Gilmer High School’s spring football practice will wrap up Wednesday with an intrasquad scrimmage.
Head coach Paul Standard discussed the Bobcats’ spring preparations during a Monday interview. To that point, GHS had taken the field for seven practices, which included three in the first week and four more last week.
Spring is usually the time when teams sharpen fundamental skills, and Gilmer is no different. Standard wants to make sure GHS players are well versed in the basics, which will allow them to settle into games and play freely without much thought clouding their task.
On the defensive side, technique, alignment and tackling are the points hammered home at each practice.
“Those are the three main skills we do every day,” Standard said. “If you get lined up right, then you have a chance to be successful. A lot a of times you see a team get misaligned and they’re outflanked. I don’t care how good they are, but they’ll get beat on that play because they’re not lined up right.
“When you’re lined up right, it allows you to play faster because of the proper alignment. Our technique defensively, of our first step, is so important. Teaching tackling is something that you just can’t say, ‘Go tackle him.’ You have to teach it.”
Standard initially planned to run an odd-man front defensively. However, those plans changed when coordinator Adam Wharton returned to coach at Pickens. Wharton was at PHS for 11 season before spending the previous two years on Gilmer’s sideline.
“Much to my happiness, we’re going to be an even front defensively,” Standard said. “It will be a 4-4/4-2-5, but we’ll be even. We’ll be multiple, but our base will be even.”
GHS will line up with three running backs on most offensive plays, just like it has in previous seasons. Though one main departure from the past is Gilmer’s scheme will be centered around the option rather than the wing-T. Standard noted there will still be wing-T elements in the game plan to keep defenses off balance.
“We’re an optioned-based offense, and over the past 20 years, we’ve incorporated those base wing-T concepts,” Standard said. “I think it’s a great marriage of those two concepts because they put the defense in a conflict. If you stop the option game, there are some things you have to do that will open yourself up to the wing-T and vice versa.”
The technique of Gilmer’s linemen has been tweaked and they have become familiar with daily chute and sled work. Chutes ensure linemen fire out of their stance at the proper level, and it will be used all season.
“We’re going to be in those chutes and on that sled every day,” Standard said. “We will play with a much lower pad level than they did last year just because the nature of the offense. We’ll also use the sled to work on our physicality.
“At St. Pius, when we were playing for a state championship, we were in those chutes that last practice on Wednesday in week 15.”
In regard to the quarterback and running backs, Standard said, “The other thing in the backfield, is that we have to mesh with the quarterback and the fullback. We run what we call the ‘veer drill’ everyday and make the quarterback read and make those decisions.”
Standard noted he has been pleased with players’ willingness to learn and absorb new information and methods through the first seven days of spring.
“Our kids have done a great job of starting to learn a new system. And not just a system of Xs and Os, but a new system of doing football,” he said. “That doesn’t mean one’s right and one is wrong, it’s just different from what they’re used to. They’ve done a great job picking up the culture we want our program to have. There’s a learning curve, but they have been open to picking it up and it’s been great to see.”
Standard entered spring practice concerned about the number of players, which stood at 60 last week. Over the opening seven days of spring, a handful have decided to quit and are no longer with the program.
“We have some great young men who are out here and they’re busting their tail to get football back after it’s been down for a while,” Standard said. “Right now, I would like to see a lot more participation. Now it’s not easy, and that’s why there aren’t 200 kids playing football.
“I know there are some guys walking the halls, that if they want to be challenged and be part of something special, we’d love to have them come out and join us.”
GHS will hold an intrasquad scrimmage Wednesday beginning roughly at 6 p.m. It will take place over the final quarter of practice and will last approximately 45 minutes.