(S29) PT 1 - Training Camp

[KillaScrilla]

Training camp was way different for me this season. I've only known one thing coming into this season, which was to hit the person with the ball as hard as I could. For as long as I can remember that's all that I have known and was happy to let some of my anger out on someone else. After our season last year coach approached me on switching positions. Thinking maybe safety or somewhere on the defensive side of the ball. I said I'll play safety sure coach. He looked at me and said no son, we think you'd be a great fullback. My jaw almost hit my shoes and my eyes started to twitch. A fullback really? I've never played a snap on that side of the ball, but I'm a team player and after the shock, I agreed. So here we are now, training camp starting and now I gotta hit my brothers I've played alongside on defense. While running a sweep I got out ahead to block and I blew up our rookie Johnson. He got up and pushed me from behind and was angry. We jawed back and forth but Stack got in between us along with others and tempers settled down. Coach pulled me aside and said I can't be hitting our guys like I would an opponent. We wanna go full speed and get that game speed feel but we got to make sure we keep each other safe and able to play the games that matter. I apologized after practice and bought Johnson a drink. Hitting people as hard as I can is fun and all I've known but it's different on this side. If I miss my gap or hit the wrong person we will lose yards and the game. All camp I have just been remembering the language used for the plays. The defense came so naturally for me whereas this is a big adjustment. So far I believe I've done well and even scored the first touchdown of my career. This is not a glamorous position, a lot of dirty work to do and a lot of work to do but with this training camp I felt like I grew as a player and showed a thirst to learn the playbook and my goal is to block for a 1200 yard rusher. This coaching staff has tremendously helped me this training camp and I look to go out and prove the work was worth it.