Spring Football Practice Schedule

[elon_phan]

Phoenix Ready for Spring Football Practice
Tuesday, March 20, 2007

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University football team will begin its 2007 spring practice schedule at the Hunt Field and Tucker Field practice facility at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, following the institution’s spring break this week. The 15-session schedule concludes with the Annual Phoenix Spring Game at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at Rhodes Stadium.
All practices (see below schedule) are open to the public. All times and dates are subject to change due to weather conditions. Please contact the Elon Sports Information Office at [phone] to check on possible schedule changes.

“We have had a productive off-season and are anxious to get back out on the practice fields,” said second-year Phoenix head coach Pete Lembo. “This group of student-athletes has demonstrated a positive attitude and good chemistry throughout the winter months.”

Elon is fresh off its best season since 2000 and since beginning Southern Conference competition in 2003. The Phoenix finished first in the SoCon in interceptions, passing offense and tackles for loss in 2006. Elon ended up sixth in the country in interceptions, 13th in passing offense and 18th in tackles for loss. Lembo’s first flock of Phoenix knocked off nationally-ranked playoff team Coastal Carolina on the road as well as Southern Conference foes Chattanooga and Western Carolina en route to shattering the program’s season records for passing yards, passing attempts and completions.

“Our program goals this spring are to establish a great work ethic, to get physically and mentally tougher, and for each player to develop a better fundamental understanding of their assignments and techniques,” said Lembo. “I am excited to see some of our freshmen in action in the coming weeks. Several of these players have matured since the fall and are ready to compete with the upperclassmen.”

Season tickets are now available for the 2007 campaign. Please contact the Elon Athletics Ticket Office at [phone].

2007 Phoenix Spring Football Practice Schedule
4:15 p.m. Tuesday, March 27 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, March 28 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Friday, March 30 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10 a.m. Saturday, March 31 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Monday, April 2 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 4 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Friday, April 6 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10 a.m. Saturday, April 7 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 11 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Friday, April 13 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
10 a.m. Saturday, April 14 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:15 p.m. Monday, April 16 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
4:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 18 – Hunt Field/Tucker Field
6 p.m. Saturday, April 21 – SPRING GAME – Rhodes Stadium

[elon_phan]

Does anyone plan to attend any of the sessions? I won't but would be interested in hearing reports on:

- who the starters appear to be on the o-line
- whether Happer is playing DE or DT. Last season I think he played mostly DT probably out of necessity. I think size and quickness wise he is better suited for DE.
- how the freshman Newsome looks at RB. Lembo seems to be high on him.
- who is replacing Nkang in the middle
- how the freshman Cozart looks at WR. He has good speed and height.

[whoanellie]

anyone have an idea on the depth chart,
roster on football page still lists seniors,

[elon_phan]

Here is my best guess at a depth chart entering spring practice. I do not know for sure who among the fifth year players are returning or who may have dropped out etc. I hope we can get some updates soon.

Defense
E - Happer (jr)/ Blair (jr)
DT – Ludwig (r-so)/ Hunt (r-fr)
DT- McGruder (r-so)
E - A Campbell (so)/ Ward (r-fr)
OLB - Weaver (jr)/ Barrett (jr)
MLB - J Daniels (jr)/ Johnson (so)
OLB - McAlister (jr)/ Carter (r-fr)
CB – Sullivan (so)/ McGlenn (so)
CB - Irwin (sr)
FS - D Daniels (jr)/ Ward (so)/ Campbell (jr)
SS - Bland (sr)/ Platt (r-jr)/ Bailey (sr)/ White (so)

