Pretty much more of the same for the Aggies, who remained in the indoor complex today. During our time inside the team opened up with stretching and then separated into position groups.
While in position groups each group goes through position specific drills with their position coach while special teams works in the middle of the field. Again today special teams was all about punt coverage. Players worked on getting off the line (for the outside guys) and getting up field. As was the case the first 2 practices, special teams coach Jeff Banks was very vocal and in the middle of all of the reps. Defensive backs coach Terry Joseph has also been helping each day with the special teams drills.
One of the last drills the special teams did was a two part drill where the gunners are a few yards from the punt returner (a practice dummy in this case) and one gunner hits the returner while the second wave of defenders (starting about 5 yards back) go after a simulated fumble caused by the gunner(s). While they do that the remaining defenders, starting from the line of scrimmage (back a ways) simulate the first wave of defenders missing the returner and work to get up field and get to the returner. (clear as mud?)
After that the players (by position group) go through a cycle of stations that work on mechanics like wrapping up, shedding blockers, receivers catch passes thrown a bit off (low, high, off target). I stood next to Chavis' station to try and get a little better feel for how he operates. He is a very intense and vocal guy. Even if a player would have had a good rep, he is always telling each guy something like, "keep moving your feet", "don't false step", "work your hands", etc. I don't think a player could do a rep in front of him that he would be satisfied with. Also as each position group rotates he is constantly making sure no player walks or lags behind. Basically, he is always screaming at someone.
The final drill we got to see, while the offense was warming up on one end of the field, Chavis unveiled a toughness drill that I saw someone post off of YouTube from LSU after he was hired. One player starts at the 15 yard line while three defenders stand in front of him, five yards apart. One stands at the 10, one at the 5 and one at the goal line with a practice dummy 5 yards into the endzone. On the whistle the lone guy moves forward and works his way through the three defenders to try and get to the endzone. After he engages and tries to shed each defender they can join the others, so by the time he gets to the goal line there are three defenders on him and it gets pretty physical. They are not allowed to quit until the whistle and today Chavis and Joseph were practically touching the guys as they were fighting each other. They were right in the middle of it screaming. Very intense drill and we will have some video of it shortly. No one seemed to know a name for the drill but we will ask Chavis after practice.
After practice we will have just Chavis as Josh Walker, who was supposed to be available, will not speak now.
While in position groups each group goes through position specific drills with their position coach while special teams works in the middle of the field. Again today special teams was all about punt coverage. Players worked on getting off the line (for the outside guys) and getting up field. As was the case the first 2 practices, special teams coach Jeff Banks was very vocal and in the middle of all of the reps. Defensive backs coach Terry Joseph has also been helping each day with the special teams drills.
One of the last drills the special teams did was a two part drill where the gunners are a few yards from the punt returner (a practice dummy in this case) and one gunner hits the returner while the second wave of defenders (starting about 5 yards back) go after a simulated fumble caused by the gunner(s). While they do that the remaining defenders, starting from the line of scrimmage (back a ways) simulate the first wave of defenders missing the returner and work to get up field and get to the returner. (clear as mud?)
After that the players (by position group) go through a cycle of stations that work on mechanics like wrapping up, shedding blockers, receivers catch passes thrown a bit off (low, high, off target). I stood next to Chavis' station to try and get a little better feel for how he operates. He is a very intense and vocal guy. Even if a player would have had a good rep, he is always telling each guy something like, "keep moving your feet", "don't false step", "work your hands", etc. I don't think a player could do a rep in front of him that he would be satisfied with. Also as each position group rotates he is constantly making sure no player walks or lags behind. Basically, he is always screaming at someone.
The final drill we got to see, while the offense was warming up on one end of the field, Chavis unveiled a toughness drill that I saw someone post off of YouTube from LSU after he was hired. One player starts at the 15 yard line while three defenders stand in front of him, five yards apart. One stands at the 10, one at the 5 and one at the goal line with a practice dummy 5 yards into the endzone. On the whistle the lone guy moves forward and works his way through the three defenders to try and get to the endzone. After he engages and tries to shed each defender they can join the others, so by the time he gets to the goal line there are three defenders on him and it gets pretty physical. They are not allowed to quit until the whistle and today Chavis and Joseph were practically touching the guys as they were fighting each other. They were right in the middle of it screaming. Very intense drill and we will have some video of it shortly. No one seemed to know a name for the drill but we will ask Chavis after practice.
After practice we will have just Chavis as Josh Walker, who was supposed to be available, will not speak now.
