The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Blazers Bust Out Pads At Saturday Practice
3/31/2012 12:00:00 AM | Football
March 31, 2012
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB football team broke out the pads for the first time in spring practice Saturday morning, working out for more than an hour and a half in the sun at Legion Field.
After two practices without pads, Blazer first-year head coach Garrick McGee and his staff had their first chance to assess their team in contact drills.
"You find out who can play football (when you put pads on)," McGee said. "You end up running into each other and you end up with a slight tweak here and there, and the guys who are mentally tough enough to go on to the next play are what you're looking for."
The team practiced on the turf at Legion Field for the first time because of wet conditions at the on-campus practice facility after Friday's rain.
Saturday's session wrapped up the first week of spring practice. The Blazers will get back to work on Monday, returning to the UAB practice field for a 7 p.m. workout. Like all practices this spring, Monday's practice will be open to the public.
On Saturday, the Blazers went through individual position work and then got into some offense versus defense work for several periods. Three practices into the spring, McGee continues to be pleased with his team's effort.
"They have a great attitude," he said. "We don't have any issues of anybody being late or not understanding what we want or anything like that. They have a lot of energy. They're listening to coaching and responding to coaching, so I like these kids."
McGee has said from the start that his offensive system relies heavily on the quarterback to make decisions and plays. The UAB signal-callers are working their way into that system this spring.
"They're learning," McGee said of the quarterbacks. "They have a lot on their plate. Our passing game and our progressions are really complex. I like all five (of our quarterbacks). When we get into the second week (of practice), the defenses will change and the pressures will come. Then we'll find out who can really play quarterback."
On the defensive side of the ball, the Blazers will have a new look next year not just in terms of scheme but also in their top personnel. UAB returns just four starters on defense and none in the secondary, so next year's impact players have a chance to emerge this spring.
"They have good smiles on their faces," McGee said of his defensive players. "They enjoy playing defense, and they understand it has to be played fast. There's just a lot of learning. They have to learn the techniques and schemes and then react to the offense, so it's hard. But it will get there."
