Reporters often ask football players what they are going to do during the off-season. Their typical response: what off-season?
Friday afternoon the Bulls were back at it again, beginning their 2002 season with the first day of spring practices at the Buffalo Bills Fieldhouse in Orchard Park, N.Y.
The pads were not on (Buffalo will not have a full contact practice until Wednesday), but the pressure was on for players to compete for starting spots. Head Coach Jim Hofher's evaluation begins now.
Hofher, however, said that decisions made in the spring are always subject to change.
"We may think at the end of the spring that we've got a guy that's a starter at a spot, but now the heat is on him even more, 'cause he has to maintain it," said Hofher. "If he doesn't maintain it and somebody else exceeds him, then that guy is going to play. It is 'what are you doing now,' and 'what did you do yesterday,' that's the nature of the beast."
The departure of senior quarterback Joe Freedy has left a vacancy at the quarterback spot, where sophomore Randall Secky has the most in-game experience. Secky, along with redshirt freshmen Jeff Powell and P.J. Piskorik, now have their chance to show what they can do during the spring.
"We have very limited experience at the position. Clearly, Randall has the most experience and it's not much," said Hofher. "It's going to be, I hope, a very competitive spring and a very competitive position. We will certainly let the chips fall where they may because it is ultimately about current performance."
The Bulls' 2002 recruiting class includes three quarterbacks as well, bringing the total to six. Only one can play, so what does Secky think of the heavy competition?
"Bring it on," said Secky.
Freedy's absence has cast Secky in a new role: eldest quarterback. For now, Secky focused not on being a role model, but trying to win the starting job.
"We have young quarterbacks here on the team and it feels a little different, not having Joe [Freedy] to look up to and follow his lead," said Secky. "I want to get more confident with my reads and my throwing and just win a spot on the team."
So is the job Secky's to lose?
"Like with all positions, it's really based on current consistency and performance," Hofher said. "Should Randall have a better chance because of his familiarity and having been in college games? You would think yes. But to declare that it's his or somebody else's - its really premature."
The Bulls come into the spring banged up. Several players are missing spring workouts due to injury, including three receivers: Matt Kneuven (shoulder), Maurice Bradford (knee), and Andre Ford (collarbone). Other players sitting out were offensive linemen Andy Avery (shoulder) and Erik Zeppuhar (shoulder), linebacker Richard Sanders (knee), tight end Marvin Brereton (knee), and defensive lineman Michael Nguti. Another offensive lineman, Alex Alvarez, had his appendix burst sometime last week.
The spring workouts, which will culminate with the annual Blue vs. White game on April 17, are an opportunity for players to show their coaches their improvements in speed and strength through lifting and private workouts during the "off-season".
Hofher noted that several players have made incredible strides in the weight room and on the treadmill.
"We really try to highlight who did the most significant performance [in speed and power], both for their raw numbers as well as for their improvement," said Hofher. "We have a lot of highlighted guys."
Hofher, entering his second UB spring workout, said he is much more comfortable this spring. He comes into a situation where he knows his team much better than he did when he was first hired one year ago.
"What we have learned more about in a year is our players, what do they do well and what do we have to be able to help them improve upon," said Hofher. "We know so much more about our team on the first day of practice today than we did on the first day of practice a year ago."
"It was a great first day. I think the guys have fun working, trying to improve themselves, and trying to prove themselves," he said.
