The Gilmer High Bobcats have entered the third week of their voluntary summer football schedule.
First-year GHS head coach Paul Standard and his eight assistants — five of which who are new to the program — have put the Bobcats through their paces as they prepare for the fast-approaching season.
GHS convenes for four hours Monday through Thursday. The Bobcats start each day in the weight room before heading out to Pettit Field. Standard opted for an early start time partly out of tradition and also to accommodate busy summer schedules.
“Our kids have done a great job so far,” Standard said. “We’re starting really early (7 a.m.) in the morning, and I was wondering how it would go because I think it was earlier than what they were used to. It’s what I’ve done in the past.
“We’re starting early because so many of the young men on our football team are multisport athletes, which we love and we want our kids to do that. This is the last opportunity for a lot of them to play organized sports because very few get that opportunity to go (and play in) college. I want them to have that experience and don’t want them to feel like they can’t do something else because of football. Football is a huge time commitment, and our kids have done a great job.”
Each morning weight training session is followed by an hour and 45-minute practice on the field. Football equipment is restricted to helmets and players will not be able to don full pads until July, per GHSA rules.
On three occasions through the first two weeks of practice, Gilmer has also taken part in seven-on-seven passing competitions. The competitions have taken place after Gilmer’s regular weight training and practice routine.
“The players are tired but I’m proud of these kids because they have done a great job,” Standard said. “We’ve had great turnouts, and I can’t be more excited about our commitment. I’m extremely proud of these kids and their work ethic.”
The passing competitions pit “skill” players against each other without the presence of linemen. The majority of high school teams deploy a spread offense and some are heavily invested in the passing game. GHS will run the triple option, but Standard believes there is still merit in these events even if opposing defenses do not have to honor the threat of running the ball.
“Our guys have done great given that everything to them is new,” Standard said. “I always have to tell my team that when we go to these seven on sevens, number one, we’re a run-first team and we don’t make any bones about that. Second, is most of our passing is play-action. Thirdly, you got to have your non play-action passing attack because there are times you have to throw the football.
“When we have to throw the football, my goal is that this option team looks like they know what they’re doing when it comes to nonplay-action passes.”
The Bobcats have traveled to Holy Innocence twice for seven on seven before welcoming Fellowship Christian last Thursday. Standard mentioned one major benefit of these events regardless of offensive schemes.
“The biggest thing is it puts our guys in a position where they have to compete. I think that’s the biggest thing is the competitive aspect of it,” he said. “I’m looking to see when something doesn’t go right and how our kids respond. That’s just like the real game of football, ‘how do you respond when things aren’t going well?’”
“For our defense, we’re going to face a lot of teams who throw it 40 to 50 percent of the time. This undoubtedly helps our defense.”
Standard also assessed the players new to GHS and has been happy with what he has seen so far.
“Our ninth graders did seven on seven for the first time (against Fellowship Christian) and they had six interceptions,” Standard said. “We’ve got 20 ninth graders, and they have done a great job. They’re learning how to play varsity football in terms of how we practice. I couldn’t be more proud of this bunch.”
He also had praise for Clear Creek Middle School players who have attended morning wight training and practice three days per week.
“We’ve had over 50 middle school kids every single day and it has been impressive,” Standard said. “Our middle school staff has been here, and I never had that at St. Pius because most of our coaches were lay coaches. (Head) coach Willie Dodaro and his guys, man oh man, the future is extremely bright for Gilmer because I see a lot of excitement.”
Gilmer also attended a lineman challenge at St. Pius June 11 where players competed in events that tested strength, endurance and teamwork. The Bobcats will make their way to another lineman challenge Thursday at Towns County that will be coupled with seven on seven passing competition.