With the heat bearing down on them, the IU football players took to the field earlier this week. Senior safety Alexander Webb said it's starkly different from last year.
"It's going to take some getting used to," Webb said. "Last spring, it was pretty cold to start off with, so it's going to take some getting used to, but we work out in this Indiana heat all summer, so we'll get used to it in no time."
Getting used to it
While many are getting used to the heat, young players such as rising sophomores Mark Murphy and Drew and Forisse Hardin are getting used to their first spring practices after arriving at IU in summer of 2011.
Rising junior cornerback Lawrence Barnett said watching the younger players' improvement has been one of the positives of spring practice.
"You get so excited when they make a good play just because you know last year they were freshmen," Barnett said. "Now they're making plays they weren't making last year, or the plays that they made this year, they're just making them better this year."
Not only are the younger players showing improvement, but Webb said the team as a whole is playing better this spring than last, due to the knowledge of the coaching staff's way of running practice.
"We know what to expect, we know what effort we need to bring every day," Webb said. "Last year, going into spring ball, we didn't know what to expect or what was expected of us from the coaches. This year, we know everything."
"Healthy mass"
Another difference between IU Coach Kevin Wilson's first preseason camp and this one is the different approach to weight. Last year, Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Hill and the staff focused on "trimming the fat," but this year, Webb said the players are now building on their frames and adding "healthy mass."
Webb said all players on defense are lifting more weight than last season and he especially praised freshman defensive end Zach Shaw on his performance in the weight room. Shaw was recruited as a linebacker, but has since been moved to defensive end.
Defending against the quarterbacks
Webb and Barnett have also been playing against rising sophomores Tre Roberson and Cameron Coffman. Webb said in terms of throwing the ball, they are on a similar level.
"They can both throw very well, so you always have to be cognizant of that," Webb said. "Tre probably moves a little bit better, so as a safety, you always have to keep your eyes on him for a little bit longer to make sure he doesn't scramble or take off."
Barnett said Coffman is working hard to learn the system and it was clear that Coffman previously worked hard at his junior college.
Barnett also said Roberson has continued to work just as hard as he did in 2011 while battling for a starting spot.
"Tre's always been one of my favorites, just because he came in here last year and as a freshman trying to play, you see him work his way up," Barnett said. "Obviously was the starter, but the whole season, even in practice when he wasn't a starter, he was grinding hard the whole season"
