Football program continues to embrace fundamentals
Gilmer High football has reached the midpoint of spring practice, and the Bobcats continue to lay the foundation for the 2023 season.
The program has experienced continuity in its coaching ranks as it enters the third season with nearly the exact same staff. Head coach Paul Standard believes that has aided players while they continue to install aspects of the offense and defense.
“I’ve been very pleased with the carryover,” Standard said. “When we put in one of the base plays of our offense the other day, our kids went right into it as if we had been practicing for the last four months. They knew the intricacies of where to step, where to put your helmet and all those types of things.
“I’m impressed with our rising ninth graders’ knowledge of our system coming from the middle school. Coach Willie Dodaro and his staff have done a great job, and I’ve been really happy with that through the first five days.”
Standard noted he is still looking for players to “step up and fill roles” on the team. Replacing production, specifically in Gilmer’s offensive backfield, has been a focus as well.
Graduating all-region senior halfbacks Hunter Watkins and Will Kiker, as well as fullback Brock Titus, accounted for 75 percent of the Bobcats’ rushing yards last season. They also scored 31 total touchdowns, which accounted for 79 percent of scores.
“I’m excited about our leadership from guys who have never been leaders,” Standard said. “Now they have to step up and fill that role and have done a nice job. We’ll miss those three who were outstanding young men and players, but that’s part of it. They did a great a job of teaching and showing this group.”
Halfbacks Kyle Cowart (rising junior) and Hunter Britain (sophomore), along with fullback Wyatt Stokes (junior), have been the primary players to emerge as replacements through the first week.
“Those three have done a great job so far, and all three are probably also going to have to play defense,” said Standard. “I’ve been really pleased with the carryover, and a lot of it has to do with our previous leaders.”
With half of spring completed, Standard mentioned what he would like to see at remaining practices.
“The physicality of our players has got to increase,” he said. “Part of that is on us coaches because we’ve done a lot of teaching. We’ve started to hit more over the last two practices. The days of going out there day one and just beating each other up is old school. I’m an old-school guy, but that’s real old school.
“We teach, but then at some point you need to be physical. So what I do need to see is more physicality over the last five days, and I think I will.”
Fundamental work will continue over the remainder of spring, which is scheduled to wrap up next Wednesday. Standard said he may hold an intrasquad scrimmage on the final day, and if so, it will take place sometime between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.