SPRINGDALE — Of course, Shane Patrick is curious to see which of his wide receivers can get open on a deep pass.
And the Springdale High football coach is interested in how his new center will handle all the adjustments and responsibilities that come with the position.
But Patrick said the thing he wants to see most during today’s Red-White spring game has nothing to do with a specific position. He instead hopes to see his players on both sides of the ball be physical.
Patrick has preached toughness so much over the past few weeks of spring practice that it’s become a theme.
“Team-wide I want to see us be physical. That’s the one thing that we have talked about on a daily basis throughout spring, is that in this league you have to be physical,” Patrick said.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s run or pass or you’re defending the run or pass. You’ve got to be able to be physical on both sides of the ball and at the line of scrimmage or you will not be successful.”
Like every team this time of year, Patrick said his Bulldogs aren’t a “finished product.” But he added that they’re getting closer to being a more complete group, and he’ll get another chance to see that during the spring game at 5:30 p.m. today at Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium.
Springdale will likely have its first-team offense face its first-team defense during the scrimmage, which should give coaches an opportunity to better evaluate their players.
Much of the attention will likely be on the performance of Springdale’s quarterbacks, where senior Terry Mounce is competing with sophomores Fuller Chandler and Drake Wymer for the starting job.
Mounce appears to have a slight edge because of his experience, though Patrick said the competition will likely continue into the fall.
“I’ve been learning a lot,” Mounce said. “It’s been a challenge, too, trying to earn a spot with all the other kids. But it’s been a lot of fun.”
However, there are more positions that remain unsettled heading into today’s scrimmage.
Springdale has had to replace its entire starting defensive line, and much of the spring has been spent on finding linemen capable of opening holes for the linebackers behind them to make plays.
Patrick said injuries have also left one of the team’s safety positions unfilled. As a result, players who might have been in backup roles are getting a chance to work with the first-team defense.
So has Patrick seen his players be physical, as he hopes, so far this spring?
“I think we’re getting more physical everyday. A lot of times not being physical comes from not truly understanding what you’re supposed to do,” Patrick said.
“As we go through things and understand and add more and do more and spend more time, they’re getting a lot more comfortable with their jobs and they’re gaining a little more confidence.
“And the more confidence you get, the more physical you can be.”