BC Eagles: Preseason Blog #9 focused on fundamentals and mental reps

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. – As has been the schedule for Boston College this preseason, the BC Eagles returned to the practice field Saturday with a lighter day focused on fundamentals and mental reps. The rotation has been to follow an intense, physical practice with a lighter day to keep the players’ minds and bodies fresh.

Head coach Jeff Hafley met with reporters following Saturday’s workout for the final time until Tuesday. Saturday marked the first time this preseason the Eagles were able to work on several different specialized periods and parts of the game.

“We’re finally able to get third down in, started red zone,” said Hafley. “Today, we did some short-yardage work. That’s a big start step. That’s a lot of stuff we were not able to do in the short time we were together in the spring.”

The Eagles held just five practices during spring practice before campus closed due to COVID-19.

“So feeling pretty good about first and second down where the players are at and started to introduce third, down, third and long,” Hafley said. “And then on the high red zone stuff, we did yesterday. We’ll do some low red tomorrow, but we’re working away to try to get everything installed. So our guys are doing a really good job. They’re locked in and we’re moving forward pretty well.”

The true freshmen class is going through its first preseason under unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19. Hafley discussed how the newcomers are transitioning through nine practices this preseason.

“I think they’re doing a really good job,” Hafley said of the true freshmen. “A lot of them are getting a lot of reps because we’re in a lot of areas. They’ll make mistakes, and they’re learning a lot of football is new to them. The volume of the scheme is new, compared to what they were used to. Imagine being an incoming freshman, your first time in college, your first time in a college football program, with COVID going around. It’s got to be hard for those guys. We’re trying to be there for them the best that we can, but we still got to coach them hard. They still got to help us out the best that they can because some of them are going to see some action. They’ve done a really nice job so far. We have a really good group of young guys.”