By Tony Burns
Sports Editor
After a relatively cool first two weeks of football practice, Mister Sun dropped by El Dorado's Tuesday afternoon workout at Memorial Stadium. The Wildcats actually took a break during the practice to cool down before returning to the field for some punt and a short semi-scrimmage.
"It wasn't as physical. The first scrimmage was perfect weather, about 80, overcast, misting rain some and they just went at each other," said El Dorado coach Scott Reed. "Today, it was hot. We're in school, now. I didn't think the intensity level was quite as a high. Offensively, we were sharp, pretty much. There weren't a lot of missed assignments. I don't remember any dropped balls, which is good for this early. I thought throwing and catching the ball and just ball handling was good offensively. Very pleased with that."
The Wildcats continued to stretch their depth, focusing on two-way players.
"Our guys that do something both ways, we worked them on the side of the ball they don't play as much on for a couple series of thud practice," said Reed. "Honestly, it wasn't fast enough. We got some teaching done then for some guys we needed to get some reps for. We also did, first time we've done this, especially this early, did kickoff coverage and kickoff returns - ones against ones and two's against two's. We didn't tackle - live blocking. I was really pleased with that. It took a little while because you had some guys to rotate on both sides. But, we got good work there, got good film to teach off of."
Evan Chandler and Greysen Hubbard both handled kickoff duties.
When asked if they were booting the ball into the end zone, the coach anwered, "No. We're not there, yet. But, we're getting better.
"Our coverage and kickoff return looked good for the first time we've done it ones against ones."
Shun Levingston and Richard Kesee are among the candidates working as the kickoff returnmen.
"We did a move-the-ball from the 25. First group offense made a couple of first downs and then the defense got them off the field. Both sets of move-the-ball, the defense did a good job," said Reed. "Then we went to red zone and the offense took over, scored every time they got the ball. With the ones, it was three times. I wasn't pleased with the way the defense finished with that period at all."
That was when the team left the field for a break.
"It was so hot. We were out of ice and we took a break," Reed explained. "We had to go raid the concession stand for some bottled water."
The team returned to the field and worked out with mixed results.
"We finished up with a little punt and then we did a coming out period where we put the ball on our own 1 and tried to make a first down," said Reed. "The defense made a really good play on first down. Second down, it looked like we missed a coverage and the offense got the ball out and actually moved the ball a little bit again.
"I just didn't think the defense finished the second half of practice, at all, the way they started. That's a concern. I hope to see better from them on Friday. I thought the offense was good with the ball all day. In fact with the first group, I don't think there were any turnovers."
El Dorado will host the annual Meet the Wildcats event today at 4 p.m. at Wildcat Arena. Reed said fans are welcome to attend.
"It's an awesome event," he said. "The Murphy companies, Murphy Oil and MurphyUSA put it on for us."
On Thursday, the Wildcats plan an abbreviated practice in shells. The Purple-White Game will be held on Friday with player introductions at approximately 5 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.