March 20
March 20, 2007Vergie Petersen
March 23, 2007
Like cooking spaghetti.
That is how Nicholls head coach Jay Thomas described the opening of spring practices, last week. “Right now we’re getting the foundation part,” said Thomas. “We’re throwing a lot at them. It’s kind of like cooking spaghetti. You cook a lot, but you don’t ever know if it’s done. So you’ve got to take a noodle out, throw it against the wall, and if it sticks, it’s ready.
“Sometimes it’s sticking,” he said of what his team is learning. “Sometimes it’s not. We’re in that process. Some of it’s ready, some of it’s not ready.”
The Colonels got their first opportunity to put last year’s 4-7 season (2-4 Southland Conference) behind them when they started spring practices, last Monday. “This is a great time of the year,” said Thomas. “You don’t have any games coming up, so you can really concentrate and focus on certain aspects of the game.”
Eighty-three players reported to spring practice, with no unexpected absences. However, a number of players are still out with injuries from the season. Those players include offensive lineman Aric Flowers and Ben Gombossy, and running back Broderick Cole.
Thomas said that Flowers and Gombossy are “coming along” with their injuries, while Cole’s is still under evaluation.
This early in the offseason, Thomas said the main focus is on installing base packages on offense, defense and special teams. “The older guys are obviously ahead of some of the new guys,” he said. “But this is a time to close that gap. The teaching process really slows down. We’re spoon feeding, so to speak.”
Last week the team worked out mostly in shells, but beginning on Saturday it started to include full pads into workouts. The coaching staff also focused on installing situational plays. “We worked on 1st-and10, and 2nd-and-long,” he said. “We’re working on the short passing game, and still working on the running game and our shotgun package. We’re looking at some new things offensively, along with what we’ve done in the past.”
One interesting theme to the offseason will be the battle for the starting quarterback position. Like last offseason, there is uncertainty as to which player has the upper hand. Unlike last offseason, the Colonels have a number of quarterbacks with quality game experience in Vince Montgomery, Zach Chauvin and Chris Bunch.
Thomas says that position battle is one he looks forward to watching up close. “I think it’s going to be a great battle,” he said. “I look forward to watching them all compete. Every one of the guys brings something a little bit different to the table. It’s a good, friendly battle, and I look forward to watching it unfold.”
Although freshman recruits do not participate in spring practices, the team’s four mid-year signees transferring to Nicholls are participating. “They’re doing well,” said Thomas. “They all have great effort and they’re all good guys, fitting into the program really well. All our guys get along, and they all respect one another. New guys can come in and fit in, just like that.”
Once spring practice concludes on March 31, the Colonels will have practiced five days a week for three weeks. The time, date and location of the traditional intrasquad scrimmage remains undetermined because of the installation of PureGrass by Astroturf in John L. Guidry Stadium.
Photo by DOUG KEESE/NSU * Quarterback Zack Chauvin and the rest of the Nicholls State football team took to the practice field for the first time since last season ended. The Colonels kicked off spring practices last week, and will finish it on March 31.
