Page 7 - May 5, 2017

TxHAE CODMaMtUeNITY NEWS
FOOTBALL
Bearcats have many open positions to ll during spring practices, particu- larly quarterback
By Tony Eierdam
The Community News
Most high school football coaches enjoy the 16 practices they receive when they choose to hold spring foot- ball practices, primarily because they do not have to worry about preparing for an opponent while getting the chance to improve their football team.
Head coaches in classes 5A and 6A have the option of holding either 16 spring practices or starting August “two-a-days” a week earlier. Most choose the 16 practices in spring over starting a week early, mainly because the coaches feel they can get more work done in 16 days as opposed to ve. It also lets their players have an extra week in the summer to work or go on family vacations, or simply allows the players an extra week of summer to sleep in.
The Bearcats will begin August “two-a-days” on Aug. 14 since they are opting for spring football practices.
Bearcats’ head coach Steve Wood said the rst three practices held this week at Bearcat Stadium were focused on review and learning positions.
“This week (at practice) is like every practice we hold– when we walk off the eld each day we want to know that we became better,” Wood said. “We have a lot of young kids out there, and we have some battles for positions.
“The kids have been busting their tails hard in the off-season and they were excited to get out there and play a little football. Spring football prac- tice is about bringing your best con- cerning your attitude and effort, and the kids did that today and we expect that out of them every day.”
Wood explained that this rst week of practices, which conclude May 31 with the annual spring game, stayed “pretty basic” concerning the playbook.
Learning to Practice
“Spring football is about learning how to practice; about bringing your best every day with your attitude and effort,” Wood said. “Spring football is a process, and we won’t be game ready when we are nished with spring practices. But we will be the best the Bearcats can be after 16 practices.
“We didn’t add anything to our offense and defense this week, we stayed pretty basic. We got some kids at new positions and we have some junior varsity players trying to move up to varsity, and we kind of started over at ground level. We will throw in a few things as we go along, but this
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Aledo quarterback Jake Bishop (4) sets up to pass as offensive coordinator Robby Jones looks on Tuesday afternoon at Bearcat Stadium during the Bearcats first spring practice of 2017. | RIGHT: Aledo offensive lineman Chandler Knandel works on a technique Tuesday during the Bearcats’ first spring practice of the year. Knandel, who saw playing time last year on varsity, is battling for a starting offensive lineman spot for 2017.
week we did not add anything. Our focus is to get our base offense and defense in as we go along.”
The big question concerning Bearcat Nation is who is going to be the Bearcats’ new starting quarter- back. Dillon Davis had manned the job for the past two years, and for the rst time in two springs Aledo coaches will have to make a decision on who their No. 1 signal caller will be. Typically, Wood likes to settle on a starting QB before August work- outs begin.
The four quarterback candidates are sophomore-to-be Jake Bishop, the younger brother of Matt and Luke Bishop, who combined to win ve state championships; Chisholm Trail transfer Jake Norwood; start- ing receiver Hunter Rosson, who has told coaches he wants a chance to win the QB spot; and Tre Owens, who went 10-0 last year as the JV quarterback.
Offensive coordinator Robby Jones will be the main evaluator during this spring’s quarterback race. He explained what he and the coaches are looking for in a starting signal caller.
“We need a quarterback who will operate the offense and take com- mand of the huddle,” Jones said. “We need a guy who can help us get rst downs and keep drives going. It will be tough competition. We have a guy who has moved in (Jake Norwood) and is a pretty good quar- terback, and we have a young guy (Jake Bishop) we know is going to be our future at quarterback, and we just have to see if he is going to be the quarterback this year.
“And Hunter Rosson, our best returning receiver, can also play some quarterback. Tre is another possibility – he can play quarterback
TONY EIERDAM/THE COMMUNITY NEWS
Aledo returning starting tailback Jase McClellan darts through a hole during an inside drill Tuesday at Bearcat Stadium. McClellan will be a sophomore in 2017.
for us – but we are also looking at other positions for him. He is our No. 4 quarterback right now.
“We just have to nd who is the best t for us. As coaches, we can tell who will command the huddle, and that is one of the things we are looking for – who will the rest of the team look to lead them. That is going to play a big role in who is going to be the quar- terback.”
O-Line Openings
Whoever wins the QB job will need protection, and the Bearcats have four starting positions on the offen- sive line open. The lone returning starter is senior-to-be guard Truett Knox. Offensive line coach Lee Bishop explained what he and co-offensive line coach Doug Wheeler are looking for in a starting O-lineman.
“We have some big shoes to ll on the offensive line, no doubt,” Bishop said. “We have some good-looking kids in this group, and they have worked hard throughout the off-season. I feel good about them, but we have to go to work and I need to see how physical we are going to be.
“They are athletic, strong and knowledgeable, so I think we have a good start. But the focus in spring is to see who will be physical, and that is the good part about spring football.”
Wood and staff will also need to ll two starting receiver spots – three if Rosson is named quarterback – two defensive linemen, two linebackers and a safety. But with 13 practices remaining, the players will have plenty of time to show the coaches what they have and if they have the stuff to be a starting Bearcat.
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