About a month into summer offseason workouts, Minden Head Coach Spencer Heard is pleased with the progress his team is making.
In addition to regular practices three days a week, weightlifting and speed work, the Crimson Tide have been playing 7-on-7 games each Thursday against Airline and Lakeside.
The first games were June 15 at Airline. Last week, Haynesville joined the three teams at Lakeside. The next games are set for Thursday at Minden.
While the games are certainly competitive, the outcome isn’t what’s important. Developing skills that will help win games in the fall is the main purpose.
Of course, 7-on-7 is all passing so it mainly helps develop timing between quarterbacks and receivers. Defensive backs also hone coverage techniques.
“It’s been good,” Heard said. “I feel like we’re getting good work. I think it’s really good especially for our defensive backs because they have to try to cover for such an extended period of time. There’s definitely been some progress in that area.”
Minden has a new starting quarterback in rising junior Hudson Brown, son of Minden head boys basketball coach Jacob Brown, himself a former Tide quarterback.
“We’ve got a young quarterback,” Heard said. “He’s getting a lot of looks, different schematic looks, but also just getting used to our scheme in terms of knowing where guys are and kind of getting comfortable with the receivers.
“It’s good to get Hudson those reps. He’s showing he’s got the ability for sure.”
Rising senior Jakobe Jackson, one of the area’s best athletes, was the starting quarterback last year and will likely see some action at the position again. But Jackson will mainly be used as a slot receiver and safety.
“He’s definitely our most explosive player,” Heard said.
Heard said he couldn’t pinpoint just one receiver or defensive back who’s stood out.
“I think they’re all just working hard,” he said.
The 7-on-7 games are especially beneficial to the young players.
“One of the things we try to do too with the 7-on-7 stuff is just have a lot of guys get reps,” Heard said. “Young guys, just kind of throw them out there and see what they can do
“Some of the young ones get out there and they do some positive things but then they get beat and make mistakes but that’s how they learn. I definitely saw a progression from the first 7-on-7 to the second one. Hopefully it just keeps getting better as the summer wears on.”
Minden is playing in a 7-on-7 tournament in El Dorado, Ark., on July 12.
The official start of fall practice for teams that had spring practice is Aug. 7. The Crimson Tide opens the season Sept. 2 at Parkway.