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Lions
look forward to tough season Sports Editor The
Missouri Southern Lions football team returns for a tough year of
competition. Bill
Cooke, head coach, said the team is going to be much improved. One of
the returning starters this year is quarterback Josh Chapman. Chapman
said the team has an improved offensive line. We ve
got quite a few new players in, he said. I think that will
definitely contribute to our offense. I think the ones coming back for
this year are looking a lot better. Overall as an offense, we ll have
a lot better year. Chapman
said the team will try to create a mixture of passing and running plays
to keep the opposing defense off balance. Rob
Green, offensive line coordinator, said the offensive line has three new
starters two are junior college transfers, and the other will be a
true freshman, starting for us as center. Green said another junior
college transfer is coming in as a tight end. He said two of the
transfers he coached before at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M. One
of our big concerns during the recruiting was to fill the gaps in the
offensive line and to bring in some speed at wide receiver, Green
said. We have been able to do that, so I feel like our passing attack
and running attack will be a lot better than last year. Green
said he thinks the Lions have a chance to be very good
offensively. Andy
Schneider, offensive line coach, said he didn t know how well the team
would perform until it plays the first game. He said the Lions have
firepower and are looking forward to big things this year.
Schneider said the team is questioning its depth, but is pretty
confident in the starters and backups. You
never know, guys start getting injured, and then you have to start
playing guys that you weren t planning on playing, he said. Josh
Elmer, linebacker, termed the offense as high octane and said the
defense seems to be coming along better. Elmer said the team has a few
players out but expects they will return by the first game. The
defensive line has a little more weight up front, Elmer said. Cooke
said everything begins up front with the defense. Elmer said there
are no new plays for the defensive line, but the line must make the
tackles. He
said the defensive line should be able to sack the quarterback of the
opposing team if they do enough blitzes. Alan
Dykens, defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator, said some
of the defensive line players have the potential to make all-conference
players. He said the defensive line has a great deal of athleticism up
front. Dykens said the linebackers this year are some of the best he has
seen at Southern in a long time. We
were basically replacing three out of four starters or five depending on
what package we were in the secondary, Dykens said. Those guys
have really done a great job of jelling together. Dykens
said the two kickers are technically new to the program. Adam
Lenard was here in the spring semester, Dykens said. He said both of the
new kickers have stronger legs than the players in the past, and will be
able to kick the ball farther on kickoffs. The
Lions first game is at 6 p.m. Saturday at home against Greenville
(Illinois) College.
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Throwing A Football
1. When getting the ball, hold it in the pass attack position.
2. When throwing, it needs to rip. Bring the elbow up, the hand needs to be out (in the fan position), and then back in during the throw.
3. The left arm needs to be held tight against the body for balance.
4. Keep the left shoulder pointed downfield.
5. Take a small stride, driving with the right hip for more power.
6. Then follow through with arm and hand.
Photos and Illustration by Andy Tevis/The Chart |