Gridders CLose First Week of 2006 Spring Practice Slate

Head Coach Bobby Ross Says First Week Was Heavy on Installation of Plays; Predicts Week Two Will Feature Much of Same
April 1, 2006

One week into his third spring session along the banks of the Hudson, Army grid boss Bobby Ross gave his veteran squad a favorable review Saturday, commending the team's progress after four practices, the last two of which featured the Black Knights working out in full pads at Michie Stadium on successive days.
Focusing on intensive installation of both offensive and defensive systems during the first week, because of the vast amount of experienced players on both sides of the line of scrimmage, Ross lauded the effort of the Black Knights throughout the week.
"I wasn't displeased with the work that we got done this week. We put in quite a bit of our offense and quite a bit of our defense. And even with the (heavy) installation, we did a decent job," Ross explained. "We didn't make a lot of mistakes. We still have to refine a lot of things though.
"We may be a bit faster (with the installation of systems and plays) this spring, but that's because (of the team's veteran experience level). We want the last two weeks of practice to be (dedicated to) polishing technique, which will give us a chance to look as some other things too. That's why we've gone as fast as we have."
To cap the opening week, Ross put his troops through a briskly paced two-hour, non-contact session Saturday morning that began under an inviting spring sun but was conducted under increasingly threatening skies as the day wore on. As usual, the practice plan featured individual skill-development sessions, one-on-one and seven-on-seven drills and a limited amount of full-team plays.
Despite his overall happiness with the week, the one area in which Ross was a bit guarded Saturday centered on the play of the offensive line, a group that has quite a bit of experience and is expected to anchor the entire offensive unit.
"Offensively we weren't coming off the ball today quite as good as I would like to see. We got slowed because our defensive line did a good job with their pressure package," Ross said. "That is something we need to avoid (offensively). I don't think we are totally ready for (certain types of defensive pressure up front) so that's why I want us to see it. Defensively we were getting off the ball very well, and a lot of that had to do with our stunts and pressure.


With two days off until his team returns to the practice field this coming Tuesday, Ross set the agenda for next week, stating, "We will stay with our installation and keep trying to get better. I want us to take the attitude of coming out each day to get a little bit better. If we do that, we'll be fine."