Getting more physical during spring workouts

Van Buren got a taste of life in the highly competitive 7A-West last season, with the Pointers winning just one conference game. So over the off-season and during spring workouts, coach Greg Werner emphasized his Pointers (2-8 overall a season ago) needed to be even more physical. “It’s really been kind of a much more physical spring for us than we’ve had in the past,” Werner said. “We just felt like we had to do it, it’s something we had to do, but it’s worked out well for us. “(The 7A-West) is such a good conference and has a lot of great teams, but we feel good about our chances and think we’ve got a chance to compete now; it’s just a matter of us kind of getting over the hump. We approached it last year and just couldn’t get it done and it’s just a matter at some point, we’ve got to get over the edge and it’s a process, but at some point, we’ve got to get it done.” Werner did add his team’s numbers are up. He estimated there were about 110 incoming sophomore to senior players, as well as approximately 70 incoming freshmen who showed up this spring. There is also one notable addition to the roster, incoming senior Nathan Westbrook, a guard who had been a two-year starter at Allen, Texas, a notable hotbed of high school football. “He’s made a big difference for us,” Werner said of Westbrook. “His attitude and his presence I think is really helping our kids, because this kid is used to winning football games and I think he’s really helping us.” In addition, there have been several returning starters for the Pointers who caught Werner’s attention this spring. “I think (incoming senior offensive lineman) Derek King’s had a great, great spring and he’s a returning starter but I think he has looked really good,” Werner said. “(Incoming senior) Walter Green, who’s our returning tailback, I really like what I see out of him; he’s put in a great off-season. Then (incoming junior) Landry Wilkerson, who just came out of baseball. ... He has looked fantastic in the secondary.” There were some changes in the coaching staff as well. Assistant coach Brandon Tyler, a former head coach at Vian, left to return to Oklahoma, taking over as coach at Gore while another assistant, Adam Pendergrass, left to take a similar position at Bryant. Then another assistant, Seth Burgess, took over as coach at Van Buren’s Butterfield Trail Middle School. Werner promoted two coaches who had already been in the system. Derek Davis comes from Van Buren’s Freshman Academy to coach the running backs while James Hillard, the new receivers coach, came from Butterfield. “Those guys have been in the system, they know the kids and they’ve done a good job, but they’ve really added a lot and I really like what they’ve done,” Werner said. A main point of emphasis for Werner and his staff entering preseason workouts in August will be finding more depth. “With our situation, it always comes down to depth, and we’ve got to be able to find some quality depth at every position,” Werner said. “That’s always a big chore in the spring and summer, finding those kids that can help you make a difference in some areas so that’s always a concern and I think that’s where a lot of our young kids are going to come in.” Van Buren will hold its spring game at 6 p.m. Friday. For the second consecutive season, the Pointers will open the season against archrival Alma on a weeknight, this time on Tuesday, Aug. 29, in Van Buren before the Pointers travel to face Northside on Sept. 8.

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GETTING MORE PHYSICAL DURING SPRING WORKOUTS

BUCK RINGGOLD

Times Record | 5/23/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Jamie Mitchell