Practice begins for Poly football

Cal Poly’s first day of double practice sessions drew mixed reviews from seventh-year Mustang head coach Rich Ellerson.

“This morning we spent a lot of time on special teams and got a lot installed,” said Ellerson, 41-27 in his previous six seasons at the helm. “But it was a lot of talking and standing. You don’t get a lot done.

“But it was good to get out in full pads and get into action,” Ellerson added. “Because of that, the practice environment changes. Everything is in and now we get to see ourselves growing from practice to practice. We’ve got to keep improving day-to-day.”

The first two practice sessions last Wednesday and Thursday were helmet, jersey and shorts only. For the practice sessions on Friday and Saturday, helmet, shoulder pads, jersey and shorts were allowed. The first full-pad contact practice was held Sunday. The Mustangs had Monday off before the first double-practice day Tuesday.

Double-practice sessions also are scheduled for Aug. 16, 18, 20 and 22 at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Single-practice sessions on the remaining days of preseason camp will be held at 2 p.m. Preseason camp ends Aug. 23 with a 2 p.m. scrimmage at Alex G. Spanos Stadium.

All practices are open to the public.

Ellerson’s biggest concern to date is finding players to fill gaps in case of injury.

“We have to develop people who have the most chance to be in the starting lineup,” Ellerson said. “We have to be able to overcome nicks and bangs. There is a lot of drop-off between the starters and reserves right now.

“It’s really a mixed blessing,” Ellerson added. “We have some really good players at their positions, so a drop-off at some positions may be a blessing at other positions.”

Ellerson likes what he sees with the incoming players.

“I am impressed with the frosh class and newcomers,” Ellerson said. “With the exception of maybe one or two players, I don’t expect to have to play any of them this year, but I feel real good about them and that’s a huge upside.

“I’m also impressed with the way the juniors and seniors came back ready to play,” Ellerson added. “Their work in the summer really shows.”

Ellerson has welcomed back 50 lettermen, including 13 starters and the punter from last year’s squad which finished 7-4, posting the school’s fourth straight winning season and a No. 14 national ranking.

Primary focus of preseason camp has been at quarterback, the offensive line and defensive secondary.

Juniors Matt Brennan and Jonathan Dally are battling for the signal-calling duties, Cal Poly lost three senior offensive linemen to graduation and the defensive secondary lost All-American Kenny Chicoine, NFL draftee Courtney Brown and strong safety Randy Samuel.

Cal Poly also lost linebacker Kyle Shotwell, the Mustangs’ third Buck Buchanan Award winner in as many years, and nose tackle Chris White, Cal Poly’s fourth consecutive American Football Coaches Association All-American.

Shotwell is a free agent pickup of the Oakland Raiders while White is under contract to both the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and the Spokane Shock of Arena Football 2. Finding successors to those two players is another primary focus of preseason camp.

Cal Poly plays its first two games on the road – Sept. 1 at Texas State and Sept. 8 at Idaho – before playing three consecutive home games, beginning Sept. 15 against Weber State at 6:05 p.m. The Mustangs also host Western Oregon on Sept. 22 and Northern Colorado on Sept. 29 (Hall of Fame Game), both kicking off at 6:05 p.m.

Cal Poly’s remaining two home games will be in November – a Great West Football Conference game against North Dakota State on Nov. 10 at 4:05 p.m. (Homecoming Game) and against Iona College on Nov. 17 at 1:05 p.m.

The Mustangs play three games in October, all on the road, with stops at UC Davis, South Dakota State and Idaho State, and conclude the four-game road trip Nov. 3 at Southern Utah.