April 3, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Following each spring football practice, a general question will be asked of a selected group of Golden Knights. Today's question was:
Midway through spring practice, what are you looking for in the last six practices as you move towards the 2007 season?
Offensive Coordinator Tim Salem "We are looking for awareness as far as guys understanding assignments. What happens with adjustments when guys on defense move around. We are trying to find the pieces that will bring it all together. Whether it be tight ends and tackles or lineman and runningbacks, that whole 11-mentality of playing together."
"We want guys to finish, to get down the field and make the extra block, to run out of a cut a little faster, to get out there and protect the man with the ball a little quicker and taking the right angles. There are a lot of things in spring ball that we are trying to focus on besides just the play. We are trying to look at those individual components besides the x's and o's and I think those are some of the things that have showed. If we go out there and improve, two, five or eight percent everyday, you don't have to go out there and improve 50 percent a day, at the end of five to six practices, you have improved a bunch. We are trying to chip away everyday at the small things, which we hope will carry over into some big things as the fall comes."
Defensive Coordinator John Skladany "As we move along, we are going a little further into the packages. It is the execution that we have to keep improving on. Like I said before, I really cannot give any great statements because I want to get through a whole spring. But, I'm looking at how we handle the scrimmage situations, see how we handle the whole scheme. It looks like they can do it, but I've been pleased with the attitude and effort so far. Let's keep that going."
"I think they are a physical football team. I think Coach O'Leary runs a tough, physical program and the kids will hit you. That's more than half the battle. That's really important and I think they will be tough kids. They like playing ball."