Pioneers return from camp Tidwell: Team has much room for improvement
|
The Pioneers returned Monday from five days at the Circle Camp Ranch in La Vergne, where they worked on conditioning, gameplan installation and went through both controlled and live scrimmages with Goodpasture and Westmoreland High Schools.
“We had a few bright spots, and a lot of not-so-good spots,” Tidwell said prior to Tuesday afternoon’s practice session. “We did work hard, we were there to work, and we had several days of working our rear ends off.
“They responded real well to the conditioning, but the not-so-good stuff was the performances in the full-team scrimmages.”
Tidwell said while he was impressed with Goodpasture, the 2001 Class 2A state champions, he was disappointed that the Pioneers seemed to be wary of facing the Cougars in live-contact drills.
“Goodpasture is just loaded, they shouldn’t even be in class 2A, they’re like a college team,” he said. “They come out with over 80 guys, and they’ve got an abundance of athletes that 2A schools just don’t have. It’s an amazing program, and we got a little intimidated when we got into contact with them.
“We did make some good plays, and in a modified scrimmage we shut them down pretty good on an inside drill. But not in the open field.”
“We could handle not doing so well against them,” he added, “but what was so disappointing was the fact that we were so intimidated, and didn’t take it back at them. We really got intimidated, and we just can’t do that with the people we’ve got to play in class 5A.”
Tidwell said the Pioneers’ play on the line is another area in need of improvement.
“I was hoping our line would be a lot better blockers than they are,” he said. “We faced some big defensive lines and some good people in Westmoreland and Goodpasture, but our line didn’t block very well at all.
“We’re not maintaining our blocks, and the plays we have to run we didn’t get much yardage. We’d worked so hard, and I know the kids’ legs were dead and heavy on them, but we’ve got to work that hard and make those plays.”
On the positive end of the spectrum, Tidwell said the Pioneers’ enthusiasm during some of their controlled scrimmage work and the play of their younger athletes were particular bright spots.”
“In our modified scrimmage against Westmoreland, the whole football team got excited,” he said. “They were hooting and hollering on the sidelines, and I don’t think we’ve seen that kind of excitement since I’ve been here.”
“I thought the younger kids did well,” he added. “I was very pleased when the lower level got in there and mixed it up with the other kids. Their effort, and their contact, was good.”
Individual performers singled out by the Pioneer head coach included Josh Paz, who turned in strong effort both at quarterback and with his brother Jon on defense, and fullback Mikey Perkins.
“Josh Paz came out and played well at quarterback, and Mikey Perkins shows the possibility of being a big, hammering fullback,” Tidwell said. “Wes Johnson played well on the offensive line, and both Paz’s — John and Josh — played well on defense. So we’ve got some young kids that are showing they can play.”
Tidwell also was pleased with the play of the Pioneers’ young defensive secondary — a group he said shows strong potential if they can stay together.
“Our secondary, with Heath Crisp at safety, sophomores Drake and McGee, Nick Cantrell with them, those are some players that are young and able to cover,” he said. “So you’re looking at three years with a good group in there.”