The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Continue Spring Football Drills
3/30/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 30, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ----- After seeing his team's defense perform poorly in Saturday's first spring scrimmage, UAB head coach Neil Callaway said the Blazer defensive unit practiced at a higher level Monday.
"I thought the defense was a little better," Callaway said of his team's first workout since the Blazers' scrimmage on Saturday. "Obviously, I thought there was a lot lacking Saturday. I thought they stepped it up today. We're not perfect in our execution on either side of the ball, but I thought the D-line, especially, stepped it up today and had a better practice."
The defense yielded more than 700 passing yards Saturday with senior QB Joe Webb accounting for 315 of those. Callaway said it was simply a lack of effort and intensity on the part of the defense.
"That's what it is," said Callaway. "Wanting to get it done and wanting to do."
Callaway said that the two players who caught his attention the most Monday were defensive linemen Elliott Henigan and Derek Slaughter. He also praised the Blazer receivers who have been consistent most of the spring.
The Blazers have nearly reached the halfway point of spring drills as Monday's practice was the seventh of 15 overall this spring.
"Effort and attitude are the two things that I'm more concerned about than anything," Callaway said when assessing the Blazers' progress this spring. "We're still missing a lot of people, so I don't expect us to execute everything smoothly. But we want to see the guys out here with great effort and great attitude."
UAB will be back on the practice field Wednesday for its next workout.
