Bob Jones looking for playmakers, pads go on Thursday
The first three days of football practice for Bob Jones has been intense as players vie for open positions and playing time is on the line.
The Patriots are practicing once a day in the early morning to beat the heat. Head coach Kevin Rose said it helps that the start of school has been pushed back two weeks but like most coaches he has not planned any two-a-day practices.
“We have practiced very well. I’ve been impressed with the coaching staff doing a real good job with procedures and being extremely organized. We have got a long way to go but I can see us making progress,” Rose said.
“At this point we are trying to create competition at every position and make some decisions but you really can’t make those until you get in full pads and game speed situations,” he added.
Few positions are locked up on either side of the ball and coaches constantly shuttle different players in the action seeking the right combination. The three players competing for the quarterback position are getting equal repetitions in the early season practices.
Rose has spent his whole career in 6A football and is keenly aware of what it takes to compete against the teams in the top classification. It is clear Rose expects his players to respond to coaches and be prepared.
“Pay attention. Even if you are on the sidelines, your number can be called at any moment so be ready,” Rose told the players.
Rose said he has been pleased with the player’s enthusiasm and demeanor over the first three days of practice.
“I constantly talk to our players about the speed of the game and thinking fast. You can’t hesitate or your man will beat you. You have got to be in the right spot to execute your technique. At this level, the top 16 teams there isn’t a nickels worth of difference in them. Every team has good players at every position. You have to play at a high rate of speed all the time,” Rose said.
Chris Fletcher is one Patriot player who is all about speed. He is making a strong bid for playing time at slot receiver and running back and has stood out in the early practices. Fletcher is a senior who is not new to the program but is new to the offense where he has stood out at slot receiver in practice so far.
According to Fletcher, what sets him apart is his “speed and catching the ball. I really haven’t dropped any passes so far. I’ve had good carries. I just try to cut up the hole faster. Overall the offense looks real good,” said Fletcher who played safety on defense last year but has now moved full time to offense.
Fletcher, as much as any one on the team, helped his stock this summer. He attended the National Underclassmen Combine at the University of Oklahoma where he was named one of the MVP’s of more than 600 athletes attending.
“I ran two 4.3’s in the 40 yard dash. They put me in the slot a lot and I ran a lot of routes and caught a lot of balls.”
Rose said, “Chris has had a great summer, he is fast and athletic. I think he is going to really contribute this year,” Rose said.
Bob Jones will need contributions from quite a few players early in the season as they will face the 10th ranked team in 6A, Northridge of Tuscaloosa on the road to open the season. The game, originally scheduled for Thursday night, August 30, has been changed to Friday night, August 31. Bob Jones is unranked in the ASWA poll released on August 7 but did receive votes.
