Hounds coach likes progress this spring

CMI staff

Eastern New Mexico University’s football team wraps up four weeks of spring drills today with the annual Green & Silver game, set for 10 a.m. at Greyhound Stadium.

ENMU has gone for early spring drills this year in order to get them in before spring break, which is scheduled for next week.

Hounds coach Josh Lynn said players not participating in spring drills due to injury were used to draft two teams for the contest. He added that the idea is to get as close to live-game conditions as possible.

“We’ll do special teams,” said Lynn, whose team is coming off a Lone Star Conference co-championship last fall. “We’re not going to rush the punter or rush on PATs (points after touchdown). But we’re trying to make it a game-like experience.”

The scrimmage will consist of a “normal” first half in terms of time, Lynn said.

“Depending on how many reps we get, we’ll modify it in the second half,” he said. “We want everybody to get work.”

Around 94 players have been on hand for the spring sessions, with about a half-dozen not participating today due to injury.

The team is allowed 15 sessions over a 30-day period in the spring.

Lynn said senior-to-be E’lon Spight has made a good transition from halfback to fullback, where he’ll try to replace the graduated Christian Long. Also, senior wide receiver Brad Beeston has had a good spring, Lynn said.

On defense, he said linebackers Seth Bailey of Texico and Ben Pedro-Langford have had solid springs.

“It’s gone pretty well,” Lynn assessed. “We’re way ahead of where we’ve been (in his past two springs as head coach), and we’re an older group.”

The Hounds open the 2014 season on Sept. 6 at New Mexico Highlands.