say, ‘You’re going to make mistakes’,” said Dugans. “That’s football. But you’ve got to correct them. If you’re going to make mistakes, you’ve got to make your mistakes full speed. If you’re out here and you’re not playing full speed, just playing around, I don’t like that.”
Dugans’ philosophy is based on having his receivers play team ball, and there is more to that than catching passes.
“I want my receivers to play physical,” he said. “Every now and then you have a couple of guys that are just finesse receivers — just get the ball in their hands and they are going to make some things happen — but I want you to block, too. The (offensive) line is standing there busting their butt for you, and for the quarterback to throw it down field. Why aren’t you busting your butt for the running back… If you don’t do that, you’re playing selfish ball.”
How far have they come?
The Eagles have upped the intensity since day one, and Hatcher is pleased to see signs of life from his team. More minor fights have broken out as the emotions have run high, but for Hatcher and the Eagles, it is good sign.
“At least we’ve got some life to us,” said Hatcher.
Going in to Easter weekend — a long break for the team — Hatcher is pleased with how far they team have come since the first day of practice.
“We’re not where I would like for us to be,” Hatcher said. “I have high expectations. But I think we are where we need to be at this time. As far as the intensity for today — it was probably the most intense practice we’ve had. We got after it good and I was hoping we had a pulse. Now I think that we do. Our key is — can we continue to play at that kind of intensity? If we can, we’ve got a chance to have a pretty decent team.
Injury Front
Last week redshirt-freshman tight end Michael Veal suffered an ACL injury and will miss the 2007 season. Sophomore linebacker Harland Bower tore his triceps muscle and could miss up to six months. Junior defensive lineman Matt Wise suffered a foot injury and will miss the rest of spring practice.
Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9404.
