Chandler football coach Rick Garretson shouts to another group across the field, "Make sure you're spread out."
This is Day 1 of Phase 1, the first day of summer workouts for the defending Open Division state champions, who spent the spring piling up college football offers.
Garretson broke the varsity workouts Monday morning into two groups: offense and defense.
While the offense was under a tent, lifting weights, the defense was on the field, spread out doing football-like simulation work.
After an hour, the groups changed sides.
"I think the biggest thing is that they're back on campus," said Garretson, whose team ran the table last season, going 13-0. "We know the top priority is safety, and following CUSD COVID-19 guidelines."
The Chandler Unified School District allowed for its schools to begin work in their sports Monday with the first phase comprised of smaller groups, no ball, and social distancing of more than 10 feet.
This will be a nine-day first phase. There will be another phase, before the third phase starting at the end of the month comprising of 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work.
"We are going to get everything we can acclimated to what we can in the game of football," Garretson said. "This is kind of a reconditioning period those first nine days. No football going through drills like this and the idea of what tackling is without tackling."
Quarterback Mikey Keene, who has added 20 pounds of muscle since leading the Wolves to their fourth consecutive championship, was happy just to be back on the field even if he couldn't throw a ball.
"The main thing that I missed was the camaraderie, the brotherhood," Keene said. "I missed my guys. I'm happy to get out here with all of them."
No rush.
Keene has been throwing on his own during the down time anyway.
"Getting the conditioning back is the main thing, because we're a tempo team," Keene said. "We play with speed, so getting that speed back up, is key."
Not everybody had the same amenities at home to train, so having everybody together was the most important thing.
"It's been tough," Keene said. "Some people weren't able to adapt as easily. Getting everybody on the same page and condition back up is great."
Chandler lost some key offensive linemen from last season. But the Wolves still have plenty to find in the trenches and they're loaded at just about every position, especially at receiver.
Jalen Richmond, Quaron Adams, Nason Coleman, Kyion Grayes and Eli Swope are receivers who all have picked up college football offers even with spring football wiped out by coronavirus.
"I think we're going to be firing on all cylinders," Richmond said."It's a great group. We got a lot of experience last year."
Richmond, who had 41 catches for 725 yards and nine TDs last season, worked with Keene a couple of times a week during the spring, along with Grayes, who had 48 catches for 883 yards and six TDs last year.
"If you're not performing, there's always a guy behind you," Richmond said. "Everyone is working their hardest, trying to move up to the next level."
Same with the running backs. Last year, even splitting time, Dae Dae Hunter basically carried the Wolves to the title. He has graduated and will be off to Hawaii to start his college career.
But ready to step in with bigger roles are Eli Sanders and Nicolas Nesbitt.
The defense is stacked at all three layers with defensive end and recent Oregon commit Brandon Buckner back and fully healthy after missing some of last season with an injury.
"We're on a mission to get ready for August 21st so that we'll be ready to go," Buckner said.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today
"football" - Google News
June 10, 2020 at 02:49AM
https://ift.tt/3cMkHcg
Defending state champion Chandler cautiously returns to football field - AZCentral
"football" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2ST7s35
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Defending state champion Chandler cautiously returns to football field - AZCentral"
Posting Komentar