Now that Kennesaw State’s football team has a season of experience, the coaching staff began trying to strengthen its weaknesses in the team’s spring football practices.
Some of the results may be seen at Saturday's spring game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. Kickoff is noon. Admission is free, as is parking in the black and gold lots.
The defense worked on improving its tackling and limiting big plays allowed.
“We’re further along than we were at this point last spring,” defensive coordinator Brian Newberry said. “But not where we want or need to be.”
The offenses will be led primarily by Chandler Burks and Daniel David, a transfer from Appalachian State. White is being held out because he knows the offense, having led it to averages of 28.9 points and 429.8 yards per game, and to protect a shoulder injury sustained late last season that forced him to miss one game.
Offensive coordinator Grant Chesnut said David improved significantly in the past five practices in terms of reads in the option offense, checks based upon the defense’s pre-snap look, and passing, something that comes naturally to him.
One of the quarterbacks will be handing the ball to Jake McKenzie, who moved from quarterback to B-back and is one of the ingredients in what Chesnut said is an improved inside running game. Chesnut said McKenzie brings a violence to the position and should help an offense that averaged 293 rushing yards per game last season.
Chesnut also was enthusiastic about the A-backs and wide receivers, led by Justin Sumpter, the leading receiver last season with 26 receptions for 525 yards, and Xavier Harper, a utility man for the offense.
If McKenzie and the A-backs and wide receivers are doing well, defensive coordinator Brian Newberry may not be happy. His group has worked hard to reduce the run and pass plays of at least 25 yards, of which the team allowed 21 last season. For the season, the team allowed averages of 21.2 points and 301.2 yards per game.
Newberry said some of the issues are because of the team’s lack of experience and size compared with the more established programs. Of the big plays allowed, Newberry said 75 percent were because of a missed tackle, which can be traced to more time needed in weight room, or a missed assignment, which can be traced to a lack of experience. The remaining 25 percent were the other team making a play, he said.
“Majority were self-inflicted,” Newberry said.
Some of the mistakes also were made because of fatigue, a reflection of the team’s lack of depth, which should improve this season after another signing class was added in February.
Newberry said a majority of the players have changed their bodies because they have bought into what’s needed for the program to take the next step. They have also worked to improve their fundamentals, which should reduce the number of missed tackles.
Now, on Saturday, the coaches will find out if the work done in the previous 13 practices and offseason conditioning can be put to good use.
“We’d like to continue moving forward,” Chesnut said.
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