ORLANDO (UCFKnights.com) - Competition was the name of the game as #KnightsCamp continued Monday morning at Nicholson Fieldhouse. The UCF football team completed practice number nine in shells in preparation for Tuesday's first scrimmage of 2017.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Competition has been at an all-time high around here. For as long as we've been here, there's been competition at every position. Even though the line and Shaquem have kind of etched their spots, we've had a ton of competition. There's been extreme competition at all the other linebacker and defensive back spots. I'm just fired up to watch these guys run around and compete, and we'll see who can play when the lights come on tomorrow." - Erik Chinander
STORY OF THE DAY
UCF offense pushes to catch up with potent defense - Christian Simmons, Orlando Sentinel
MORE FROM CHINANDER
Has the defensive line performed well with all its experience during camp?
"They're playing as well as I've ever seen them play. It's not just that first group, but it's all of them battling together. We rotate everyone through there to give some depth to this team. It's a great unit."
How have the other outside linebackers played this camp?
"Titus Davis and Dedrion Bacote have done an unbelievable job this camp. They look so much more knowledgeable after last year. Now, they are more comfortable in what they're doing. Linebacker is just a very deep position for us. I think it's a position that will be a rock for us in years to come."
How have the corners performed?
"The corners have been playing well. The big test for a corner is seeing if they can tackle. I want to see that. If we've selected them to be on this team, they are a cover guy, but I want to know if they can tackle."
TROY WALTERS CHIMES IN
On his early view of the team…
"I'm very excited about our progress. We've come a long way. The guys are picking up the things we're throwing at them. The thing about our defense is that they give us so many different looks. We may go over something in our game plan and our playbook versus one coverage, but we're getting multiple coverages with our defense. It's making us better; making us sharper. We're light years ahead of where we were last year."
On how much faster the offense can operate now…
"We're so much faster. Guys know expectations and standards. When we go tempo, the guys know what we want to do, what we want to get accomplished. They understand the signals. I think last year that's what was slowing us down – understanding the signals and being able to process what we want. Now they're able to process; they're able to get lined up faster and we're definitely going to use that to our advantage this year."
On the offensive unit's expectations…
"Well you talk it over as a whole team, and then as an offense. It echoes what Coach Frost's vision and expectation is. We want to be champions. We want to be champions on and off the field. (Going) 6-7 is not our standard. Our standard is championship; our standard is greatness. Our standard is competing every day, every play. If we do that, and we trust the process – it's not going to happen overnight, but if we trust the process, compete and have that mindset of being champions day-in and day-out, we're going to get to where we need to get to."
On the wide receivers…
"Tre'Quan (Smith) is our leader. He's been there, done that. But we've got a great group of guys and those guys are competing. We've got a lot of talent; a lot of guys that can make plays. It kind of forces everybody to be ready. When your number's called, you better make a play, because if you don't, someone behind you is ready to step it. It's been great; the guys are competing. Any time you have competition, it makes everybody better. I think we have that across the whole board on offense. We're deeper at every position, and that creates competition. Competition makes you better."
LISTEN UP
#UCFIERCEBYTE
Practice 9 of #KnightsCamp ??
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) August 7, 2017
Here's what's got @ucfcoachdaws excited most about his DL squad ??#UCFierceByte ?? pic.twitter.com/JFvA7SHLqq
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The second season of UCF Football under head coach Scott Frost is just around the corner. Fans can explore all of the new ticket options at Spectrum Stadium by visiting WeRiseandConquer.com or calling (407) 823-1000.
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