Bucknell University Athletics
Football Holds Final Practice Session of Spring
4/24/2015 10:05:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The 15th and final practice of the spring was Friday evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for the Bucknell football team. Instead of having a traditional spring game to conclude the season, the Bison took to the field in a more practice-like setting.
Bucknell players started emerging from the locker room shortly before 6 p.m. on a chilly and breezy evening to participate in a normal pregame warmup session. About an hour later they lined up on the sideline for the National Anthem and some post-spring awards.
Four team awards were presented with OL Julie'n Davenport being named Most Improved Offensive Player, DL Nick Craven earning Most Improved Defensive Player and K John Burdick being recognized as the Most Improved Special Teams Player. Additionally, LB Mark Pyles was named the Strength and Conditioning MVP.
Following the awards, head coach Joe Susan announced the two team captains for the 2015 season: Davenport and S Louis Taglianetti.
“Julie'n got two recognitions today,” noted Susan. “Having a junior as a captain means a lot. It says a lot about how people feel about him. His play has come a long way. It's amazing to see how far Tags has come. He is a really good player. We have the right guys as captains. Captains have to be conduits between the team and the coaches and both those guys are going to take charge, but the team has to have more than just two leaders.”
With more than 300 potential recruits and their families in the stands as part of an organized junior day, Bucknell then began a fast-paced practice that lasted approximately 90 minutes. The session included seven-on-seven and kicking work as well as a number of scrimmage situations with officials.
“We turned the ball over too much,” mentioned Susan following practice. “Our defense is still ahead of our offense. The ability to establish a run game gives you a chance to get your play-action concepts going. I don't think we established the run game. We are a much better run team than we showed.
“Ultimately when we get the guys that should be playing healthy we should be OK. The reps Joey DeFloria got this spring are important. It will be interesting to see the competition for the second-team quarterback because Jack Horan is a pretty good thrower. The center position is up in the air. The left guard position is up in the air. Those are the questions we come out of spring not having answered due to some injuries.”
Overall Susan was pleased with how the Bison performed throughout the spring.
“I thought we got a lot out of the spring,” said Susan. “We got what we needed from a schematic standpoint both offensively and defensively. We did minimal special teams work. We focused primarily on PAT/field goal/punt. We took a step in what we are doing defensively with our pressure schemes.”
Bucknell, which is coming off an 8-3 season and a second-place finish in the Patriot League, will open its 2015 season with back-to-back home games Sept. 5 (vs. Marist) and Sept. 12 (vs. Duquesne).
