MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill is pleased with his team's practice habits through the first three workouts of spring practice. The veteran coach just wishes he had more available players on the gridiron when the squad donned full pads for the first time Saturday.
"The first two days of practice we had some of those linemen who can't practice when we go to pads and we have several other players who are not available due to injuries," Stockstill said. "We just don't have enough people because of those limitations and you reach a point in practice where the same guys have to go a bunch."
As far as what is within the control of the coaches and team, Stockstill is pleased. He likes the consistency and work ethic the Blue Raiders have displayed, although he did not think Saturday's first day in pads was as good as the two previous workouts.
"We just weren't as crisp today," Stockstill said. "I thought we were a little sloppy and not as sharp for the first day in pads but some of that goes back to some of the same guys having to get more of the reps. It wasn't pad, it just wasn't as good as (Friday)."
The Blue Raiders continued to install their offense under first-year offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. Stockstill said more than 75 percent of the offense is in place and he anticipates the full offense being installed by Wednesday.
As a team, Stockstill says his goal for the coming week of workouts is more consistency.
"As we get into next week I hope to see more ups than downs," Stockstill said. "We have had three practices and we have seen some good things but there have been ups and downs and there are going to be, but I want to see us reach a point where we are more consistent."
Middle Tennessee will hit the practice field for its fourth of 15 spring practices Sunday at 4 p.m.
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