Red Wolves Wrap Up First Week Of Spring Ball

JONESBORO (4/1/10) - The Arkansas State football team wrapped up its first week of spring practices Thursday afternoon, suiting out in shoulder pads for the first time this year as it held its third workout inside ASU Stadium since opening its 2010 spring camp Monday.

"We've had three practices with a brand new offense and obviously new adjustments defensively, and parts of practice have looked really good and other parts have been ragged," said ASU head coach Steve Roberts. "We're getting a ton of reps in practice and I'm real confident that we're going to continue getting better and better."

The Red Wolves still have 12 practices remaining during their spring camp, and Roberts said after Thursday's practice that the team has made progress in the film room, in meetings and during its first three days on the field.

"I saw some improvements today," said Roberts. "I saw some things that we did really well and things that we're getting better at each day. We just have to continue to improve. We've seen specific improvements in our alignments by our receivers and in our communication, especially on the outside. I think we're getting better defensively also. Again, we're putting stuff in defensively that's new each day."

There are several players that are having a strong spring camp thus far, and junior middle linebacker Michael Lombardo is among those that have caught the attention of the coaching staff.  Part of ASU's 2010 signing class, Lombardo is going through his first spring camp with ASU after transferring from College of the Sequoias located in Visalia, Calif.

"I've been real impressed with Michael Lombardo," said Roberts. "He's getting a ton of reps with Nick Nelms out sick and Nathan Herrold out, and he's doing a good job. The inside guys are getting better every day too. Things are happening so fast for them, they really have to concentrate on calls and executing their assignments."

Players will suit out in full pads for the first time this spring when ASU holds its next practice, scheduled for Monday at 3:30 p.m.

Season tickets for the Red Wolves' 2010 campaign are now on sale. To order tickets, contact the ASU Box Office at 870-972-ASU1 or 1-888-ASU-FANS or visit AStateRedWolves.com. For more information, contact the ASU Marketing Department at 870-972-3880.