The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Football Coverage: Practice No. 13
3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
PHOTO GALLERY | WATCH: PRACTICE 13 | SPRING GAME TICKETS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Now less than 48 hours away from the Spring Game at Legion Field, the UAB football team held its 13th practice on Thursday at the Southside Facility.
OBSERVATIONS:
- This Blazers were in shells today in preparation for Saturday's Spring Game.
- UAB will hold its 14th and final practice on Friday which will be a walk-through.
- The weekend is full of UAB events leading up to the Spring Game, including an Alumni Golf Tournament, the UAB Football Decal Drive and the Birmingham Coaching Clinic.
COACH CLARK QUOTES:
On the growth and development through Spring practice:
"I think we're understanding what it takes. We're still making corrections today, that's just part of it, but as a group from the tempo and how we get aligned all of those things you're looking for I was pretty pleased with."
On how steep the curve is in terms of chemistry especially with quarterback and receivers:
"I think there is a curve because you can't really see that until you get out here with them, even when they work on their own it just isn't the same. We've seen a big change even in the last week with those guys, they've got more work to do as we get into the summer and get ready for August. The thing for me is really physicality. This is chance for us when there isn't a real game to really be physical. I've seen that and we've really gotten better at that on both sides of the ball."
On anything specific you're looking to see on Saturday:
"It's a team game but we'll be looking for individual matchups and who comes out on gameday and produces. We can do all this practicing but when you turn the lights on that's when you see who shines. There will be some guys that might be a three going against a one and that's when you find guys who perform. It will be fun to get out there in front of the fans and have a good showing."
On if the offense is hungry for Saturday:
"I will tell you that the offense came out on Tuesday and got after it. That is what you expect and we told our players it's all about what you do the next day. I think the offense had something to prove on Tuesday but we'll see and it'll be interesting when we come out on Saturday."
On how important the game atmosphere is going to be on Saturday for a team that hasn't played a game in two years:
"We want to make it as game like as we can. Our warmup will look like it's going to on September 2, that way if we need to correct things. We want to start now, we want to start getting our minds right tomorrow. Breakfast on Saturday will be very important and we'll play on that meal and so on. The curfew and all of those things start for us. We want to make it from the pre-game meal that morning to everything we do on the sideline game like."
QUARTERBACK A.J. Erdely QUOTES:
On the chemistry with the offense:
"It's going good and in these later practices you can tell everyone has been clicking with each other. The o-line and everyone is getting to their blocks, the tight ends are getting with the o-line and the tackles are doing good. The quarterbacks and receivers are doing good as well."
On what you've done to help facilitate the chemistry:
"It started in the offense when we were out here throwing with the receivers, that really helps us. But once everyone knows their job it's pretty easy from there."
On how important it is for Saturday to be as game like as possible:
"It's huge since we didn't play last year. The Green and Gold games were the closest things to games that we had last year. Everyone is excited for it but everyone has to be locked in and treat it as if it was a real game."
On what the team is looking to show the fans on Saturday:
"Hopefully we can get some points, our defense is really good but hopefully we can put some points together."
QUARTERBACK Tyler Johnston QUOTES:
On how the chemistry of the offense has developed:
"I think the offense got a lot better going through Spring practice. We started off out of control but then we got everything going and our coaches got us going. Our offense is looking good now and I feel comfortable being in the offense."
On what the competition is like with A.J. Erdely:
"We push each other a lot. We're both competing for the first job, I'm behind him right now. I'm trying my hardest and I'm going to keep working but he's a great quarterback too."
On how excited the team is for Saturday:
"We're very excited. It's been a long year and it's another scrimmage game and another time to shine. It's a great time with the guys."
On making Saturday as game like as possible:
"We've been working so hard and when we get to play another team we're going to love it. We've been playing each other the whole time and we're kind of tired of playing each other but we're going to keep working until the first game."
LINEBACKER Tevin Crews QUOTES:
On how much better the team has gotten during Spring Training:
"It's night and day from the beginning. We've grown so much and we're getting a lot closer together and now we have to keep working."
On how ready the team is for Saturday:
"As ready as we're going to get. We've got a walk-through tomorrow but other than that there's not much more we can do."
On how important it's going to on Saturday to have that one gameday feel leading up to September:
"I feel it's very important. One of the main things we have to do is stay focused. It's going to be a lot going on, it'll be the first time we've done a Blazer Walk in two years. It'll be a big thing for us to key in and focus on the task at hand which is the game and not all of the extra festivities going on."
On your expectations as far as the competition level on the field:
"To be honest we're going to go out there and I'm going to do my job to the best of my abilities. Whoever lines up across from me, or anybody else on the offense or defense for that matter, we're just going to try and dominate. There's nothing spectacular that we're expecting, just do our job. We feel that if we do our job then good things will happen."
On how heated the competition was this spring:
"We've had a lot competition but there isn't any time to relax now. We have to keep pushing. We have the summer and fall coming up and those are a lot of times for younger guys to make another impression on the coaches. Regardless of where we're at on the depth chart we have to continue to work and push forward."
