Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest Completes Fifth Preseason Practice
8/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
TwitterAug. 11, 2011
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest completed its fifth practice of the season Thursday evening at the Doc Martin Football Complex, with the session marking the first time the players have worn full pads.
"We gassed out a little quicker than we normally would. For some reason the guys have it in their head that when the full pads are on it becomes hotter and harder and you get tired easier. I don't think any of that is the case, but we were a little more sluggish today," said head coach Jim Grobe.
Thursday's practice was also the first time that practice was not held under the lights, making the heat a factor for the Demon Deacons.
"We've had four practices under the lights, so this was our first practice in the heat. I liked the way our kids practiced. They were tired and they were sweating a lot, but we did a good job playing hard and running into each other," said Grobe. "It was a pretty physical, hot practice, and I thought our guys pushed through it hard."
The heat may have forced some mental mistakes during parts of practice, but Grobe noted that this group has been very good at staying engaged in practice when not in the drill and coaching each other from the sidelines.
"We always try to have our guys who are not in pay attention. We want them talking all the time about what they are seeing. We've got our coaching staff, but then we also have our players who are not on the field coaching each other," said Grobe. "We've got a good group that likes to talk about assignments and help each other break down the reasons we might have made a mistake. It's a good learning environment."
Grobe was extremely pleased with his corps of wide receivers who endured several repetitions throughout the hot conditions.
"I like the way our wide receivers are practicing. That's not only because I think Lonnie Galloway is doing a great job with them, but we're running those guys to death," said Grobe. "We're throwing them a lot of balls and not just a lot of possession balls. We're throwing them deep balls, too. They're having to suck it up pretty good right now, so I'm pleased with how the receivers are hanging in there."
Aside from any particular position, Grobe continues to be impressed with the freshmen, who are performing well at an early stage of the season.
"Our freshmen, at times, don't look like freshmen when you're watching them out on the field. They just look like the rest of the team. It's probably as good of a group as I've seen, as far as the first four or five days of practice is concerned," said Grobe.
Friday will provide the Wake Forest football team with another test, as the Deacs gear up for their first double-session. The first practice is slated to begin at 9:30 a.m., while the second session will begin at 5 p.m. Both practices will be at the Doc Martin complex on campus.
