After Friday afternoons 24-period practice, Hancock Stadiums slogan for 2005 might be Theres a Whole Lot of Hitting Going On, as the Illinois State football team left a smile on the face of head coach Denver Johnson with the level of intensity.
It was very, very intense today with a lot of competition and hitting going on, Johnson said. Days like today make you enjoy coaching football.
The practice was scripted with limited contact periods, but when the opportunity arrived to hit, the Redbirds took full advantage.
We wanted to focus the practice, Johnson said. We had a good inside run period early in practice, had a good skeleton period and came back with a 20-minute team period at the end. We wanted it to be shorter and more intense at the end and that is exactly what it was. We got plenty of intensity. It was pretty hot.
The work on the inside run showed quick dividends as senior running back Brian Thompson booked four runs over 10 yards, including three for over 15 yards, during the 20-minute team period.
B.T. is a pretty natural zone runner with great vision, Johnson said. He also has some explosive lateral moves to get into those creases.
(
Rafael Rice and
Pierre Rembert) are also showing some promise too. I dont think either of them have ever been zone runners before and it is a little different blocking scheme to run behind. You get a feel running behind zone blocking and I think both of them stepped it up today as well.
During the skeleton period, the offense worked on short passes out on the flat as the ISU quarterbacks completed 21-of-23 attempts, including a 20-yard completion over the middle from Wally Cirafesi to Rembert.
Junior college transfer
Ronnie Tate collected a pair of sacks during the team period as the defense bagged the quarterback five times. Senior Ramon Barber, who is making the move from wide receiver to cornerback, posted a pass break up.
Illinois State returns to practice on Saturday, when the Redbirds take the field at 9 a.m., for the final tune-up before the teams first scrimmage of spring camp on Sunday.
