March 11, 2017
The San Jose State University football team continued to bask in the first weekend of bright, clear skies with its second of 15 spring practices on the team's practice field. Following a full-length practice the night before in CEFCU Stadium, the Spartans finished ahead of its scheduled 1:00 p.m. conclusion.
Drop-in Spartan football alums included Super Bowl champion James Jones who offered a few pearls of wisdom to the wide receiver group midway through the practice session. (An excerpt is available at www.instagram.com/sjsuathletics.)
For at least two seniors, center Keoni Taylor and safety Maurice McKnight, they are established veterans and accustomed to new schemes for their playing groups and overall units again this spring.
Taylor is playing for his third offensive line coach and third offensive coordinator.
"For the offense, we're getting back into it. It's a new pace. We're trying to get our plays off in about 12 seconds. It's a lot of learning. The running backs need to make more calls. The tight ends need to do more things. And, the quarterbacks need to be more on point," says the two-year starter and biology major.
"The O-line is doing well. We need to get on the ball fast. We need to get our calls out fast and snap the ball on time," Taylor says about his group, the most experienced on the team with six players that have starting experience.
McKnight, a two-time honorable mention All-Mountain West choice, is learning his third different defense scheme with the program's third defensive coordinator in the last three seasons.
"The first two days, we've been learning, flying around, getting to know this new defense. Everybody (on the defense) is excited," said the communication studies major and three-year starter.
"It's been an adjustment, because we're going from a 4-3 to a 3-4. So, it's a lot of learning going on with this new defense."
The Spartans return to the field, Tuesday, March 14, at 9:00 a.m. for its third of 15 spring practice opportunities.
San Jose State's annual Pro Day takes place in the Koret Athletic Training Center starting at 11:00 a.m. and moves into CEFCU Stadium at 1:00 p.m. Sixteen Spartans are scheduled to participate.
To see the complete interviews with Taylor and McKnight, visit www.facebook.com/@sjsuspartansfootball.