University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Newcomers Improve In Second Practice
8/5/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Newcomers Improve In Second Practice
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - With two practices of the Southern Miss preseason out of the way, coaches and players alike are getting back into the swing of things.
Tuesday marked the second practice of the preseason for the incoming freshman players, and Southern Miss Head Coach Jeff Bower was even more pleased than on the first day.
"It was a good practice," Bower said. "The players were much more relaxed today than they were yesterday and looked more comfortable in learning the drills and the schemes. That is how it typically goes. They will look better tomorrow and even better the day after that."
The new players were divided into their offensive and defensive positions on Tuesday, allowing for a more specialized practice than what was held on Monday.
But the pace was still slower than what the new players will face in the coming days, when they begin practicing with the entire squad.
"You don't want to go too fast, and you want a good foundation," Bower said. "Their heads will start spinning a little bit though, when we start going together with the varsity. Then there will be a lot more to learn."
Bower was pleased with the overall progress of all the new players and also liked what he saw out of the new crop of quarterbacks, one that includes signees Damion Carter (New Orleans, La.) and Jeremy Young (Jackson, Miss.).
"They can do a lot of things," Bower said of the new quarterbacks. "They have strong throwing arms and have good mechanics, and they both can run. They are impressive. I have been coaching a long time, and this (group) is probably as good as I have seen."
First-year practices continue for the next two days with morning sessions beginning at 10 a.m. The first full practice for both the varsity and first-year players is set for Friday.
