mikebigg
August 11th, 2006, 06:15 AM
Holding the line: Grambling front hopes to once again overcome loss to key player, assistant coach
By Nick Deriso
[email protected]
GRAMBLING — Grambling State enters these practice sessions missing last year's most dynamic defender and adjusting to a new line coach.
Talk about summer reruns.
Last season, the defense assembled without Kenneth Pettway, drafted in the seventh round by the Houston Texans. Former Virginia prep coach Darnell Wall was overseeing things.
This year, Jason Hatcher is gone to the Dallas Cowboys, taken in the third round of last spring's NFL Draft. Brett Beard, a standout lineman at Vanderbilt and Southeastern Louisiana, is coaching the line.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060811/SPORTS/608110345/1006
Another good article by Deriso... Man, you gotta love (especially if you're an ICON fan) the coverage that Nick gives to the Tigers. Some interesting quotes from the Coaching staff:
"It boils down to the rotation, and having the athletes to do that," said GSU coach Melvin Spears. "We have been bringing in big, fast guys. With that kind of talent, it makes it easier to transition after losing talented players like Jason Hatcher, and Kenny Pettway."
Beard's attitude — there's an intensity matched only by attention to technique — has already begun to trickle down
"We've got to be hard, got to be fast, got to be vicious," he said during drills on Thursday, steadily encouraging not just the starters but the backups and third-stringers, too.
By Nick Deriso
[email protected]
GRAMBLING — Grambling State enters these practice sessions missing last year's most dynamic defender and adjusting to a new line coach.
Talk about summer reruns.
Last season, the defense assembled without Kenneth Pettway, drafted in the seventh round by the Houston Texans. Former Virginia prep coach Darnell Wall was overseeing things.
This year, Jason Hatcher is gone to the Dallas Cowboys, taken in the third round of last spring's NFL Draft. Brett Beard, a standout lineman at Vanderbilt and Southeastern Louisiana, is coaching the line.
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060811/SPORTS/608110345/1006
Another good article by Deriso... Man, you gotta love (especially if you're an ICON fan) the coverage that Nick gives to the Tigers. Some interesting quotes from the Coaching staff:
"It boils down to the rotation, and having the athletes to do that," said GSU coach Melvin Spears. "We have been bringing in big, fast guys. With that kind of talent, it makes it easier to transition after losing talented players like Jason Hatcher, and Kenny Pettway."
Beard's attitude — there's an intensity matched only by attention to technique — has already begun to trickle down
"We've got to be hard, got to be fast, got to be vicious," he said during drills on Thursday, steadily encouraging not just the starters but the backups and third-stringers, too.