When comparing his first spring practice at Banks County High School to his second, Leopard head coach Blair Armstrong said there was a big difference.
The players were more accustomed to Armstrong’s overall methods and what the coaching staff expected from them. As a result, things ran much smoother the second time around.
“Offensively compared to last year we were light years ahead,” the coach said Sunday after breaking down the spring scrimmage.
Chuck Hudson will be the new offensive coordinator for BCHS, but he has worked with Armstrong for several years and was the offensive line coach for the Leopards this past season.
“Our offense is going to change a little, but our overall blocking schemes will be the same,” Armstrong said. “We will have a new quarterback and that is something we will have to work on before the start of the new season.”
Alex Banks, who was the starter for the junior varsity in 2007, took plenty of snaps in spring drills. Chris Porter and Brett Armour only recently joined the football team following the completion of baseball season. Despite missing several of the members of the baseball team for some of spring practice, Armstrong said overall things went well.
“We didn’t do a lot of fancy things this spring,” Armstrong said. “We kept things pretty simple. In the spring game we had a few offensive penalties including a holding call. When you are working with three different quarterbacks then things like that are going to happen.”
BCHS will have a new defensive coordinator in Paul Hoch, who arrives from Peachtree Ridge. The new coordinator worked with Armstrong at Peachtree Ridge and helped the program win state in 2006.
“Defensively, we did well this spring considering the short amount of time we had to work,” Armstrong said. “We will have a new scheme so that means a learning curve. We do have several returning players on defense. I also thought our younger players stepped in and did well defensively.”
Cody Gowder, Matthew Patton, Billy Pinson and Demetric Dempson each played well at lineback this spring, the head coach said.
Armstrong has just about put the finishing touches on his coaching staff for 2008. Hudson will be the offensive coordinator and continue to oversee the offensive line. Jason Armstrong will work with the wide receivers while Armstrong will handle the running backs.
Jeff Ravencraft will once again help with the offensive line.
Hoch will be the defensive coordinator and work with the inside linebackers. Tony Bowen will coach the defensive line with Jerry Williams working with the defensive ends.
Brandon Worley will help with the outside linebackers and assist with the running backs. Newcomer Tyson Baxter will assist with the defensive backs.
BCHS recently lost two assistant coaches from its 2007 staff as Eric Bona stepped down to take a position at Franklin County and Jay Reid resigned to move to Jackson County. Bona had been at BCHS for one season while Reid had worked with the program for the past two seasons.
Leopard players will now begin summer workouts.
