Wednesday’s practice was the 13th and final spring practice for the Ball State football team, leading up to the Cardinal and White Spring Game Saturday.
The game will be the third under coach Pete Lembo, who has been pushing to make the game a community event.
“We want it to be a celebration of Ball State football in the spring,” Lembo said. “We want everyone to come out and get a sneak preview of what they will see in the fall.”
Ball State had several personnel questions entering spring practice in late March, and some answers could come in Saturday’s Spring Game. But Lembo said that some of the team’s depth chart decisions might come in the fall once the season begins.
Until then, here is a breakdown of what to expect from Ball State’s offense, defense and special teams in the Spring Game.
OFFENSE
Seven starters remain on offense from a season ago, five of them being skill players. But offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky said the biggest challenge for his offense in the spring has been injuries.
Wide receivers Jamill Smith and Chris Shillings have seen little to no practice time the entire spring because of injuries. Smith is still recovering from offseason foot surgery that he had after the bowl game. Wide receiver Connor Ryan has also seen limited participation because of injuries.
With the injuries, Skrosky has been able to see newer faces get snaps in the first team offense.
“[The wide receivers] should be able to execute things well,” Skrosky said. “They did some good things [Wednesday] in practice that hopefully will carry over to Saturday.”
Skrosky said the biggest question mark on the offense still is the offensive line, which only has guard Jordan Hansel as the only returning starter from a year ago. But underclassmen in Jacob Richard and Jalen Schlachter have gotten three full weeks to work at the offensive line, which has shown growth in their game.
But their protection will be tested in the spring game when the offensive line will see live game action for the first time.
“[Richard] has a stabilizing feature to him,” Skrosky said. “He’s the one that kind of keeps that all going.”
One recruit from the 2013 class that is already on campus can be found in the backfield — running back Teddy Williamson — who Skrosky expects will get a healthy amount of carries in the Spring Game.
With the lack of depth at the running back position, it is possible Williamson could avoid being redshirted in the fall. Skrosky said Williamson has used the spring to adjust to the speed of the game from the high school level, which has benefitted him greatly.
DEFENSE
In the offseason, Ball State announced a reconstruction of the defense after struggling in 2012.
It’s not just the players that have to get used to the adjustment in a live game action, the defensive coaches have to be prepared as well and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman believes they are prepared.
“We’ll treat it like a game with guys in the press box and communicating signals,” Bateman said. “I feel really good going forward about how our defensive staff has been set up.”
Ball State’s defense lost four full-time starters in the offseason to graduation, which means there will be new players fighting for starting jobs that could be decided in the Spring Game. But the defense returns four of its top defensive linemen in ends Jonathan Newsome and Nick Miles along with tackle Nate Ollie.
While Bateman said his returning defensive linemen have the potential to be all-Mid-American Conference selections in 2013, he said the most improvements have come from the secondary.
He specifically named safeties Brian Jones and J.C. Wade among others that have improved during spring practices. When it comes to the Spring Game, Bateman hopes their work in the practices translates to live action.
Or as Bateman calls it, “going up against live bullets.”
“I look forward to seeing those kids cut it loose and make some big plays,” he said. “Their skill sets are pretty good right now.”
But the most important thing Bateman wants to see from his defense Saturday is tackling. On several plays last season opposing teams were able to break out big plays because of missed tackles. From that, tackling has been a major focus for Ball State in the spring.
“The No. 1 thing for us is tackling,” Bateman said. “We get a chance to live tackle some really good players [Saturday].”
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ball State lost arguably its most sound players in Scott Kovanda in Steven Schott in the offseason, which as opened the door for a bundle of new players to replace them.
Lembo has always had a hand in coaching the special teams unit and said the competition has been welcoming in the spring.
“I do think the competition is making us better,” Lembo said. “I think that’s something you always hope develops over the course of the spring.”
Three punters are fighting for the starting spot in the fall: Kyle Schmidt, Alex Egan and Jason Puhr. As for placekicking, Scott Secor has been responsible for both kickoffs and field goal kicking.
As for Saturday, all the specialists will be put in situations that will allow the coaching staff to evaluate them.
Though the team hasn’t decided who will be the starters on special teams come fall, Lembo said he isn’t in any rush to name starters.
