Spring drills answer some PU questions

Football team has holes to fill

By: Bob Nuse
   Roger Hughes knows that 12 days of practice in April aren’t going to answer all the questions facing the Princeton University football team.
   But the opportunity to see the returning players in action for 11 practices plus a controlled scrimmage helped answer some of the questions Hughes and his staff will face.
   "We have a couple of positions we are trying to figure out," said Hughes, who led the Tigers to a 7-3 record last season, their best since 1995. "One of those spots is the offensive line, where we’ll have five new players. The other is at linebacker, where we lost some pretty good football players from last year. I feel like we’ve taken some good strides at each of those spots this spring.
   "We’re still seeing some mental errors, but that comes from having some inexperience in those positions."
   The Tigers had nine practices prior to Saturday, when they played their annual spring game. In that match-up, the offense was pitted against the defense in a variety of situational showdowns. Following that game situation, the Tigers were scheduled to conclude their spring practice with a session Monday night and another on Wednesday.
   "I think it has worked out well for us to have the two days after the spring game," Hughes said. "It gives us a chance to look at the film and see what we still need to straighten out. We lost two very good linebackers with Abi Fadeyi and Justin Stull graduating. And Rob Holuba and Nate Starrett were also very solid players. So we’re working in some new players there.
   "But we have some kids that have stepped up and showed they want to play, like Luke Steckel, Jon Stem and Doori Song. And Brig Walker is a kid who has made great strides since last season. The same with the offensive line. We’re working new players into those spots."
   Who gets the starting nod at most positions won’t be decided until the Tigers get through training camp, which begins on Aug. 22. But players can make an impression on the coaches that will last through the summer.
   "You try to make decisions as far as who you would pencil in as the starters," Hughes said. "In a situation like we have with our offensive line right now, we’re just looking for the five best players. You’re not quite sure who those five guys might be, but you like to get the chance to see them line up and see what they can do in a live situation.
   "Also, with offensive linemen, you never know physiologically how much they’re going to develop from the end of the season. They’ve worked hard since the end of the year and they’re bigger and stronger now."
   Princeton will be looking to build on a good 2005 season as it heads into 2006. The 7-3 record was a jump of two wins from the previous season. And a year ago, the Tigers were a narrow loss against Yale away from winning an Ivy League title.
   "The way we finished the season, going forward you hope that carries over and into the spring practice and the next season," Hughes said. "But you also have a bad taste in your mouth from that Yale loss and that was something we were not happy with. You hope that serves as some extra motivation as you head into the next season.
   "We still have a couple of days left to see if we can answer some questions we have about our team. So far, the spring practices have gone well."
   Prior to Saturday’s spring game, the Tigers announced that senior quarterback Jeff Terrell and senior linebacker Luke Steckel will serve as captains for the 2006 season.