Spring has arrived, which means the Avery football team gets its first opportunity to work on drills, technique, and terminology. Last week the Vikings began its annual spring practice schedule, as over a ten-day period the team will work on conditioning and learning principles which will better prepare the team as it goes into summer camps, and eventually, the beginning of regular season play in mid-August. There has been a fair share of pleasant developments through the spring sessions.“The biggest surprise has been how smooth everything has been. We’re a bunch of pups, but the players don’t act like they’re young,” Avery head football coach Darrell Brewer said in an interview last week. “Everything has looked good. Alex (Viking sophomore quarterback Villanueva) has looked like a veteran out here running the offense and looks like he’s been doing it for years.”
With 14 seniors graduated from the 2008 team, including a pair of kickers, Avery hopes to rebuild the roster and focus on bettering themselves as the days and weeks progress, leading up to the August 21 season opener at Robbinsville.
“We’ve got to replace a kicker, and graduation kind of wiped out our secondary and receiving corps, so that’s something we’re looking at intently during these spring practices,” the coach said.
An emphasis has been placed the past couple of weeks on strengthening the line of scrimmage and developing a rushing attack, especially considering that many team summer activities for the Big Red are of the 7-on-7 passing league variety.
“I think we’re working most right now on our line. The line the past couple of years has not been what I’ve wanted it to be, and we’re really working on the line play,” the coach said. “Come August we hope to spend less time teaching who to block. So through the spring we’ve worked a lot with the line on coming off the ball and who to block.”
There has been heated competition on the practice field, as players recognize that each one of them have a chance to be starting on the field when the Friday night lights fire illuminate the landscape come fall.“One thing I think is exciting to this group is that they realize that every one of them has a shot to start,” Coach Brewer remarked. “In years past, you’ve looked and had an idea if a senior or a junior would be starting for you. But I tell you right now that everything’s wide open. That’s how we as coaches are looking at it, and we’re telling the players it’s up to them to step up and take that opportunity in front of them.”
This spring has offered the players and coaches an opportunity to turn a page from last season, to focus on bettering the Avery team rather than worrying or game planning against an upcoming opponent.
“A great thing about the spring is that we’re not game planning to play Robbinsville or an Owen. We’re strictly working on fundamentals and focusing 100 percent on Avery right now,” Coach Brewer said. “Once you’re into the season it’s harder to focus on Avery, so this is a great time for us to look at improving ourselves as a team. I enjoy this time of year at the start spring practice because you feel like it’s football season again, and coaching the players is all we have to worry about.”
With only two wins a season ago, the Vikings are looking at 2009 as a time to forget what is behind them and sail ahead toward greater success.
“Last year is something we’re not even talking about. We’re thinking about this year, and the kids are working hard,” Coach Brewer added. “They’re going to have to grow up to be ready for Robbinsville in the fall, because they’ll be loaded for bear. That will be a good test for us and help us grow up in a hurry and find out where we stand. There’s nothing more we can ask for than that. The team is excited and I feel good and am excited about what’s to come.”
