March 30, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF football team worked out in shoulder pads and helmets on Friday, putting in final prep work prior to the spring's first scrimmage, which is set for Saturday at 10 a.m. on the practice fields adjacent to the Wayne Densch Sports Center.
The majority of the two-hour practice was spent once again working on team drills, which saw the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 offenses going up against each other, respectively.
With no full-contact allowed, junior running back Kevin Smith was able to get some extra work in and the Knights' leading rusher the past two years made some nice cuts and caught the ball out of the backfield well. The session ended with senior placekicker Michael Torres booming a 52-yard field goal.
On the defensive side of the ball, new coordinator John Skladany is pleased with what he has seen so far, but is ready to see his new players in a pressure situation, which should come with Saturday's scrimmage.
"The attitude and work ethic that I have seen so far is on track with what we are trying to do," Skladany said. "Defensive football has to feed off of emotion and intensity. If the kids have it, it is going to give it to the rest of the team, the fans and the whole program and they have got to play like that."
During individual drills, the wide receivers and defensive backs worked together on a drill that had the defensive backs making open field tackles and the wide receivers trying to avoid those takedowns.
Saturday's scrimmage is the first of the spring for the Knights and is open to the public.
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