July 22, 2016 at 5:02 p.m.
Hodags go to camp
Gridders use four-day session to prep for season
Hodags go to camp
The Hodags wrapped up a four-day team camp Thursday, which third-year coach Chris Ferge said was well-attended. More than 50 players showed up for at least some of the varsity camp while he said the middle school numbers were in the 30s.
"We've made it an emphasis to our kids that we want to play as many kids as we possibly can," he said. "When we practice, we're going to make sure that we have ones against ones and twos against twos. Competition is going to be at a premium, no matter what, this year. It's made practice a lot of fun so far."
No major changes are expected in the offensive or defensive philosophies this fall and Ferge said the camp was a way for players to refresh their knowledge of the team concepts while working on their individual positions.
"There's always some new things that we are talking about, but really it is about making sure that we have all of our drills down, that we understand what we are doing for stretching, that we understand how we are huddling, that we understand how we line up, that we understand our formations, that we understand our blitzes, that we understand our coverages," he said. "Communication, alignment, making sure we take care of crossing our Ts and dotting our Is."
"(I'm) just really excited to be around the guys and it's great to have that intensity and to be around the team," Ferge added. "It's always a blessing around the guys and it's been real fun so far."
Practice Tuesday, for instance, started out with players being broke into two groups - linemen and backs/receivers - to work on individual skills. Following a water break, one of many as heat indices pushed into the 90s, the teams were back in their individual groups, doing more skill work.
"It's always a lot more indie (individual sessions) the first few practices to make sure we have our positions down as far as technique and formation," Ferge said. "Then we bring it together and talk about team concepts that we worked out during indie. It's really important that we get the drills that are going to be lasting throughout the year, that we talk to the kids why they are doing something. They need to know what they are getting better at. There isn't a drill that any of us do that doesn't have a reason for it. We want to build off those skills each day."
The camp is the culmination of the team's summer offseason program which included weight room sessions, open field practices and a 7-on-7 passing league. The Hodags battled Lakeland, Tomahawk and Northland Pines on Thursdays during the summer in the passing league and took part in a 7-on-7 tournament last month in Wausau.
"I feel our guys really understand our offense," Ferge said of his biggest takeaway from the summer program. "They understand what they are supposed to do with their route. They understand space. Our quarterbacks coverages. They understand how to move safeties with their eyes. Everyone's just doing a much better job of understanding the offense. When they understand the offense, they're able to play faster and I saw more people contributing this year than I have in the past and I think that's due to our attitude and how we're giving guys more chances. More underclassmen are competing at a higher level earlier and our older guys, on the same hand, are taking time to mentor them and make them better, which I'm proud of."
Next week is a week off for the Hodags. Football equipment will be handed out Monday, Aug. 1 and the first practice of the fall will take place the next day. The team will scrimmage at Crandon Aug. 12 and open the regular season a week later with a non-conference game against Prescott at Mike Webster Stadium.
"A lot of these kids have been lifting weights and working hard, in multiple sports, during the summer," Ferge said. "It's nice to have that week to relax and get ready for our football season. It's a great time, but a very busy time for them and I want them totally committed and refreshed to do that."
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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