Knights to focus on ‘simple things’ in first scrimmage of training camp

Following five practices that included being off Thursday, UCF football will take the field inside FBC Mortage Stadium for the first scrimmage of training camp Sunday.

Knights coach Gus Malzahn said it will be more run-oriented and simple by design. It also will be closed.

“Not a lot of scheme so we can just evaluate our guys,” he said. “I’m not talking about the guys that we already know or that have started for two or three years, but the guys that just got here, the freshmen or those who didn’t start last year but maybe they’re close.

“It’ll be a complete evaluation scrimmage and, hopefully, we’ll learn a lot about our team so we can at least start putting together the pieces of the puzzle.”

One key position group Malzahn and his staff will focus on are the linebackers. UCF added multiple transfers over the summer such as Branden Jennings (Kansas State) and Jason Johnson (Eastern Illinois).

A pair of freshmen also joined: Seminole High’s Kam Moore and Berkeley Prep’s TJ Bullard.

“These transfer linebackers, we think we got some really talented guys but we’ve got to find out some information in a hurry,” Malzahn said. “We can’t have growing pains on Saturdays.”

Leading up to the first scrimmage, the Knights honed in on two key areas during Friday’s and Saturday’s practices – third downs and the red zone.

Last season, UCF struggled on the critical down by posting a 37% conversion rate that ranked No. 82 in the country. Although it mostly had success in the red zone, scoring 84% of the time (tied for No. 57), there’s room for improvement.

“If we’re going to a red zone situation, let’s make sure we understand, what are we thinking when we get in the red zone,” cooffensive coordinator Chip Lindsey told the Orlando Sentinel. “We’ve got to make good decisions with the ball.

“Who can process those things and handle running the team from a communication standpoint, that’s a huge thing.”

Lindsey, who also serves as quarterbacks coach, harped on simplicity when discussing the first scrimmage.

“What we really want to see is who can block and who can tackle, not who can scheme the best because we are a football team,” he said. “Offense and defense, we’re trying to help each other.

“Who does the little things right? Who gets the right footwork that goes with whatever concept we’re throwing? It’s a big, encompassing thing that we’re always trying to evaluate and see who’s doing the best job with all of those things.”