By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Just as it was during the first practice of the season, the music blared from a press box speaker at Brownsville Veterans Memorial.
While it seemed like a way to keep players loose at practice, it also served as a way to help them to learn to block out distractions.
It is all part of the plan to help the Chargers, a few practices in to start the season, get ready for game day.
“To put ourselves in game-like situations as much as possible,” Brownsville Veterans coach David Cantu said of the main focus for his team at practice during the first two weeks.
Brownsville Veterans is scheduled to scrimmage against La Joya on Aug. 14 and against PSJA High on Aug. 20.
And the Chargers already were running drills to practice their audible checks at the line of scrimmage, as well as a two-minute drill to prepare for those certain in-game situations.
As for the offense, Brownsville Veterans had one of the top rushing attacks in District 32-6A. So the Chargers decided they needed to be less one-sided.
“Offensively, develop a confidence to be a more balanced team,” Cantu said. “I think any offense in the game of football that is not able to be close to 50/50, it can become a challenge when a team takes one of those away, whatever your stronger aspect is, in our case it was running the football. So, we’re going to be just focused on getting that good balance early on.”
Brownsville Veterans offensive coordinator Sammy Montalvo agreed.
“Our scheme will be similar, but we feel we need to do a better job of passing the football,” he said. “I don’t think we did it enough (last season). If your running game is working, you stay with your running game. But if it’s not, you need to be able to throw the football.”
Just getting in sync offensively has been another key for Brownsville Veterans. With a mix of veteran and young players in new positions, it’s been a priority early in practice.
“Timing is an important factor,” Montalvo said. “And we’re spending a lot of time throwing the ball.”
On the other side of the ball, the Chargers are working to do a better job of coverage in the secondary.
“Defensively, we struggled against defending the pass,” Cantu said. “So it’s a similar type of mentality (to the offense) of what we need to work on (in practice).”
A lack of experience was partly to blame for Brownsville Veterans last season. But with several players returning on defense, that shouldn’t be an issue this year.
“We’ve got some experience (in the secondary). And for the most part, we’re pretty set (with starters),” Brownsville Veterans defensive coordinator Larry Vincent said. “Right now it’s just about reps and teaching some of these young guys and finding people to fill spots.”
One thing that Vincent doesn’t have a concern with is conditioning. He was impressed with the way the players worked in the offseason. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the veteran defensive coordinator.
“Our conditioning is great right now,” Vincent said. “Players are not getting tired until the very end. So our work habits are great. They were great throughout the summer, great in the spring.
“It’s a big kudos to these kids. They’ve done their part.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.