Parkers Chapel adjusting to new coach
EL DORADO - Thus far, the summer has been something of a getting acquainted period at Parkers Chapel.
Jacob Midyett, himself a former gridiron standout at Parkers Chapel, is in the midst of his first summer as the Trojans' head coach, and the transition has gone well.
"So far, so good," Midyett said. "We've had really good attendance so far leading up to the dead period. We haven't had a day that we didn't have at least 24 kids there, which for us is huge. Even when I was a player, the most we had on the team period was 24, so we've had really good attendance."
So far this summer, the Trojans have been to a team camp at Genoa Central and to a 7-on-7 tournament at Camden Fairview.
"We really enjoyed the team camp," Midyett said. "It's something I'm not really used to being from Louisiana. We can't do much with helmets down there, so getting a live look at people was really awesome. I think that's something we're going to do a lot, especially next summer.
"We saw some good
things and we saw some bad things. So far, we couldn't ask for much more from them. We're getting better everyday."
But with a month until practice formally begins, July will be a key month for the Trojans, who will be participating in El Dorado's 7-on-7 tournament before taking part in a camp at Junction City.
"I think we've had a good summer so far, but I think this month is going to be the real test for everybody," Midyett said. "That 24 has got to be closer to 30, because we've got 36 kids on our roster right now, and that needs to be a number that we're hitting at least every day. This month is really going to test us as far as getting better every day. It's a big month for us, so I'm excited to see what we're going to get."
Parkers Chapel has participated in just one 7-on-7 this summer, and that's due to Midyett wanting to get a close look at his team before practice begins.
"Definitely, especially 7-on-7 wise," Midyett said. "I told the kids that we're not a team that's going to line up and throw it everywhere. We're not going to out-athlete people. It's going to be off of mostly our running game, and what we're able to do play-action wise, so 7-on-7's are just a good way to compete. It gets the kids there. It gets the kids in some live stuff, and you can see what kind of competitors they are, which is good."
When asked if there was one facet of the team that has stood out, Midyett said it was the Trojans' size.
"We've got some good size everywhere," Midyett said. "From skill guys to the line, I think right now our skill guys are a little ahead of our line right now. We're teaching some new stuff to them up front, so it's going to take a little bit.
"As far as routes and running plays that you have, most everything is the same regardless of what offense you're running, so they're definitely ahead a little right now, and it's showed, but the line is getting there.
"We've got some good size. We've got some good, smart kids that are picking it up. We're working on our physicality.
"We're not at the physicality we want. We definitely need to be more physical up front on both sides of the ball. That's what we're trying to hit this summer."