Northwestern State, which completes a home-and-home deal by traveling to The Rob on Sept. 12, kicked off its spring sessions on Wednesday — just as Grambling nears the conclusion of a second week of practices.
The Demons, 7-5 last season, boast 51 returning lettermen, but each must adjust to changing schemes under newly hired coach Bradley Dale Peveto — a former assistant at Northwestern who most recently helmed the LSU defense.
He hit the ground running, signing a 2009 football recruiting class ranked No. 1 nationally in the Football Championship Subdivision by Rivals.com recruiting analysts. (Additional comments from Peveto on the class are found in embedded video below.) The 26-member class included three Rivals three-star recruits.
Here are some of Peveto’s thoughts going into spring practice, which concludes with the 20th Annual Joe Delaney Bowl on Wednesday, April 8:
On evaluating his new players
Right now we don’t have a depth chart. Everybody starts with a clean slate as far as how they fit into positions. We’ve already got a good idea of their work ethic from the offseason (strength and conditioning) program. Not only physically, but mentally, they’ve been tested.
On how the players have adjusted
The kids have bought into what we’re doing. The attitude has been great. They’ve worked hard, done right. Our discipline has improved. Our academics have improved. Now we’re going to strap it on and see who loves playing football.
On public attendance at the practices
We invite everybody to come out and see for themselves what we’re doing. I think they’ll enjoy the energy level. It’s going to be very competitive.
On scheme changes, including a move from 4-2-5 to a 4-3-4 defense
Football is football. Conceptually, it’s a little different, but these are good players and they were well coached before we got here. We’ve had a lot of fun since National Signing Day (Feb. 4) meeting and getting our schemes in place. Now it’s finally time to stop talking and start doing.
On having 19 seniors among his 82-player roster
It’s their senior season, and a lot of those guys are setting a great tone for us so far.
On practicing just three days a week, Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and Saturday mornings:
It gives us a chance to revisit and look at our new install after each week, and make adjustments going forward If we were going four times each week that wouldn’t be as conducive to our evaluations and the learning process.
Source: Northwestern State sports information department.
PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED ON ‘ENEMY LINES’:
Oklahoma State, Sept. 26 at Stillwater, Okla.
No comments yet.