Aug. 5, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF football team practiced for the second consecutive day in shoulder pads and helmets on Sunday afternoon. The hot temperatures did not keep the intensity away from the UCF practice fields as the team once again spent just over two hours on individual and team drills.
Following individual drills, the team worked once again on special teams, focusing mostly on kickoff coverage. Moving the ball back to the 30-yard line for kickoffs will also affect this area of the game and should allow for more kicks to be returned than previous seasons.
The defensive secondary turned in some nice plays during Sunday's practice as a number of Knights came up with interceptions and pass deflections in the final hour of the session. Junior Johnell Neal (Baton Rouge, La./Redemptionist), the team's leading tackler from a year ago, made a nice interception when he jumped a pass route during the installation of the passing game.
Junior safeties Jason Venson (Marietta, Ga./Marietta) and Sha'reff Rashad (Jacksonville, Fla./Episcopal) also came up with interceptions during pass work skelly and team work.
"It showed there was a lot of retention from the spring," UCF defensive coordinator John Skladany said. "They have a feel for the scheme. It is early yet and the offense is giving us new wrinkles everyday, which makes it harder for us. But, I am happy with their concentration and execution so far."
The intensity was evident throughout the practice, but that will be increased even more on Monday when the Knights will don full pads for the first time this fall. Monday's session is set to begin at 9:20 a.m.
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