Football
Aranda Excited About Players’ Retention Level at 1st Practice
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Going through his first official workout as a head coach, Baylor's Dave Aranda said Saturday's practice "didn't look like a first day."
After months of Zoom meetings and two weeks of organized team activities (OTA), the players showed significant retention level going through their first team practice together.
"The OTAs were a way to apply some of what they had been taught," Aranda said in a Zoom press conference following the practice. "Guys were making checks. The offense would check, and then the defense would see it and they would check. Typically, you would never get that with a new staff on the first day of fall camp. So, there were a lot of positive things."
Since spring training was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the players were just excited to be on the field and starting preparation for the 2020 season.
"There was a lot of excitement, especially coming from (quarterback) Charlie Brewer and (linebacker) Terrel Bernard. They've wanted to get back and have everyone together," Aranda said. "It's been a long time coming, so I'm happy for them. The effort all throughout practice was really strong, there was great attention to detail. . . You're seeing everyone's ears wide open, eyes wide open, taking everything in. It was just very impressive to see."
Bernard is one of just two starters returning on defense, joined by cornerback Raleigh Texada. But, with the additions of transfers William Bradley-King from Arkansas State and Dillon Doyle from Iowa, Aranda said the linebacker group is "really going to be a strength on our team."
"Terrel is seeing everything before it happens and communicating what's about to happen prior, so he's impressive to witness," Aranda said. "And he wants more. He talked about trying to come up and put in some more time. I'm excited about where that's going to go."
While the secondary has good length and speed and "the ability to play man coverage," Aranda said the Bears have to "make strides up front" in the defensive line.
"I think we have all the talent in the world to do that," he said. "That's just where we really have to be able to invest and be real particular about where we want to put our time into and who we want to be. We have some really, really good players, they just don't have the experience you would normally have."
Offensive coordinator Larry Fedora has a "really good knack," Aranda said, for working with Brewer and the quarterbacks on anticipating and making counter moves based on what the defense is doing.
"I can go and talk to Charlie about what just happened defensively because, 'Hey, they were thinking this because last time we were in that formation, you guys did this. Now, they're overplaying it, and we know they're overplaying it by the safeties,''' Aranda said. "Charlie is just such a competitor, the fire burns bright inside of him. It's just good to have him on our side."
Dealing with the COVID-19 situation, Aranda praised the work of Director of Sports Medicine Matt Kuehl and the health & wellness team led by Senior Associate AD Kenny Boyd.
"We've tried to be very transparent and have encouraged our players to reach out to us with questions," Aranda said. "I'm just so proud of our (health & wellness) team. It's a tight-knit group. They have great hearts, and I appreciate that. Part of it is getting to the point where the kids know that they can be themselves and ask the questions they need to ask."
Baylor has not released an updated schedule, but the Big 12 Conference announced Monday that the league will play a 10-game schedule with nine conference games and one non-conference home game. The anticipated start date is expected to be sometime between mid- and late-September.
Baylor Bear Insider
Going through his first official workout as a head coach, Baylor's Dave Aranda said Saturday's practice "didn't look like a first day."
After months of Zoom meetings and two weeks of organized team activities (OTA), the players showed significant retention level going through their first team practice together.
"The OTAs were a way to apply some of what they had been taught," Aranda said in a Zoom press conference following the practice. "Guys were making checks. The offense would check, and then the defense would see it and they would check. Typically, you would never get that with a new staff on the first day of fall camp. So, there were a lot of positive things."
Since spring training was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the players were just excited to be on the field and starting preparation for the 2020 season.
"There was a lot of excitement, especially coming from (quarterback) Charlie Brewer and (linebacker) Terrel Bernard. They've wanted to get back and have everyone together," Aranda said. "It's been a long time coming, so I'm happy for them. The effort all throughout practice was really strong, there was great attention to detail. . . You're seeing everyone's ears wide open, eyes wide open, taking everything in. It was just very impressive to see."
Bernard is one of just two starters returning on defense, joined by cornerback Raleigh Texada. But, with the additions of transfers William Bradley-King from Arkansas State and Dillon Doyle from Iowa, Aranda said the linebacker group is "really going to be a strength on our team."
"Terrel is seeing everything before it happens and communicating what's about to happen prior, so he's impressive to witness," Aranda said. "And he wants more. He talked about trying to come up and put in some more time. I'm excited about where that's going to go."
While the secondary has good length and speed and "the ability to play man coverage," Aranda said the Bears have to "make strides up front" in the defensive line.
"I think we have all the talent in the world to do that," he said. "That's just where we really have to be able to invest and be real particular about where we want to put our time into and who we want to be. We have some really, really good players, they just don't have the experience you would normally have."
Offensive coordinator Larry Fedora has a "really good knack," Aranda said, for working with Brewer and the quarterbacks on anticipating and making counter moves based on what the defense is doing.
"I can go and talk to Charlie about what just happened defensively because, 'Hey, they were thinking this because last time we were in that formation, you guys did this. Now, they're overplaying it, and we know they're overplaying it by the safeties,''' Aranda said. "Charlie is just such a competitor, the fire burns bright inside of him. It's just good to have him on our side."
Dealing with the COVID-19 situation, Aranda praised the work of Director of Sports Medicine Matt Kuehl and the health & wellness team led by Senior Associate AD Kenny Boyd.
"We've tried to be very transparent and have encouraged our players to reach out to us with questions," Aranda said. "I'm just so proud of our (health & wellness) team. It's a tight-knit group. They have great hearts, and I appreciate that. Part of it is getting to the point where the kids know that they can be themselves and ask the questions they need to ask."
Baylor has not released an updated schedule, but the Big 12 Conference announced Monday that the league will play a 10-game schedule with nine conference games and one non-conference home game. The anticipated start date is expected to be sometime between mid- and late-September.
"first" - Google News
August 09, 2020 at 09:30AM
https://ift.tt/3gGEAnD
DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A FIRST DAY - BaylorBears.com
"first" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QqCv4E
https://ift.tt/3bWWEYd
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A FIRST DAY - BaylorBears.com"
Post a Comment