The Illinois State football team closed Fridays 24-period practice huddled around its head coach on the Hancock Stadium turf, as Denver Johnson urged his Redbirds to come to practice Saturday morning with a different demeanor and attitude.
Whatever the positives were (of todays practice), they were overshadowed, Johnson said. I didnt like our disposition as a football team today. We didnt seem like we had our minds on our business today. We werent focused. I dont really know what to attribute it to, but I was really disappointed with the overall sloppiness and undisciplined practice.
The Redbirds spent the bulk of the practice working on short-yardage situations and once again Brian Thompson broke free with a pair of 15-yard runs. Defensively,
Dan Simnick and
Justin Martindale each recorded a sack during the team drill.
We wanted to work on short yardage, a little third down-and-three drill, a redzone drill, a little first-and-10 drill and work the inside running game, Johnson said.
The Redbirds will have a quick turnaround and an opportunity to redeem themselves in their head coachs eyes, as they return to the field Saturday morning at 9 a.m. just 15 hours later.
We need to come out here and have little different disposition about ourselves, Johnson said. We need to set a better tone as coaches as well and that starts with myself.
