JD coach Travis Pearson believes he will get more out of his team this season after spending last year trying to teach his young squad. (Staff Photo)

Staff Report
(August 6, 2010)

Travis Pearson believes his second year as the head football coach at Jeff Davis will be better than the first.

In some ways, it already reached a higher level.

Then again, after a 1-9 finish, there was only one way to go.

“I’ve seen a difference in the weight room,” he said prior to a JD practice earlier this week. “They seem to understand more what we are trying to teach them. The terminology is making more sense to them. They are getting to the ball quicker.

“And right now, we are not talking about winning games but about winning one-on-ones. We are fighting those here first.”

The Vols finished 1-9 last season but are looking for bigger and better things in 2010. If the first week of practice is any indication, they are on their way to a stronger finish.

“Their work ethic has gotten better but I think that is due to understanding what we want from them,” Pearson said. “That look is gone. There is more fire in them. And I think getting beaten a few times made them hungry.

“If they can grab a hold of what we are teaching, they have a chance to be a lot better.”

JD was close in a few losses but not so in others. They made big plays to stay within striking distance of Robert E. Lee and lost while giving up big plays in a loss to Auburn.

“We were young, inexperienced,” Pearson said. “We are still young but they have game time to work with this season.”

The defense that gave up an average of 32 points per game last season will have several of the same players back but Pearson believes “losing” is a great teacher and a motivator.

“The best way to learn,’ he said. “They lost a lot last year. But they got better as the season went a long. I saw a different team in the last couple of games. I think we have something to build on this year.”

The roster includes several freshmen for the first time, meaning second-teamers are off the scout team.

Ninth graders are getting acclimated to the high school game much quicker.

“Last year, when they came here, I had them for two because it took a year for them to get used to high school football,” Pearson said “Now they can work on scout team. We tell them, ‘you are important in helping us prepare.’ Every one of them showed up all summer at workouts.”

JD opens the season on Aug. 26 against Dothan at Cramton Bowl.