ETSU has first fall practice in full pads

East Tennessee State football coach Will Healy and his staff had plenty to dissect after Wednesday's first fall practice in full pads. Healy was generally positive, but he brought some fire when talking to the team at the end of practice. There was plenty to be positive about, but he didn't like how the team responded after mistakes. "We got to work some really good situations, things that win or lose football games, and there were some really good things," Healy said. "I thought it's good for our play callers both to get back in that mindset, and our players need to take every rep seriously. I don't think our sense of urgency is where it needs to be. We mess up and it's just okay. It's got to be a game-like rep. That's the only way we're going to prepare ourselves for the game." Healy was pleased with a lot of the execution, with a pretty even battle of the offense and defense. But, the coach was angry about how practice ended on a sour note during a four-minute drill. It was one of those things coaches preach on how games are lost. "We have a personal foul penalty at the end of a four-minute drill when we've gotten a stop and we're going to get the ball back," he said. "Instead, we're undisciplined and we punch a guy in the face, and it's a free first down. I mean that loses football games." Starting quarterback is still up in the air on with Louisville transfer Mason Mims taking the majority of snaps with the first-team offense. Michigan transfer Jadyn Davis also had his good moments as did Jake McNamara, the returner from last year's 7-5 team. One shining part of the practice was how well the offense performed in 3rd-and-short yardage situations. "I thought the offense looked good in those situations," Healy said. "You're going to go through a two-hour practice and you're going to say, 'Man, I love this, I love this, and ooh, that's not good.' No practice is going to look perfect. The problem is we end a practice where we're not focused enough on our assignment, and we're not emotionally disciplined enough to make good decisions when the game's on the line." Overall, the seven practices in fall camp have been good according to the coach. He was pleased how the quarterbacks looked Wednesday and feels it could be down to two quarterbacks after Saturday evening's scrimmage. It's harder to evaluate at other spots, particularly defensive backs where some guys have been banged up. But, Healy really likes what he's seen with the offensive and defensive lines. He believes the team is more physical than last year's squad. "We're running better, and we're getting to the ball faster," he said. "This rugby tackle stuff has gotten really big, and you're able to use some pads and get reps of that during the offseason. So, I expect us to be a better tackling football team." Like many coaches, Healy is anticipating the start of the season, but in another sense anxious about how close it is. The Bucs host Campbell in the season opener August 29 at Greene Stadium. Whoever the quarterback is, there are options at receiver. Brandon Winton made a spectacular grab in the corner of the end zone near the end of practice. It was right after tight end Charlie Browder made a tough catch over the middle. "Brandon Winton, he's really impressed me," Healy said. "Trey Weary has been great. Tyler Griffin and Tommy Winton are really good players. We have Suderian (Harrison) and Xavier (Galliardetz) back. I think we have nine wideouts that we can go win with, and somebody like Charlie from a target perspective is a big addition. I like that group."