Fall Camp Report #4

STATESBORO, Ga. - The tempo picked up Saturday morning (Aug. 8) as Georgia Southern worked through its first session as a full squad out on the football practice fields. Saturday's practice also marked the second straight day in shoulder pads as the Eagles will work out in full pads for the first time on Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Chris Hatcher noticed the team's increased tempo throughout the fourth fall camp practice.

"Our overall attitude and intensity was awesome for the first day (full team together). During camp we try to go a little longer on the one-a-day session. We take care of the guys as best we can, and I thought all in all our tempo, our execution looked pretty decent for the first day. Our goal is to get an inch better every day," said Hatcher. "We spent two and a half hours out here. It was a longer day and we had more people out here. There were a couple of scuffles out there which is always good to see. For 3-5 seconds they are mad at each other then after that they remember they are still on the same team. We feel real good about our team and I think today we took another step in the right direction."

Notes from the 11-on-11 drills at the end of practice... Lee Chapple connected on five of his six passes to five different receivers... The defense came up with a pass break-up and Markeith Wylie recorded a sack in the redzone... J.B. Shippy registered a safety with a quarterback sack... Harland Bower recorded a tackle for loss... Kyle Collins completed three passes during his snaps. He and Chapple completed a pass to seven different receivers.

Kickoff for the season-opener against Albany (N.Y.) on Saturday, September 5th is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Paulson Stadium. For ticket information call 800-GSU-WINS.

DEPTH AT RUNNING BACK: If the wide receivers have the most freshmen on the team then the running backs are close behind in number of underclassmen and new faces.

Sophomore Adam Urbano represented the Eagles on the Southern Conference All-Freshman team. He returns as the team's leading rusher netting 304 yards on 52 attempts (5.8 ypc) with seven touchdowns. Urbano had a knack for scoring TDs in overtime, getting the eventual game-winners at Western Carolina (25 yards) and at The Citadel (3 yards), and also scored from 25 yards against Wofford. Urbano suffered an injury in the triple-OT win at The Citadel and missed the final two games of the season.

Fellow sophomore Zeke Rozier averaged four yards per carry last year, continuing to recover from his knee injury in 2007 that forced him to miss the final nine games. Freshman Darreion Robinson (joined the team in January) and junior transfer Brandon Nolley are ready to make their debut as an Eagle.

"They are getting better and understand what we need them to do. Darreion Robinson is our first team fullback. Adam Urbano, who was injured part of last season, is a tremendous player not only running the ball but a great pass catcher," said Hatcher. "Brandon Nolley we are working in there and Zeke (Rozier) we're working in there too. We feel we have four good ones. They have a lot of responsibility, they have got to be able to be a good ball catcher, a good runner and pick up the blitz. We ask a lot of those guys, and probably other than the quarterback position they may have to know just as much as anyone on the football field."

FALL CAMP PRACTICE TIMES
Sunday, August 9: 2:15-4:45 p.m.
Monday, August 10: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, August 11: 1:30-4 p.m.
Wednesday, August 12: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Thursday, August 13: 1:30-4 p.m.
Friday, August 14: 8-10 a.m.; 2:15-4:15 p.m.; 7:15-8:15 p.m.
Saturday, August 15: 1:30-4 p.m.
Sunday, August 16: Off
Monday, August 17: Off (First day of classes)

All sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place at the practice field complex and Herring Pavilion. Only media members are allowed to take pictures during any practice session. Day/time subject to change.

Category: Football

Published on Saturday, 08 August 2009 14:10