University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Bower Pleased With Football Practice
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bower Pleased With Football Practice
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Following Saturday?s scrimmage at the Marshall Bell Track and Field Soccer Complex, Southern Miss Head Football Coach Jeff Bower said he was not pleased with his team?s physical play.
But Bower?s mood changed Tuesday after the team?s ninth practice of the maximum 15 allowed by the NCAA at the Joe P. Park Practice Field. The team scrimmaged some, including live inside drills and goal-line situations. "Saturday wasn?t real good but practice today was better," Bower said. "We tried to be more physical and I think we were. The team came out and responded and the effort was better." Though Bower was pleased with the effort, he said the team continues to be hampered by mistakes "We?ve had a lot of missed assignments and a lot of our young kids need to continue to learn what to do and go hard every snap," Bower said. "We need to see progress from our younger players and they need to eliminate the mental errors. Though we?ve got a lot of our offense and defense in, we?ve tried to pull things back a little bit with them and focused on repetition that will hopefully work. If we?re making mistakes, we don?t need to add anything new." Bower says there continues to be plenty of competition on the football team. "We?ve got some good competition on both sides of the ball and we evaluate that every day," Bower said. "That?s what you want and it gets guy?s attention to know that they have to come compete hard every day to keep your job." Southern Miss lost seven defensive starters from last year?s team, but Bower said he isn?t concerned. "It?s been said in the past that we might not be as good there (on defense)," Bower said. "But we?ve had guys step up and it?ll happen this year. We?ve got a lot of talent. We?re just young and won?t be as experienced, but that doesn?t mean you can?t be good." Southern Miss returns to the practice field Thursday at 3:30 p.m. and will conclude spring practice with the Black and Gold game scheduled for 1 p.m. from M.M. Roberts Stadium.
