NORMAL, Ill. – Following a physically intense first day with full pads on, the Illinois State football team strapped the helmets and shoulder pads back on for its fourth practice of the spring, Thursday afternoon, at Hancock Stadium.
As always, the Redbird coaching staff started the practice off with special teams work, with individual work divided up between positions. Jamal Towns and Josh Burch worked on returning kick-offs, while Paris Ratliff and George Moreira also handled some returns. The defensive backs and linebackers worked on hand techniques and footwork, including pushing into their defenders chest and driving them back. During that time the offensive and defensive lines also worked on hand-eye coordination and sled tackling drills.
After special teams work, the Redbirds collaborated in their first team period of the day known as "Blitz," in which the defense blitzes at least one linebacker on every play in order to test how the offense will react and adapt to the added pressure. The offense did well in adding a few new wrinkles, and quarterback Tre Roberson continued to perfect small kinks to make the plays run even more smoothly. After a few solid defensive plays, including a sack by Dalton Keene and a pass break-up by David Perkins, backup quarterback Jake Kolbe connected with John Nicholson for a 25-yard pass up the middle to end the session.
The team then broke off into offensive and defensive individual drills. The quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers each worked on timing, footwork and fundamentals, including an emphasis on post, hitch and deep vertical routes. Coaches Cody Deti and Khenon Hall worked with the defensive backs on tackling techniques, including 2-on-2 pursuit drills and pass coverage breakdowns.
Following a 9-on-7 drill in which between-the-tackles running plays were exclusively emphasized, the focus then shifted to a lengthy 7-on-7 drill, with Roberson, Blake Winkler and Kolbe taking the main snaps at quarterback. Roberson was a solid 7-for-11 and his connection with Christian Gibbs is becoming more consistent with each practice, as he found the sophomore wide receiver three times including on a 30-yard deep post route. Winlker finished the drill 3-for-7 and Kolbe ended the session 5-for-6 including a pair of completions to Brannon Barry.
A 38-play team session ended the practice as the offense started off hot, completing five straight pass attempts before David Kenney batted down a Roberson pass attempt at the line of scrimmage for the first incompletion of the session. Kenney tallied a TFL and a sack later on in the scrimmage. A big hit by Teddy Corwin and a forced fumble by Pat Meehan highlighted the rest of the session for the Redbird defense.
Towns broke off a nice 15-yard run late in the drill, in which he reversed field and broke several tackles on his way up the right sideline. Roberson found Gibbs a couple more times, and also completed two passes apiece to Anthony Warrum and Marshaun Coprich.
Head coach Brock Spack ended the practice by huddling the team up and emphasizing the importance of believing in each other as teammates, to have discipline, tenacity and leadership throughout the season. Three things that the 2014 Redbird football team excelled in, and Spack hopes this squad will continue the upward trend.
The Redbirds return to the field Saturday at 9:45 a.m., for the fifth spring workout and third day of full pads at Hancock Stadium. To follow all of the Redbird football spring camp action and more ISU football news, log on to GoRedbirds.com and follow the program on Twitter at @RedbirdFB.
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