BOONE, N.C. – Appalachian State hit the halfway point of spring practice with their eighth workout on Saturday morning at Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mountaineers mixed drill work and scrimmage periods again, keeping up the pace and intensity. To this point, App State Head Coach Scott Satterfield continues to be pleased with his team's effort and sense of urgency to get better position-b y-position despite the season opener still six and a half months away.
“It's been a great eight days,” Satterfield said reflecting on his team's first two weeks of spring ball. “These guys have flown around and made plays on both sides of the ball. We've gotten to the point now where you get some guys dinged up. What that does, is it allows some of these guys to get an opportunity (to perform) they wouldn't get ordinarily.”
A handful of starters and key contributors have been held out of practice to this point, opening the door for a number of role players a season ago to get significant reps. Wide out Shaedon Meadors and linebacker Devan Stringer have watched most of the spring, opening the door at wide receiver and linebacker for competition.
Wide receiver Dante Jones made acrobatic catches on two deep balls during yesterday's scrimmage periods, both just shy of the goal line. He's been getting first-team reps at all three receiver spots this spring after 10 catches last season. Linebackers Ed Davis, Anthony Flory, and Jordan Fehr have all been getting first team reps as well on defense, in the absence of Stringer and with the graduation of Keenan Gilchrist and John Law. It's a another key group where Satterfield wants to see players step up around All-Sun Belt performer Eric Boggs.
“I think on defense, the linebackers have some new guys that are playing alot, we've got to continue to build that was well,” Satterfield said. “Davis, Flory, develop those guys as well. Boggs is playing at a high level.”
The offensive line is getting a long look and a lot of attention from Satterfield as well. App lost five seasons worth of starters with the graduation of Parker Collins and Jamie Collmar, but returns three starters from last season and Tobias Edge-Campell, who started a few games and played significantly snaps down the stretch. The first group is experienced and solidified, but the second unit is the one Satterfield wants to see come together.
“Our offensive line, sometimes you look at them and don't think they're getting any better, but they've gotten a lot better,” Satterfield said of his youthful second group. “I'm not talking about the front line guys, I'm talking about the next group that hasn't played. We have to have those guys continue to get better the next seven practices and into August.”
App will practice Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon this week, then again on Saturday morning in their final week with four practices.
-App State-
