Mill Creek head coach Shannon Jarvis said he is pleased with the progress the team has made over the summer.
“We’re having a great summer,” he said. “We really started last year with our kids understanding how important it is to work out and the commitment it takes. The attendance [for summer workouts] has been great.”
Jarvis said the players are meeting his expectations in terms of work ethic.
“Our kids know we’re committed and obviously they are,” he said. “It takes a lot of work.”
FILLING THE VOID
The Hawks return seven starters on offense and six on defense, leaving several key positions that Jarvis and his staff have been working to fill.
On defense, the Hawks must replace a free safety, two linebackers and corners. On offense, several linemen positions are up for grabs.
In May, Mill Creek coaches had the opportunity to assess which players would be most capable of filling these critical vacancies during spring practice. While Jarvis said they were able to solidify many of the positions at that time, some questions remain.
“We’re still tinkering with some of the positions,” Jarvis said. “What we’re looking at now is getting the kids who have the right chemistry together.”
Jarvis said he and his staff feel they have narrowed down which players are ready to fill the voids in the roster, but need to find which players work best as a team.
“Out of the six best defensive backs, we’ve got to find the four that play the best together,” he said. “Offensively, we need the players that are in rhythm with the quarterback and so forth.”
Jarvis said the camps and tournaments his players are participating in over the summer go a long way in helping ready the team for next season.
“These camps and the passing leagues are vital for us,” he said.
As part of their off-season preparations, the Hawks have attended several camps. Two weeks ago, 35 Mill Creek players attended a 7-on-7 passing camp at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. Later this month, Mill Creek will host the three-day Elite Offensive Line Camp. At the end of July, the entire team will travel to West Georgia College for the FCA team camp.
In addition to time spent at camps and time spent on conditioning exercise, the Mill Creek players are putting in a lot of time in the weight room.
Jarvis said Mill Creek’s weight program is a key part of the team’s success and that he is very pleased with the effort the players have made.
“I would put how hard our kids work up against anybody in the state,” he said.
Jarvis said he has no complaints about the efforts his players have made during the workouts and camps.
“The kids are working hard,” he said. “It’s that part of the year where you continue to work them and get some clarity to those questions that you do have each day you go out there.”
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
Mill Creek officially begins football practice on August 1. The following week, the Hawks go to two-a-days as they prepare for the season opener against Dacula. The first day of practice in full pads will be August 6.
