With the start of official football practices right around the corner, the Western Brown Broncos varsity football team is transitioning from summer workouts to focus on the season ahead.

Broncos head coach Don Sizer said that the team just finished their lifting cycle, and they’re headed into a phase of their strength and conditioning regimen that focuses on game-like actions.

According to a short study conducted in 2010 by the Wall Street Journal, the average play from the snap of the ball to the shrill sound of the whistle could be anywhere from four to eight seconds. This means that as players condition their bodies for the season, they’ll be conducting drills with short bursts of energy of under 10 seconds.

Sizer said that the team’s first phase of conditioning focused on flexibility, strength, speed, and then agility. The second phase is flexibility, strength, and agility, and using it in drills, and the third phase is the players using their flexibility, strength, and agility in game-like conditions.

“You learn how to do it, practice it, and then use it,” Sizer said. “When the season starts, you’re in pretty good shape, more flexible than you’ve ever been, and stronger than you’ve ever been.”

Sizer and the Broncos use workout plans from “Bigger Faster Stronger” for their players, and it’s already paying off this summer.

“I’ve got some coaches that are really in tune with training and the kids have really benefited from it,” Sizer said. “What has really helped is the marriage between BFS and our running training. It’s really, really helped the kids in all the areas. They’re more flexible, stronger, and more agile.”

Sizer said he’s been impressed with many players on the team this summer, whether it’s due to regular attendance at voluntary workouts and practices or continued improvement and leadership from his veteran players.

Sizer said senior wide receiver Eean Horning, senior linebacker Michael Hensley-Otis, senior linebacker Jacob Altman, senior defensive end Bobby Bowshears, senior offensive lineman Zach Gagen, junior linebacker Blake Colliver, junior wide receiver Eli Crall, junior defensive tackle Noah Hill, and sophomores in linebacker Ryan Osborne and wide receivers Wyatt Fischer and Carson Eyre have all stood out during summer practices.

“He got a taste of varsity last year and he’s a good kid and knows what’s right,” Sizer said of Fischer. “He’s been there all summer and he’s looking to crack the starting lineup. He’s really stood out this summer.”

Heading into fall camp, Sizer anticipates that there will be fierce position battles on the offensive line and defensive line, as both lines lost three starters from last year’s team.

Sizer says that the team worked so well during their 10 allotted practice days in the summer in learning the new offensive and defensive packages that they may be farther ahead at this point that Sizer initially expected.

“We did a great job in our 10 days in the summer so we might be ahead of the game a little bit,” Sizer said. “What we need to do now is the physical part. Blocking, putting hands-on people, practice tackling dummies, and using sleds, so we’re going to concentrate on that and special teams as we have to do acclimation.”

Running back Malachi Marlow receives a handoff from quarterback Chaiten Tomlin during a game in the 2014 season.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_xLra1Ck-Imgur.jpgRunning back Malachi Marlow receives a handoff from quarterback Chaiten Tomlin during a game in the 2014 season.

By Daniel Karell

dkarell@civitasmedia.com

Reach Daniel Karell at 937-378-6161. Follow him on Twitter @GNDKarell