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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Kick Off Spring Practice
3/7/2005 | Football
March 7, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ed Orgeron era of practice drills began Monday afternoon with a two-and-a-half hour practice in helmets and shorts at the indoor practice facility out of the heavy rain, amidst a large group of fans and media.
"(Practice) was a little better than what I expected. I think we were really well organized. Our teams knew what to do. We got a lot of offense and defense in, and we had a couple of mistakes, which I expected," said Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron.
Monday was the first full practice for the new Orgeron staff, and it was evident that fans and players alike were still adjusting to the fast pace of practice and the new coaching styles.
"I think they got a little taste of it in offseason workouts, but they didn't have anything like today, and today they understood what we want. Now we have to show them where they are making their mistakes, but overall I think we're on our way," Orgeron said.
The up-tempo practice included a variety of fundamental offensive, defensive and special teams drills, along with some running of basic plays and formations.
This season looks to offer many transitions, including who will be starting come fall and who will be getting playing time. Orgeron has said the depth chart is "etched in sand," so spring practice will give opportunities to every player, including last year's three different quarterbacks Ethan Flatt, Michael Spurlock and Robert Lane, to prove what they can do.
Orgeron continues to encourage fans to watch the spring practices, which continue with another day of helmets and shorts on Wednesday, followed by full pads on Friday and a scrimmage on Saturday.
"I think it's good for our players to see them, I think it's good for them to see us and get to know us a little bit and I think it's going to take a total involvement to get done what we want to get done," Orgeron said.
Spring practice concludes with the annual Red-Blue "Grove Bowl" game, Saturday, April 9.
