Even in much of summer (preseason) the D is head and shoulders above the O. Both have been complicated since the Arp/Foster/Sochor/Biggs teams. It takes longer to get the O reads and timing down.

No more late portals.

Those teams didn’t have the benefit of OTAs. Practice basically starts two weeks after the season concludes these days.

hasson is at right tackle with the ones, thurston and denning played some as well

Actually informal 7v7 and passing drills occurred in the Spring during the Coach Sochor years. Linemen were expected to be in the weight room and watch film starting in January. Informal meant shorts and t-shirts and the coaches were not allowed to attend. Funny thing is that the coaches knew who was working out and who wasn't.

Thanks for the info.

I thought I saw a 100+ football players going through spring calisthenics on Howard Way around 1978 or 1979.

they would usually bring in 20 or more freshmen for the first couple weeks of camp as extra bodies (and to get done familiarity with the system prior to frosh football). The total number of players dropped each week until we got to preparation for the first game

Occasionally several freshmen would stay with the varsity.

But this was in the spring?

Spot-on with the Corners, what a luxury that is. We're not going to know on the QB deal until the end of training camp I'm guessing. Another good problem to have.

No Summer pre-season camp is where they would bring in freshman to work out with the varsity, Most would be sent home and their practices did not start until the start of Fall quarter which was late September. I helped out with the freshmen team for a year when my eligibility was up in '87.

Davis has always fielded healthy roster numbers and had a great system for developing guys, redshirting freshmen, etc. Looking at the relative youth of the current roster, I would say that as much as is possible with current NCAA rules, that Coach Plough has held to that same philosophy and approach. Only problem today is that you are having to fight off the vultures from the bigger programs. Even with that, I much prefer supporting a program that does it this way than the transient, mercenary programs you see at the top levels of college football.

Agreed. What do you really stand for as a program if every season is a whole new host of coaches and players.. Might work now, but identity is important for the long term

we never had spring practice back then. I’m pretty sure Davis didn’t stRt spring ball until we’ll after Sochor stepped down.

Both guys had big opportunities to transfer up and chose to stay. Says a lot about the coaching staff especially in the case of Richardson with this being his last year. Would be interested in hearing from plough on the podcast one of these days on how they even found him from d3. Obviously missed him coming out of high school but getting him has been a big hit for them.

I agree. Our DB's look like the strength of the defense. Very strong. I think our defense is going to be better than last year. I also think our special teams will better as well.

The Connor brothers also had a year of rest.

I'm with you guys, this Defensive group is going to be good. And they will need to carry the team in early games while the new QB finds his groove, regardless of who it is. Play great D, run the football, throw play action, and be sharp on Special Teams. Championship formula at every level of football. Go Ags!