Camp Confidential: We're Talking About Practice

PHOTO GALLERY

STATESBORO, Ga. – Another season rushed its way into our field of view, like Wesley Fields breaking through the line to queue "Wings Up Eagle Nation" from The Voice of the Eagles, Danny Reed. Head Coach Chad Lunsford and company took to the field Friday morning to open up camp and continue our behind the scenes look of Georgia Southern football here with Camp Confidential.

With Mother Nature not cooperating, the Eagles were forced to move practice to Paulson Stadium and dodged the rain by heading out earlier. The Blue and White practiced for about two hours on the turf, going through ball security drills, individual periods, special teams, and offensive and defensive skill sets.

Notes from this mornings practice:

Head coach Chad Lunsford took over 10,000 steps since 5:00 a.m. this morning
Today marks the first time that the Eagles have opened camp not on the banks of Beautiful Eagle Creek
The entire team, including the big men up front, did ball security drills for a short period of time in the middle of practice
Ten members participated in the inaugural class of the GATALifestyle Experience, a three-day event which included a behind the scenes look at everything from player cookouts to team meetings and practice plans
Sources close to coach Bob DeBesse have told us that the Offensive Coordinator has refilled his M&M jar, a huge relief to recruiting assistant Tessa Akers.
Three new transfers - Emory McKenzie, Reynard Ellis and Juanyea Tarver "all practiced on Friday after recently joining the program. McKenzie is a linebacker who played at City College of San Francisco last year after playing at Furman as a freshman and is eligible this season. Tarver will provide depth at wide receiver and kick return after playing as a defensive back at Morehead State. Ellis ws a standout linebacker at Furman last year so he will have to sit out this season.
Strength and Conditioning coordinator, Matt Greenhalgh, told us the guys have developed "Body Armor" (More on this in a few days)

5 Questions With ... Chad Lunsford

Besides your dabbling in professional wrestling last weekend, what did you to get away from football this summer?

We had a good summer. I went on a cruise with my family, taking a few days to get away from football and off the grid to spend some time with them down on the ocean. We traveled down to Port Canaveral and NASA Space Center to do some fun things with the kids before the cruise and used it as a time to clear my mind before we get started later this week.

What are the immediate areas of emphasis in the first two weeks of camp?

We have to get evaluations on the newcomers as quickly as possible. We have to set our identity and soon as we can and then start preparing for the opener against South Carolina State on September 1.

What position battles are you excited to watch this preseason?

On offense, I'm excited seeing how the offensive line battles play out. I'm also excited seeing who, at running back, will step up behind Wesley Fields. On defense, there are some good battles shaping up on the defensive line and linebacker spots. On special teams, we have to figure out who our punter is going be.

How will the new redshirt rule change the way you prepare your freshmen in these next 3 weeks before game week and have you decided how you will utilize the rule?

I think that's why we have to evaluate quickly who is ready to play. The guys who we feel like are ready to play, our philosophy will be to play them early and evaluate them through the first couple of games. Guys who show they aren't ready in camp, the mindset shifts to playing them later in the year when depth becomes an issue. You also look at picking some games here and there during the season when you need some guys to step in. Four games is something that is very helpful because it doesn't burn a guy's year if you realize he isn't ready to play. The other piece to it though, is we have to make sure when we play them, we have to have a reason to play them and have a plan in place.

Finally, how do you go about breaking up the monotony and length of camp while also still trying to get all of your offensive and defensive playbooks in?

We'll do some different things like having team meetings at night where it isn't about football. It'll be about traditions, team policies, education or for guys to tell their stories that everyone may not know about them. On off days, which are mandated by the NCAA, we'll have some activities that aren't related to football that I think the guys will enjoy. But our guys and coaches have to be very aware that when it's time to flip the switch, it's time to get down to business. There are times when we have to work, and there are some times we can have some fun. Preseason is a grind, but it's a grind for everyone, but we're going to be very strategic in how we attack camp each day to make sure we are ready to roll on September 1.

Georgia Southern Preseason Football Schedule
Date (Time, Location)
Sat., Aug. 4 (8:30-10:30 AM, Paulson; Women's Clinic)
Sun., Aug. 5 (4-6 PM, Paulson)
Mon, Aug. 6 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Tues., Aug. 7 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 8 No Practice
Thurs., Aug. 9 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 10 (8:30-10:30 AM, Eagle Creek; Eagle Creek Baptism; Operation Move-In)
Sat., Aug. 11 (6 PM, Paulson - Scrimmage #1; Fan Fest)
Sun., Aug. 12 (8:15-9:45 AM, Paulson)
Mon., Aug. 13 No Practice
Tues., Aug. 14 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Wed., Aug. 15 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Thurs., Aug. 16 (4:30-6:30 PM; Eagle Creek)
Fri., Aug. 17 (4:30-6:30 PM, Paulson - Scrimmage #2)
Sat., Aug. 18 (TBD, TBD)
Sun., Aug. 19 (7 PM, Paulson)
Mon., Aug. 20 No Practice
Tues., Aug. 21 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Wed., Aug. 22 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Thurs., Aug. 23 (4:30-6:30 PM; Paulson)
Fri., Aug. 24 (6-8 PM, Fan Fest to follow, Armstrong Campus - Savannah)
Sat., Aug. 25 (TBD, TBD)

Schedule

Players Mentioned

Reynard Ellis

Wesley Fields

Emory McKenzie

Juanyea Tarver

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