Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks complete first week of preseason camp
8/17/2011 8:11:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh football team completed its first week of preseason camp with a double session on Tuesday, leading into its first scheduled off day on Wednesday. Since opening camp with a workout in helmets on August 9, the Mountain Hawks have held ten practices; strapping on the pads for the first time on Saturday and working through double sessions on Sunday and Tuesday.
With just over two and a half weeks left until Lehigh's season opener, Tuesday's double session began under rainy conditions on the Kaufman Fields on the Goodman Campus. The offense held the edge in the morning with one of its best practices of camp thus far. In the afternoon, the Brown and White were greeted by sunny skies and warmer temperatures as they worked out on Frank Banko Field. After being bested by the offense in the morning, Lehigh's defense responded with a spirited effort in afternoon drills and evened the score heading into Wednesday's off-day.
“We're ten practices in,” explained Coen at the end of Tuesday's workout. “In all but one of them we were where we needed to be. There was a lot more emotion here this morning. It was pretty workmanlike. The offense executed very well and got the better of the defense in the morning, but the defense rallied and played with a lot of emotion and handed to the offense in the afternoon. I like where we're at. We've got to feed off each other. That's the way good teams do it.”Offensively, Coen likes what he has seen from his skill position players, and says that senior quarterback Chris Lum is having a strong camp. Sophomore Brandon Bialkowski and freshman Gerard Poutier have taken plenty of reps in practice and are competing for the third quarterback spot behind Lum and junior Michael Colvin. An area of concern for Coen has been the offensive line, which will be without senior right tackle Troy McKenna for several weeks after McKenna suffered an injury early in camp.
“I've liked our running backs and wide receivers,” Coen said. “Our tight ends have been more physical than they were a year ago. The big question mark is the offensive line. We've had to replace Troy and we're playing around with some things depth wise. Our skill guys are clicking pretty well, we've just got to get the big guys settled on offense.”
On the defensive side of the ball, Coen likes what he's seen from the front seven, including senior linebacker Devin Greene who has done well early in camp and will push for a starting role after battling injuries last year. Coen is also encouraged by the emergence of several players in the Mountain Hawks' revamped secondary.
“Our defense has been very impressive,” Coen said. “The front seven is right about where I thought they'd be. Guys are playing well and feeding off each other. We have a lot of speed at linebacker - that's what stands out with guys running down plays. Our secondary has been solid. Bryan Andrews has played well at cornerback and Gabe Johnson is doing a nice job. I'm really happy for Kenyatta Drake. He's a senior who hasn't played a lot for us but has stepped up and is doing good things.”Although he's pleased with where things are, Coen knows there are still improvements that need to be made going forward.
“The biggest concern right now is the offensive line because we have to gel as a unit,” Coen explained. “We'll get there. The sooner, the better. We're starting to do more full 11-on-11 team passing things as opposed to the 7-on-7, trying to get more guys reps in pass protection and letting the quarterbacks see how the pocket is going to change. The cohesiveness of the offensive line and solidifying our depth in the secondary, those are the two most important things going forward.”
Wednesday's off day was scheduled to coincide with the Philadelphia Eagles wrapping up their training camp, but the Eagles decided to end camp a day early as they prepare for their second preseason game.
“We timed it out pretty well,” Coen said of the built-in day off. “We would have liked a few more days with a little bit of this heat. This is that time of year after a couple doubles that guys begin to get tired. We try to give them a little time off and it coincided with the Eagles transition so it worked out well. I'm glad they left Tuesday's practice on a high note.”
The Mountain Hawks will take their team photo on Wednesday, and will return to the John C. Whitehead practice fields for two practices on Thursday, before holding the first scrimmage of camp on Friday.
Lehigh, ranked 13th in the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25, will open the 2011 season on Saturday, September 3, when the Mountain Hawks travel to West Long Branch, N.J. to face the Monmouth Hawks at 1 p.m.
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