Texas State running back Marcus Curry, who rushed for 637 yards on 127 carries with three touchdowns last season, and the rest of his Bobcat teammates began full-pad workouts Friday and scrimmaged Monday as they prepare for their season opener September 1 at the University of Houston. Texas State’s first home game at the renovated Bobcat Stadium is September 8 against Texas Tech University at 6 p.m. (Photo Courtesy of Texas State University)
STAFF REPORTS
The Texas State football team practiced in full pads for the first time on Friday morning, having installed more than 80 percent of its offensive and defensive schemes for the 2012 season that opens on Sept. 1 at Houston.
“There are some new wrinkles and adjustments, but we have thrown a lot at them and the absorption has been pretty good,” head coach Dennis Franchione said. “They are not just blocking one front on offense, and they are defending a lot of things on defense. Production-wise, we are a little spotty, but for what we have thrown at them, we are a lot further along than we were last year after four workouts.”
Texas State also held its first scrimmage on Monday.
Last season, it took Franchione and his staff the entire first month of the season to put in as much of the offensive and defensive systems as they have been able to install during the first week of practice this week.
“We will add a few periods where we tackle a little bit, but it won’t be much different,” Franchione said. “We want to enter the season as healthy as we can. That way we can watch it on film and correct any mistakes they are making in those situations.”
Franchione is hoping that his team can maintain their focus during the summer workout sessions.
“I hope that we take care of the football, don’t have too many penalties, don’t miss too many tackles and have a resemblance of our assignments in live situations,” Franchione said. “It may not be crisp, because we have so much offense and defense installed, so that may make them a little edgy.”
