'Real football' closer with addition of shoulder pads

MURFREESBORO – Oakland High lost just one game during its 7-on-7 football games earlier this month.

However, Oakland football coach Thomas McDaniel couldn't be happier to say goodbye to passing leagues with teams being allowed by the TSSAA to put on shoulder pads this week.

For the second year, prep teams are allowed this week to practice in shoulder pads and helmets in an effort to get players acclimated to the heat prior to next week's practice in full pads.

"We're working on real football," Oakland football coach Thomas McDaniel said. "I'm always happy to be working on real football."

Teams have primarily worked on passing routes as the linemen primarily conditioned or watched on the sidelines through much of the month as teams weren't allowed to wear pads until now.

The passing leagues had their pluses. Young quarterbacks, like Smyrna sophomore John Turner took several repetitions in an attempt to prep him for the season.

Smyrna coach Matt Williams said he still worked in time with linemen to get them used to blocking schemes.

"When the TSSAA allowed us to put helmets on in June, we freed up time to do some board drills," Williams said. "You had to do it, though, without pads and with practice dummies.

"Now we get to see who will be physical, without going to the ground. This week has been good for our kids because we have some new kids that will be playing up front."

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Smyrna replaces three starters on the offensive line.

The other positive to putting on the shoulder pads is getting more protection on athletes. During the 7-on-7 contests, there are inadvertent collisions that occur that can make a coach cringe.

"You feel a whole lot better now that the shoulder pads and helmet gear are on," Stewarts Creek coach David Martin said. "It makes it a little safer. And the linemen now can do more contact.

"They can bump around a little more."

And that's what Oakland senior Jack Jones has been waiting on.

The Tennessee commitment watched from the sidelines when the Patriots reached the finals of the Riverdale Bojangles passing tournament and then won the Ravenwood 7-on-7 tournament.

"I'm pretty pumped about it," said Jones, who became Oakland's first Mr. Football winner last year. "I'm tired of sitting when our practice ends, and (the skilled players) go on.

"We have to work out and run. Now we have some offensive line type of stuff to do. We're not really banging around, but we are making a little contact. It's made football a lot more enjoyable."

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.