Comment: Players get back in action

It all began 17 days ago when a couple hundred East County football players walked onto their respective practice fields for the first day of fall practice.

The players donned helmets and shoulder pads for the first time in three months, eagerly anticipating the start of a new season while wanting to prove to their coaches, teammates and themselves what they could do.

For some, the past two-and-a-half weeks have been an adjustment period. They have spent ample time adapting to new coaches and new systems, while others are poised to have their best seasons on record.

They’ve been studying the playbooks, tackling new positions and learning what it takes to garner a starting role; and now the question becomes: Can they put it all together?

Braden River, Lakewood Ranch and The Out-of-Door Academy will get their first taste of live action Friday night durning their Preseason Kickoff Classics.

Braden River and Lakewood Ranch will play host to Booker and Sarasota, respectively, while ODA will travel to Berkeley Prep.

All three teams are familiar with their opponents, having played them last year and in the case of Lakewood Ranch, the past several years. But of the three games, Braden River and Booker, arguably, have the most to gain.

With entirely new coaching staffs canvasing both sidelines, the Pirates and Tornadoes are both looking to bounce back from less than stellar performances last season.

I watched both teams practice this past week; and while there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done, the players appear to have bought into their new coaches’ systems.

Only time will tell, but this Friday could provide a glimpse into how the rest of the season could shake up.
Sure, it’s only a preseason game. The starters probably won’t play the entire game, but no matter the end result, their demeanor on the field and how they approach the game could signal what the future holds for the Pirates, Mustangs and Thunder this season.