Mustangs get serious about high-energy workouts

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  Photos by Jennifer Fierro/TexasChalkTalk.com Marble Falls defensive coordinator Ryan Craven demonstrates how he wants the defensive backs to turn as they're running backward.

  Photos by Jennifer Fierro/TexasChalkTalk.com Marble Falls defensive coordinator Ryan Craven demonstrates how he wants the defensive backs to turn as they're running backward.
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  Marble Falls linebackers Olin Dalton (left) and Gabriel Larranaga explode out of their stances as they run to cones before turning around to get the ball carrier.

  Marble Falls linebackers Olin Dalton (left) and Gabriel Larranaga explode out of their stances as they run to cones before turning around to get the ball carrier.
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  Clayton Thomas catches the ball and uses a block by Carlos Alvarez to try to get away from Jace Williams, who is pursuing, during the defensive back drills.

  Clayton Thomas catches the ball and uses a block by Carlos Alvarez to try to get away from Jace Williams, who is pursuing, during the defensive back drills.

Even in a midmorning workout with the Texas humidity causing drenches of sweat on the Marble Falls High School football players, the intensity didn’t dip.

After spending more than an hour lifting and then participating in agility drills to get quicker as Marble Falls Forge ‘24 resumed, the Mustangs took a short water break and broke into three groups to work on defensive skills July 9.

“They always have a high energy to do defensive drill work,” defensive coordinator Ryan Craven said. “They look forward to it. They enjoy being around their coaches and look forward to being around each other. The freshmen are eager to please and the upperclassmen understand things. When it’s hotter, they have to push through it.”

The University Interscholastic League allows programs to spend 45 minutes a day working on skills. The Mustangs undergo that training after they complete strength and conditioning. They alternate between offense and defense daily.

"We've been finetun ing the actual skills part of football,” Craven said. “We’re trying to get better. All of our freshmen through seniors are stepping in and running stuff. We want to get the most out of them.”

On July 9, defense took centerstage as defensive line coach Karl “Beef” Bielfeldt set up in one end zone and observed and corrected the Mustangs as they fought through blocks, while linebackers coach Austin Silva led those drills with his Mustangs and Craven with secondary coaches Jamie Graham and Roy Gatlin guided the defensive back drills.

Craven said this defensive staff has some tremendous pluses that has benefitted the program.

“Our defensive staff is all very knowledgeable,” he said. “Every one of them has been a coordinator. They give great input and suggestions. It’s really awesome to have that strong of a staff for sure.”

They all had the same common elements specific to those positions, Craven said, which included proper footwork, hand place- ment, fighting through blocks, and techniques.

He noted the summer is the right time to develop the players’ muscle memory that becomes automatic with repetition. That way during the fall, the Mustangs can spend more of their practices on plays and getting ready to defend a particular opponent’s offense and weapons.

“You’re preparing for your opponent,” the coordinator said. “We’re trying to teach them the drills now. In the season, we’re still doing the drills but more correctly.”

Each coach told their position groups what to look for and how to get to the ball carrier, the “certain reads we need to be keying on,” Craven said. “Everyone is pulling in the same direction right now, and it’s a lot of fun,” he said.

Jennifer Fierro publishes reports about area youth athletic events on her website TexasChalk-Talk.com. To send her a note, email fierrojenni fer@yahoo.com.