Rebels focus on fundamental approach

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on July 29, 2016 1:48 PM

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CALYPSO -- Stepping through a labyrinth of Rebel-green shell pads, neon construction barrels and a humidity level nearing choke point, North Duplin head coach Hugh Martin issued a simple directive to his players.

"Focus on one thing at a time, guys," he said. "Do it right. Get better at something tonight."

And so the gauntlet was thrown down.

Wednesday evening's mini-camp session at Calypso was the squad's last proper assemblage prior to the state-sanctioned opening of practice next Monday, and was wholly dedicated to one commodity.

Fundamentals.

After a fully lathered stint in the team's weight facility, Martin's troops march to "the pit," a sunken, 100-yard dash of crisp bermuda roughly five hundred yards from anywhere on the northwest side of campus.

From there, matters escalated quickly.

With the punctuality of military time, the players reported for group work in a variety of stepped-out, fully developed drill stations.

There were calistenics, neck rolls and high steps.

The warm-up, counted off in four-four Rebel time, was synched in a crisp, echoed meter.

Get better at something tonight.

Fade routes, seams and combacks were next. Each was run on the whistle, and talked up throughout. Loudly.

Get better at something tonight.

The phrase, attached to the varsity program's work over the years, carries meaning to its players. Fully engaged, they hustle and work in support of one another.

Cooperative spirit, it seems, is the Rebel letterman's law.

"It's something that we've been able to instill over the years," Martin said, "they understand that when they come down here (to the pit), and how they need to go about doing it."

So it continues.

Following a watering, the staff coordinates a three-part form tackling drill. The team works on constructing a pad level power base, gathering poise in their "buzz," and ripping up through a ball carrier.

It's varsity blues 101 -- and nothing about it is easy.

"It's something we build on," the coach said, "(and) a lot of things we do next week, we'll still be doing the last week of the season."

In addition to what's previously been done.

Throughout the summer, the Rebels handled affairs in the weight room, purposefully avoiding football in lieu of enhanced endurance, flexibility and strength.

"From the end of school until now, I've told them -- I want to see you in the weight room," Martin said.

"And we've had good turnout... we just have to make the transition to our football skills."

The North Duplin staff, however, isn't merely looking for the most superior physical version of its dressed out team. The ways and means of a player's football I.Q. matter as well -- especially to Martin, a former history instructor.

"What are they learning and carrying over from day to day?" he said, "(and) we try to do some oral assessing with them... just to see if they're having the recall."

"It's a lot like the classroom."

Get better at something tonight.