Aug. 10, 2005
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State football team held its second straight day of split practices Wednesday at the Aztecs' on-campus training facility. Returnees and newcomers alike ran through a number of both individual and team drills with the two workouts running from an hour and a half in the evening to a slightly longer session in the morning.
Quoting Aztec Head Coach Tom Craft Following The Morning Session:
On the offensive line:
"We are starting to formulate a group of guys who are starting to work together pretty consistently with Chris Pino, Taylor Schmidt, center Jasper Harvey, (Brandyn) Dombrowski at guard and then there is a pretty good battle between (Mike) Kravetz and (Eric) Rouser. We are looking at Rob Nelson at left guard. I think we have a pretty cohesive unit that is learning to work together with some depth where we don't feel like we're going to juggle people around."
On senior wide receiver Jeff Webb's decision not to enter the NFL draft last year:
"That (was) totally up to Jeff. That is not my place to make that decision for him, that is his decision. I think he can benefit from this year. There is always a risk of injury, but you don't play this game with that idea. If that is your mindset, you should not play football. I think he can benefit and still learn. I think he realizes that he needed to come back, (because) it's good for him. He can graduate, too. There are so many pluses in coming back. He's in that situation where it's a better opportunity for him and he realizes that. Either way, we support him and he knows that. It was the same way with (linebacker) Matt McCoy and he knew that too."
On tight end Eric Miclot bouncing back from an off-season injury:
"He really has (bounced back from injury). I think he is a lot more confident now for two reasons. Number one, he had a torn labrum and for a tight end that is a serious injury, but I am impressed with his toughness and being able to play with that (injury). Second of all, he is not only getting more accustomed to the speed of the game, but also, the person he is playing next to. There was a new tackle (there) every other week (last season) that (he had to) play with, making it tough to communicate because you don't know what he is going to do and you're a little hesitant. You're hesitant because of who you are playing with and you're hesitant because it's the first time that you've played at this level and at this speed. He had to deal with so many parameters at that position that it affected his play. You can see a real noticeable confidence in him now and he is healthy. He is going to get confident with whom he plays with because that is going to be a fairly stable and consistent player there."
On moving offensive lineman Robert Nelson from tackle to guard:
"He doesn't have to work in that big of a space when he is at guard. When you're at tackle, you have to work in a much larger space. I think playing inside will be more suited for him and he obviously is a presence in there. He is going to be involved with the field goal team, too, with his long arms. He has got some real pluses and then he's got some things where we have to play into his strengths and not necessarily play him at a spot where there could be a weakness. I think it is going to be a good move for him to compete inside at guard.
Upcoming Practice Schedule
The Aztecs have one more day of split-squad practices Thursday, before reuniting for one team workout Friday morning in full pads. Friday's practice will be followed by SDSU's first two-a-day session on Saturday.
Thursday, Aug. 11 - split practice at 8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Friday, Aug. 12 - full pads practice at 8:45 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 13 - two-a-day practice at 8:45 a.m. (full pads) and at 4 p.m. (half pads)