The Vandals' 10-game unbeaten streak has finally come to an end, but they are not letting it get them down. Instead, they are focusing on improvement each day.
The team has been working hard on their defense, with defensive coordinator Lee Stalker implementing a 3-3-5 base and mixing in 4-2-5 packages for situational football. "I think it's night and day," Stalker said of the team's communication, which has improved rapidly from Day 1 to Day 4. "I think it's a lot of just comfortability. It's a formation rep."
Two transfers, Deion Gunn and Luke Teskey, have stood out in the defensive backfield and defensive end positions respectively. Teskey was awarded the "Battle Axe" award for the best individual performance at practice. "So far, learning new types of styles of defense, playing a true multiple defense front versus a normal 4-3 type," Teskey said of what he's improved on. "It's a big learning curve, but it's a great learning experience."
Offensively, the Vandals are playing faster, thanks to a better understanding of offensive coordinator Ian Shoemaker's vision. Coach Thomas Ford Jr. said that with better feel comes more confidence, and more confidence gives the opportunity to play faster. "I think the last three days have really been, especially offensively, a much higher level in terms of the execution, still (with) plenty of mistakes being made everywhere," Ford said.
The Vandals are also dealing with a position battle at kicker, with three players vying for the No. 1 spot. Tyler Kinsman, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior, is one of the top contenders, alongside Owen Forsman and Owen Adams. "Owen Forsman and Tyler Kinsman have really kind of shown themselves as kind of battling back-and-forth for the place kicking job," Ford said.
The Vandals are still in the midst of fall camp, and it's clear that they are focused on improvement. As the staff member's T-shirt read, "Doesn't Matter, Get Better." The team's motto for the season is to get better each and every day, and it seems they are taking it to heart.
The Vandals will continue to work on their skills and strategies as they head into the season. With a new defense and a position battle at kicker, it will be interesting to see how they develop and improve.
Source: Yahoo Sports
