Spring practice in full, fast swing for McNeese

LAKE CHARLES – Fast paced. Up-tempo. Locked in.

Three examples of the McNeese Cowboys football team as it nears the end of its first week of spring ball under new head coach Sterlin Gilbert.

The Cowboys conducted nearly 2 ½ hours of practices both Tuesday and Thursday and will wrap up the third and final practice of the week on Saturday. McNeese is allowed 15 practice dates, including scrimmages, for spring workouts.

They’ll hold their first scrimmage on March 30, then again on April 6. Both of those will be closed to the public and media. The April 13 spring game will take place at noon in Cowboy Stadium and will be open to everyone.

“It’s a whole lot faster than what I’m used to,” said returning running back Justin Pratt. “I never played on any team that it’s like a two-minute drill all practice.”

The pace was definitely quick and not just during the team session.

Individual groups were hopping around from one to the other with very little down time in between. Everyone was on the move, both offensively and defensively.

“We’re attacking all three phases,” said Gilbert. “We’re getting a ton of reps in. Had good energy, good effort, good enthusiasm.

“They’re excited about it,” Gilbert talking about the players and the quick pace. “There’s still an opportunity to get faster. I told them this is the slowest we’ll be. We have to get faster with everything we’re doing execution-wise.”

One thing Gilbert mentioned was that there are no players penciled in as starters right now but hope to have some marked down by the end of spring practice.

The Cowboys will put on the pads for the first time on Tuesday.