Nicholls’ football coaching staff implemented new phases of the team’s game plan after it came back from spring break.The Colonels also dressed in full pads for the first time on April 14 and had some live action that pitted the offense and defense against one another in different scenarios.
“We really feel like we have made progress out there every day in practice, but we have a long way to go,” head coach Charlie Stubbs said. “The coaching staff and I will sit down after this week and evaluate our personnel to this point in spring practice.”
As promised, Coach Stubbs sat down with the Nicholls Athletic Media Relations staff to do a weekly question and answer in regards to spring practice.
Q: Coach, tell us about how practice has been since everyone has been back since spring break. Has everyone reported back in shape and ready to practice?
A: “Oh, definitely. I have been very pleased with the carryover we have had by our student-athletes from the first week of practice until now. The student-athletes all came back healthy and in good shape, showing to me that they are serious and are ready to put in the effort to be successful. We have gotten better each and every day and really believe that, but we have a long ways to go. Next year, I would like to be further along in spring practice before we let the team go for spring break.”
Q: Tell us a little about this week. What have you all been doing in spring practice this week as a team?
A: “Well, after we went through team meetings and conditioning on Monday, we spent Tuesday reviewing the schemes that we have installed, and Wednesday was the first day that we put on full pads. Wednesday’s practice was very spirited with a lot of hustle, which as a coach you always like to see. Thursday was a meeting and lifting day. On Friday, we plan to fine-tune everything that we have worked on and put it all into play on Saturday for a controlled scrimmage featuring different situations. It will be strict and precise due to only having five healthy offensive linemen right now, which makes it hard for us to have a spring game on May 1. We will have more of a controlled scrimmage on that day, more of like what will take place on Saturday.”
Q: Coach, what about injuries? Can you tell us about any injuries, major or minor, that have been sustained in spring practice?
A: “We have sustained some injuries, with the most major one being Donovan Tate with a knee injury. However, all others have been minor ailments that have not kept anyone out of practice for a significant amount of time. Most of the players have pressed on through the minor setbacks, and as a whole, we are very healthy.”
Q: Now that you have had some time to evaluate your student-athletes, can you tell us of any position changes you and your staff have made?
A: “Well, some of the ones that we have made so far are that we moved Brandon Spurlock from defensive line to offensive line, and he is in the process of making that switch. I have confidence in Keith Uperesa and Adam Gardner to make that transition work for Brandon and us. We are also moving Josh Warren over from running back to wide receiver, and Chucky Nichols started out camp at quarterback, and we moved him to wide receiver. Before spring practice started, Jake Witt moved to defense and is taking reps at safety.”
Q: Tell us about your quarterbacks today. What can you say about the progression of the quarterbacks to this point in spring practice?
A: “Right now, I have two quarterbacks in Laquintin Caston and Nolan Dumas, and both are working very hard to learn the offense. They get better every practice but still have a long way to go. I’m real anxious to see how far they have come by this Saturday, which is our midway point of our 15 allotted spring practices.”
Q: What individual players have impressed you and the coaching staff up until this point in spring practice?
A: “Well, I don’t want to say anything without first consulting with our entire coaching staff, and we will sit down at the end of Saturday’s practice to evaluate all players, position by position. So at this time, I don’t want to cite any specific student-athletes.”
Q: Can you tell us about the progression of your defense? What has the unit shown you as a whole so far in spring practice?
A: “The defense has been implementing their core packages, defensive fronts and coverages. I have to say that they are working hard, getting aligned to various formations and shifts that we use in practice against them on the offensive side. I think that as they practice against this style of offense, it will only help in the progression, and I am anxious to see where they stand at the halfway point. All of the coaches will be evaluating a lot after Saturday’s controlled scrimmage, and the defense will be assessed as well. I have confidence in Jeremy Atwell and the defensive staff that they will make the necessary progress.”
Q: What about your special teams unit? What can you tell us about their progression so far?
A: “Well, we are evaluating all our personnel there and deciphering who fits best at each position. So far in practice when we work on special teams, our main emphasis has been on punt team, field goal/PAT team, while also working on developing our punt and kick returners. Our kickoff team will be decided in fall camp before the season, but we have been working on evaluating personnel that fit special team phases. Bobby April has been working with our specialist and is a very enthusiastic coach that has his heart in special teams play. I have confidence in him and his schemes as well.
