With spring high school football practices and scrimmages going on as we speak, we polled local and area coaches on what their goals were for their teams in these scrimmages.
"Obviously our team goal is to work offensively and defensively at a high level. I believe that sets up our summer with the correct mindset. As a head coach, I just want to be injury free at the end of the game and through out spring camp."
--- Nick Saltaformaggio. Franklinton football coach. Scrimmage vs Hammond May 14th at FHS
"Our goal is to get better and Win each day. Focusing on techniques, toughness and fundamentals. I want to see our guys fly around with energy and grit and just be physical."
---Dean King. Bowling Green football coach. Intra squad scrimmage May 14
"The first goal is to find out who is replacing the starters we lost from the previous season. I think that's the first goal of any spring. You go into spring with a good idea but you never know until those players get on the field against an opposing team's starters and you start to see that in the spring game. Next, and this is different from our spring practices in many years and that is scheme change. We will be doing some scheme changes to both offense and defense. We will be laying the groundwork for that."
---Bradley Seal. Pine football coach. Scrimmage vs North Pike at CoLin Junior college May 14th
"Going into the spring game, our main focus is finding out what we're good at and areas we need improvement in. We're not worried about a scoreboard, we're worried about how we play. I want to see guys execute, line up right, do their job, communicate and play fast. If we can do the little things right consistently the big plays will come. Our motto all spring has been "work like a champion" hopefully we have seen some of that identity that we're trying to establish show against an opponent."
---Vonta Owens. Varnado football coach. Scrimmage vs Salem High May 15
"Right now, the goal is going to be focusing on doing all the little things right. We are wanting to build discipline as a team and if we can get that instilled in our guys along with the basics our offense and defense, I will count it as a successful spring."
---Destin Pittman. Bens Ford football coach. Scrimmage vs Porters Chapel and Delta Streets at USM on May 9th
"For smaller schools like STA, our athletes are playing multiple sports. Our spring sport athletes are finishing up their sport and going right into spring. Our off season training and culture building is more important for these kids right now where we are at. I like them getting a little of a break before summer training starts. Having the two extra weeks in the fall is huge for development, and not having to rush into getting ready for a scrimmage so quick after starting practice."
---Boomer Nunez. St Thomas Aquinas football coach. STA foregoing spring training for extra time in the fall.
"Easy! Being that we are replacing 41 seniors and mostly all starters, it's just playing, learn how to play the game against another group of high school kids. Also why I wanted to go on the road, get these young kids out of their comfort zone and away from Denham Springs so they can just focus on themselves and play and not worry about who all is in the stands as they get thru the nerves and get comfortable."
---Brett Beard. Denham Springs football coach. Scrimmage at Chalmette May 8th.
"Biggest thing for us is communication among our players and establishing physical/violent football mentality. Find our who can block and tackle. We have a lot of talented under classmen, so we're excited about spring."
--- Zephaniah Powel. Amite football coach. Scrimmage vs Assumption at Amite May 14
"Our goal for spring is to compete daily for starting positions and to develop quality depth at each position. I want to see who is physically ready to compete for varsity and teach those young players our system on offense and defense."
---Ross Currier. Sumner football coach. Scrimmage vs Independence May 14th
"My goal is simple. I want to see who's gonna be physical. I want to find guys that are tough, guys that want to play physical football. We have to be more physical this year."
---Scott Shaffett. Ponchatoula football coach. Scrimmage vs Belle Chasse May 14th
