Ball State University Athletics
#CardinalCamp15 Update: Special Teams Focus
August 21, 2015 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. – With less than two weeks until the season opener, Ball State football head coach Pete Lembo had the squad spend a good portion of Friday's practice focusing on special teams. Some more news and notes from camp are below …
GRASS STAINS: The football squad returned to the grass practice fields Friday. Coach Lembo isn't sure how many more times the team will practice on the natural turf, but he wants to make sure the players are used to the difference in field conditions.
THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Much of the practice revolved around the intricacies of kick-offs, kick-off returns and field goals. The team ended Friday's practice with a pressure field goal situation. Junior Alex Egan was first to go and he banged his 41-yard attempt off the left upright and through the goal posts. Freshman Morgan Hagee followed and proceeded to hit his 41-yarder off the right upright. Unfortunately, his ball bounced back towards the playing field.
GAME SHAPE?: Coach Lembo addressed the team after practice about being in 'game shape' for the opener. He wants the coaching staff to push the tempo in practice to get the players ready, but believes the team as a whole is not quite ready to play a full contest at true game speed.
RUNNING BACKS GET NOD OF APPROVAL: Sophomore Darius Green and freshman James Gilbert both had strong practice showings on Friday. Meanwhile, redshirt freshman Spencer Gilbert continues to show improvement and had a few nifty runs during the team sessions today. Junior Teddy Williamson is nursing a minor injury, but expects to be back early next week.
SCRIMMAGE TOMORROW: Much like it did on Tuesday, the football team will hold scrimmage situations with officials during the team segments at tomorrow afternoon's practice. The Cardinals will also go through pregame warm-ups to get ready for the game day experience.
For the most up-to-date news on the football team, please follow @BallStateSports, @BallStateFB and @Pete_Lembo.
