GREYHOUND FOOTBALL
After nearly a month of voluntary summer workouts, the Greyhounds are in the midst of a two-week break. That respite will end next week following the second of the GHSA’s two summer dead weeks for all sports. After that, voluntary workouts can resume.
Following that first month, the Greyhounds feel that they’re in a good place leading toward the earliest official day of practice on Aug. 1 and a preseason scrimmage on Aug. 11 at Buford.
“All the sports have become pretty much year-round with all that you do in the offseason. We’ve been working pretty hard since beginning of January, and the guys need a bit of a break,” Greyhounds head coach Mike Chastain said. “Even though the summer is voluntary, kids think of it was mandatory because they know they’ll fall behind if they don’t go.”
The GHSA dead periods fall the weeks of Memorial Day and July Fourth, but Jones County gives its coaches and players an extra week in mid-summer too, giving them an extra week leading into the grind in the month of July.
“We all need breaks and to spend a little time with family before we come back and get to work,” Chastain said.
The Greyhounds like what they see so far from a senior class of more than 35 seniors.
“We have a really good senior group. We counted the other day, we have 36 seniors,” Chastain said.
“Anything over 35, that’s a good number to have and this group is really leading the way. We’re excited to see what they’ll do this year and how they will lead this football team.”
One element of momentum in the Greyhounds court heading toward July is how skill position players fared in 7-on-7 work in June that included winning a 32-team tournament held at the University of Georgia, winning against a field that included Houston County and Buford.
“You’re just trying to get your quarterback, receivers and defensive backs lots of reps because making plays in the air is such an important part of the game, but that’s not real football. Real football is blocking and tackling, and you don’t get to evaluate that a lot during the summer,” Chastain said. “We’re happy with how June came along and are looking forward to July in August.”
