Spring football is under way and San Diego State head coach TomCraft has his work cut out for him.
Not only must Craft prepare his team for a completely newoffensive approach, he must also find players who can fill the verybig shoes of running back Larry Ned and tackle Chester Pitts.
After the first week of the spring season, SDSU is starting toencounter the obstacles that come with learning a new playbook.
“They’re having a hard time focusing,” Craft said. “We’re in dayfive now and stuff keeps coming at them. It’s hard to deal with rightnow.”
However, the players are slowly starting to pick up Craft’s new,more finesse-oriented offense. So far, the team has practiced almostevery play in the playbook and they seem to be coming around.
And Craft does not intend to let up on the team anytime soon.
“It’s as an aggressive insulation calendar as I’ve been around,but I want to push them mentally right now,” Craft said.
There’s no “O” or “D” in team
During Monday’s practice, Craft seemed to be losing his cool withthe interteam rivalries; specifically the rivalry between offense anddefense.
“It’s an offense and defense that’s segregated and I won’t standfor that,” Craft said. “That’s what’s been going on. We have got tobe able to function as a team and know what the drill is and thesituation is and perform together.”
Life without Larry
With Ned gone, there is a huge hole at the running back position.
“Larry was a terrific back, one of the top three or four to everplay for this school,” Craft said. “When you lose someone like that,it’s going to affect your football team.”
Craft said he does not plan to limit the position to one or twoplayers as former head coach Ted Tollner did. Instead he will use asmany as five running backs in a single game.
Those most likely to make the cut are James Truvillion andDeAngelo Nedd. Nedd is making the transition from safety to runningback.
“I think it’s easier for me coming over from defense,” Nedd said.”The other running backs have to completely change the way they areused to playing.”
In addition, Frederick Collins, the prep all-American running backfrom La Quinta, is coming in next year and is said to be one of thebest recruits SDSU has had in years. He is also expected to log quitea few minutes at the position.
Nickel for a quarterback?
One of Craft’s hardest challenges will be finding his quarterback.The two front-runners are Lon Sheriff, who was the startingquarterback at the beginning of last season, and Adam Hall, who alsosaw action last year.
Sheriff struggled most of last season with a nagging thumb injury,but is fully recovered and looking to win back his position. But theposition is open for whoever does the best in the spring season.Craft has using the spring session to give every quarterback an equalopportunity.
“I think coach has done a good job in giving each of us equalreps,” Hall said. “Right now, the position is wide open.”
Craft will get his first real look at his players in gamesituations when the team has its first inter-squad scrimmage at 3:30p.m. Friday. The scrimmage will take place on the Aztec practicefields, located west of the Sports Deck.