Offense
WR – Mayers (sr)/ Williamson (jr)/ Ball (jr)/ Shaw (r-fr)/ Cozart (r-fr)
T – Werden (r-so)/ Holloway r-(fr)
G – Harrison (jr)/ Rubertone (r-fr)/ Delionbach (jr)
C – Allen (so)/ Kiner (r-so)
G – O'Shea (so)/ Hoffer r-(fr)
T – Porterfield (r-sr)/ Hairston (r-sr)/ Durham (r-jr)/ Young (r-jr)
TE – Leddy (so)/ Allen (so)/ Barcel (r-jr)
WR – Hudgins (r-so)/ Blackwell (jr)/ Gibbs (r-jr)
QB – Pope (r-sr)/ Kirby (r-fr)/ Milligan (r-jr)
FB – Applegate (sr)/ Droz (so)
RB – Clegg (sr)/ Baptiste (jr)/ Newsome (r-fr)

Kicker – Wilcox (sr)/ Siegel (jr)
Punter – Lane (jr)/ Fearheiley (r-so)/ Wilcox (sr)
Long snapper – Brown (sr)/ Hackett (fr)
Holder – Lane (jr)
Punt returner – Hudgins (r-so)/ Clegg (sr)
Kick off returner – Clegg (sr)/ Mayers (sr)

[elon_phan]

There does not seem to be much interest in spring football - which starts tomorrow.

Looking at the depth chart, the lack of depth at DL and CB seems apparent. It appears likely that we will see some true freshmen called upon in the fall for these two positions.

[elonballer1]

We should be okay at corner- Raglin and Sullivan were pretty good last year and Lembo is high on McGlenn. OL/DL are the worries I think.

[elon_phan]

elonballer1 said:

We should be okay at corner- Raglin and Sullivan were pretty good last year and Lembo is high on McGlenn. OL/DL are the worries I think.

I agree - just hope those three can stay healthy.

[whoanellie]

Spring Practice: My Take
I happened to be by Elon earlier Today and took in some of the Full-Dressed out practice.
I am looking forward to coming to the Spring-Game on the 21st.
This is just a quick snap-shot of what I've been able to see. BTW The coverage on the Phoenix website and coaches comments are so refreshing. I believe We are in a new era.
Generally It's my opinion but We are a very fast and quick squad on both sides of the ball.
Former Safety Mcallister is now quite a linebacker.
DL- Ludwig is now in the 270's and has not slowed down.
OL & DL We seem very thin in numbers on both sides of the ball, but guys look fit and thus off-season conditioning seems quite successful.
QB's and receivers show good timing.
Pope is the type of on field leader We hoped he might be. RS-F QB Kirby looks like He might be a bit taller now than Wes. But They both have great arms.
I like the way the coaches work with the players.
Any other comments???

[elon_phan]

Great report - thanks for the info. I agree the practice reports are refreshing. This coaching staff seems to be very welcoming toward the fans. I tried to watch a preseason practice during Seagraves last season and he sent a student manager over to tell me to leave. I guess those drills he was running were top secrete.

[firebird]

Look at the "Spring Ball" thread for additional comments, but to answer a question above, Cozart looks pretty good. I agree with everything Whoa said, especially about McAllister and the overall quickness.

[whoanellie]

wideouts and slots all seem solid as i think tight-end Barcell @ 6-7" may have grown into that position. wideouts are big fast and also very deep with several options.
hell they all can throw it as well. something opponents have to plan for.
I love it!!!

[elonfirefighter]

well when you take the coach's son out and give the real QB a year to get back into it, thats what happens

[whoanellie]

see what a 5th yr senior can do to for a program makes everyone get a year smarter & older.
not only sets a great example, on & off the field.

[phoenixfc]

It's great to hear that Wes seems a natural leader...and that he's having a good spring season, but even the best QB needs to have receivers not drop the ball...and to have OL give some protection. A football team is like a complex machine...if one cog fails, the whole machine does not function right. I'm delighted to read that the team is showing enthusiasm whcih hopefully will be conveyed to the incoming freshmen, whether they redshirt or not. The guys need to feel comraderie with each other, confidence in their teammates and trust their coaches to teach them to keep becoming better at their position.