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Optimism abounds as ASU kicks off football practice
By CORY CLARK
cclark@paragoulddailypress.com
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University head football coach Steve Roberts and the rest of the Red Wolves met the media on Monday at the annual ASU football media day.
Roberts said that despite having to replace some key losses on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield he has high hopes for the 2008 season.
“I’m very excited about the 2008 year,” Roberts said.
According to Roberts, the ASU football program is built on a foundation of three main objectives.
They are giving great effort academically, presenting a positive image through conduct and putting in the preparation it takes to win.
In those areas, Roberts said this year’s version of the Red Wolves has shown they are committed to those ideals.
“I’m excited about this football team and their commitment to those three things,” he said.
Roberts said he likes this time of year because optimism abounds throughout every college football program in the country.
“Obviously every coach in the country in college football right now is undefeated and optimistic,” he said. “But there is still a whole lot of work to be done before we can project how the team is going to turn out.”
With a returning quarterback in junior Corey Leonard and 1,000-yard rusher Reggie Arnold, to go with returning defensive line standouts like defensive ends Brian Flagg and Alex Carrington, Roberts said he is anticipating the start of the season as much as he ever has in his seven years at ASU.
“I can tell you I am as excited as I’ve ever been going into a season with the football team we have and the product we are going to put on the field,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of experience coming back in key positions offensively, defensively and in the special teams.”
Heading into fall practice, Paragould native and Greene County Tech graduate Jeff Blake, a sophomore, is the number one fullback on the Red Wolf offensive depth chart, according to Roberts.
Two key areas for the Red Wolves are along the offensive line where four starters are needed and in the defensive backfield where all four starters will have to be replaced.
Roberts said though the Red Wolves will have to replace a lot of players in those two areas, the competition for playing time should make the team better in the long run.
Along the O-line, Roberts said up to 10 players are competing for playing time.
“We’ve had more competition at that position than we’ve had in any year since 2005 when we also had to replace four starters,” he said.
In the secondary, Roberts said though the starters are gone from last season, most of the players who are taking their spots have playing experience.
“I’m not throwing in the towel on our secondary,” he said. “I am very excited about our secondary heading into 2008.”
The Red Wolves opened practice Monday and will have 25 practices before their opening contest on the road Aug 30, vs. Texas A&M.
Roberts said the 2008 schedule, which also features a road game at Alabama on Nov. 1, will be a challenging one for the Red Wolves.
“Obviously we have a very tough schedule ahead of us again,” he said.
Six of the Red Wolves last seven games will come on the road, and Roberts said his team will have to play well on the road in order to have a successful season.
The team took the practice fields in shorts and shoulder pads as an entire team, but the next three practices will be split into two sessions with the veteran players in one group and most of the newcomers in the other.
Roberts said that despite having to replace some key losses on the offensive line and in the defensive backfield he has high hopes for the 2008 season.
“I’m very excited about the 2008 year,” Roberts said.
According to Roberts, the ASU football program is built on a foundation of three main objectives.
They are giving great effort academically, presenting a positive image through conduct and putting in the preparation it takes to win.
In those areas, Roberts said this year’s version of the Red Wolves has shown they are committed to those ideals.
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Roberts said he likes this time of year because optimism abounds throughout every college football program in the country.
“Obviously every coach in the country in college football right now is undefeated and optimistic,” he said. “But there is still a whole lot of work to be done before we can project how the team is going to turn out.”
With a returning quarterback in junior Corey Leonard and 1,000-yard rusher Reggie Arnold, to go with returning defensive line standouts like defensive ends Brian Flagg and Alex Carrington, Roberts said he is anticipating the start of the season as much as he ever has in his seven years at ASU.
“I can tell you I am as excited as I’ve ever been going into a season with the football team we have and the product we are going to put on the field,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of experience coming back in key positions offensively, defensively and in the special teams.”
Heading into fall practice, Paragould native and Greene County Tech graduate Jeff Blake, a sophomore, is the number one fullback on the Red Wolf offensive depth chart, according to Roberts.
Two key areas for the Red Wolves are along the offensive line where four starters are needed and in the defensive backfield where all four starters will have to be replaced.
Roberts said though the Red Wolves will have to replace a lot of players in those two areas, the competition for playing time should make the team better in the long run.
Along the O-line, Roberts said up to 10 players are competing for playing time.
“We’ve had more competition at that position than we’ve had in any year since 2005 when we also had to replace four starters,” he said.
In the secondary, Roberts said though the starters are gone from last season, most of the players who are taking their spots have playing experience.
“I’m not throwing in the towel on our secondary,” he said. “I am very excited about our secondary heading into 2008.”
The Red Wolves opened practice Monday and will have 25 practices before their opening contest on the road Aug 30, vs. Texas A&M.
Roberts said the 2008 schedule, which also features a road game at Alabama on Nov. 1, will be a challenging one for the Red Wolves.
“Obviously we have a very tough schedule ahead of us again,” he said.
Six of the Red Wolves last seven games will come on the road, and Roberts said his team will have to play well on the road in order to have a successful season.
The team took the practice fields in shorts and shoulder pads as an entire team, but the next three practices will be split into two sessions with the veteran players in one group and most of the newcomers in the other.
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