Central Michigan University Athletics
Spring Practice News and Notes
4/2/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
MOUNT PLEASANT Central Michigan held the eighth of its 15 spring practices Thursday. News and notes as the Chippewas’ spring camp passes the midpoint:
Quoting Coach Jones: Head coach Butch Jones has been pleased with the energy and attitude of his club through the first three weeks of spring drills.
“We are continuing to be a work in progress,” Jones said. “We’re turning the ball over too much on offense, but from a defensive standpoint that is a good thing. The next seven practices are going to be critical for us. We’re stressing the fact that every rep of every drill needs to be a championship rep whether we’re on the practice field, going through walk-through or if we’re in the weight room.
“Our players have had a great attitude throughout the spring, and they have a hunger to learn and improve,” he continued. “Spring can be a difficult time, trying to manage academics, health and the rest of their responsibilities. As of today, I think they’ve done a good job with everything.”
Fresh Faces Under Center: One of the keys to the Chippewas’ success in 2008 was the luxury of having a veteran backup quarterback in fifth-year senior Brian Brunner. In the 2-1/2 games Dan LeFevour missed due to injuries, Brunner completed 62-of-94 passes (65.9 percent) for 967 yards and six touchdowns and led the Chippewas to three victories.
Entering 2009, however, LeFevour is the lone quarterback on the roster who has appeared in a game in a CMU uniform. Competing for the backup role are sophomore Derek Rifenbury and redshirt freshman Ryan Radcliff. True freshman A.J. Westendorp will join the Chippewas in August.
“Dan has had a great spring,” Jones said. “He’s throwing the ball well and managing the offense well. Right now we’re still lacking some consistency at the spots behind him. We obviously have some young players there, and I’m excited about their ability, but we need to continue to put them in some game-type situations and high-pressure situations as much as possible.
“Playing quarterback is very much a mental process, and their functional intelligence has to come through,” he added. “Both of them are very talented, and they are pushing each other and competing with each other every day that we are out here.”
Coming Up: CMU returns to the practice field Saturday afternoon. Between 150-200 high school coaches are expected to visit Mount Pleasant to view practice and participate in a coaches’ clinic at the CMU facilities ... CMU’s annual spring game is just 16 days away. Click here for more information on the 2009 spring game ... Butch Jones will meet with the media next Wednesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. to discuss spring practice and preview the spring game.
Quoting Coach Jones: Head coach Butch Jones has been pleased with the energy and attitude of his club through the first three weeks of spring drills.
“We are continuing to be a work in progress,” Jones said. “We’re turning the ball over too much on offense, but from a defensive standpoint that is a good thing. The next seven practices are going to be critical for us. We’re stressing the fact that every rep of every drill needs to be a championship rep whether we’re on the practice field, going through walk-through or if we’re in the weight room.
“Our players have had a great attitude throughout the spring, and they have a hunger to learn and improve,” he continued. “Spring can be a difficult time, trying to manage academics, health and the rest of their responsibilities. As of today, I think they’ve done a good job with everything.”
Fresh Faces Under Center: One of the keys to the Chippewas’ success in 2008 was the luxury of having a veteran backup quarterback in fifth-year senior Brian Brunner. In the 2-1/2 games Dan LeFevour missed due to injuries, Brunner completed 62-of-94 passes (65.9 percent) for 967 yards and six touchdowns and led the Chippewas to three victories.
Entering 2009, however, LeFevour is the lone quarterback on the roster who has appeared in a game in a CMU uniform. Competing for the backup role are sophomore Derek Rifenbury and redshirt freshman Ryan Radcliff. True freshman A.J. Westendorp will join the Chippewas in August.
“Dan has had a great spring,” Jones said. “He’s throwing the ball well and managing the offense well. Right now we’re still lacking some consistency at the spots behind him. We obviously have some young players there, and I’m excited about their ability, but we need to continue to put them in some game-type situations and high-pressure situations as much as possible.
“Playing quarterback is very much a mental process, and their functional intelligence has to come through,” he added. “Both of them are very talented, and they are pushing each other and competing with each other every day that we are out here.”
Coming Up: CMU returns to the practice field Saturday afternoon. Between 150-200 high school coaches are expected to visit Mount Pleasant to view practice and participate in a coaches’ clinic at the CMU facilities ... CMU’s annual spring game is just 16 days away. Click here for more information on the 2009 spring game ... Butch Jones will meet with the media next Wednesday, April 8, at 3 p.m. to discuss spring practice and preview the spring game.
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