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Big Green Wrap Up Second Week of Spring Practice
4/13/2024 5:32:00 PM | Football
Check out some of the highlights from this week below
HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team has wrapped up its second week of spring football practice, as the defending Ivy League Champion Big Green begin their quest for another title in the fall of 2024. The first two weeks of practice consisted of three helmet-only practices and three practices with full pads.
"A big focus has been on communication," said Wendy Laurent, associate head coach and tight ends coach. "We have a bunch of guys who are going to have to step up, and we need to make sure we're communicating and creating leadership on the offensive side of the ball. Also tempo, keeping the tempo and using that to our advantage. Making sure we're the best-conditioned group and that we feel confident we can do our assignments and stay assignment-sound deep into the fourth quarter."
Spring is also a critical time for installing the playbook because of all the young players who are getting more experience and playing time. Points of emphasis include attention to detail, a sense of urgency and max accountability at all times.
"We're off to a great start defensively," said Don Dobes, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. "We've got a great group of guys, a lot of energy, a lot of juice, flying around making things happen. Up front, Josiah Greene has been terrific. Derrell Porter is really coming along.
"Backer wise, really impressed with Zyion Freer-Brown and Danny Cronin in the secondary," Dobes continues. "Good job all along by Sean Williams and Patrick Campbell, Jordan Washington and other guys."
With the graduation of Nick Howard, the quarterback position will look a bit different in 2024. But Jackson Proctor returns, who threw for 716 yards in seven games last season.
"Proctor is doing a great job," said Laurent. "He's definitely stepped up a lot as a leader, moving well in the offense. I would also highlight a guy like Jackson Gerard as well on the perimeter as a receiver. He's a bigger guy, he's moving well making plays for us and he's looking good. Those two guys really have stuck out tremendously so far with the confidence they're developing."
Sean Ward and D.J. Crowther also came to mind for Laurent.
"They're guys who will definitely have to step up for us and are primed to," said Laurent. "They had a great offseason and have been working hard coming into this camp. You could tell in the offseason, they came with the mission to prove themselves, help our team and contribute."
Meanwhile, Dobes brought up the younger players on defense as his biggest surprises.
"Surprise wise, it's always the younger guys," he said. "Thaddeus Gianaris, Patrick Campbell and Jamal Cooper are doing a terrific job for us."
The spring is all about building a strong base foundation, then keep growing and developing from there.
"We pride ourselves on being the best technique and fundamental team in the country, so we work hard at that," said Dobes. "Violent hands and a lot of energy. Running our butts off to the football. Pursuit is where we hang our hat."
Spring practices allow coaches to begin forming those identities as the focus is internal, rather than looking ahead to the upcoming opponent as they must do during the season.
"In spring practice, you have a lot more time to make adjustments," said defensive backs coach Aashon Larkins. "In the fall, everything is directed and there's less time to get things done."
"During the season, we're a little more focused on our opponent and getting more specific about what we're going to see over the weekend," said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin Daft. "Spring practice is a great time or a lot of guys to get reps, work through kinks and work on fundamentals."
The team is off from practice next week, but has two weeks of practice leading into the spring game on Saturday, May 4.
"A big focus has been on communication," said Wendy Laurent, associate head coach and tight ends coach. "We have a bunch of guys who are going to have to step up, and we need to make sure we're communicating and creating leadership on the offensive side of the ball. Also tempo, keeping the tempo and using that to our advantage. Making sure we're the best-conditioned group and that we feel confident we can do our assignments and stay assignment-sound deep into the fourth quarter."
Spring is also a critical time for installing the playbook because of all the young players who are getting more experience and playing time. Points of emphasis include attention to detail, a sense of urgency and max accountability at all times.
"We're off to a great start defensively," said Don Dobes, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. "We've got a great group of guys, a lot of energy, a lot of juice, flying around making things happen. Up front, Josiah Greene has been terrific. Derrell Porter is really coming along.
"Backer wise, really impressed with Zyion Freer-Brown and Danny Cronin in the secondary," Dobes continues. "Good job all along by Sean Williams and Patrick Campbell, Jordan Washington and other guys."
With the graduation of Nick Howard, the quarterback position will look a bit different in 2024. But Jackson Proctor returns, who threw for 716 yards in seven games last season.
"Proctor is doing a great job," said Laurent. "He's definitely stepped up a lot as a leader, moving well in the offense. I would also highlight a guy like Jackson Gerard as well on the perimeter as a receiver. He's a bigger guy, he's moving well making plays for us and he's looking good. Those two guys really have stuck out tremendously so far with the confidence they're developing."
Sean Ward and D.J. Crowther also came to mind for Laurent.
"They're guys who will definitely have to step up for us and are primed to," said Laurent. "They had a great offseason and have been working hard coming into this camp. You could tell in the offseason, they came with the mission to prove themselves, help our team and contribute."
Meanwhile, Dobes brought up the younger players on defense as his biggest surprises.
"Surprise wise, it's always the younger guys," he said. "Thaddeus Gianaris, Patrick Campbell and Jamal Cooper are doing a terrific job for us."
The spring is all about building a strong base foundation, then keep growing and developing from there.
"We pride ourselves on being the best technique and fundamental team in the country, so we work hard at that," said Dobes. "Violent hands and a lot of energy. Running our butts off to the football. Pursuit is where we hang our hat."
Spring practices allow coaches to begin forming those identities as the focus is internal, rather than looking ahead to the upcoming opponent as they must do during the season.
"In spring practice, you have a lot more time to make adjustments," said defensive backs coach Aashon Larkins. "In the fall, everything is directed and there's less time to get things done."
"During the season, we're a little more focused on our opponent and getting more specific about what we're going to see over the weekend," said offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin Daft. "Spring practice is a great time or a lot of guys to get reps, work through kinks and work on fundamentals."
The team is off from practice next week, but has two weeks of practice leading into the spring game on Saturday, May 4.
Take an inside look at spring @DartmouthFTBL camp, which is almost finished week two!#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/Gp4IKD42aD
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) April 12, 2024
Another day of spring @DartmouthFTBL in the books! ✅#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/HQvwaom8U5
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) April 13, 2024
Ending the first half of Spring Ball on top‼️#TheWoods pic.twitter.com/0SOdRAx40P
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 13, 2024
All about the fundamentals‼️#TheWoods pic.twitter.com/pyXUuLZzSj
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 12, 2024
Golden hour + 60° weather = a great time for some football#TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/5JM4KnX45g
— Dartmouth Athletics (@dartmouthsports) April 10, 2024
Flying around.#TheWoods pic.twitter.com/pEhqEtkOGS
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) April 10, 2024
Players Mentioned
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QB
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DB
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