#MIZCamp18 - Defensive Backs Beginning to Make Plays in Camp
8/10/2018 3:04:00 PM | Football
COLUMBIA, Mo. – While Drew Lock didn't make an appearance to the media following the seventh installment of #MIZCAMP18, the senior quarterback previously mentioned the secondary and their improvement as camp has progressed. With practice concluding Friday morning, members of the secondary group had the opportunity to respond to the accolades of their QB and discussed what it meant to compete against a player of his caliber.
"You know, he's an NFL quarterback, so we feel like he's going to give us the best look," sophomore DB Adam Sparks said. "We feel like if we can stop him we can stop anybody in the SEC or any other conference."
Sparks and the remainder of the defensive backs will look to improve upon their numbers from a season ago—numbers that depict a young yet promising secondary that made significant contributions to a Tiger defense that racked up 12 interceptions and 37 pass deflections during the 2017 campaign.
"Being more aggressive, running to the ball," Sparks said of the group's areas of focus. "Even if it's all the way to the sideline, we're all running to the ball. Because that's the only way you get a takeaway, you know get a strip, get a fumble recovery all of that comes from running to the ball and good hustle."
That hustle has been on full display during camp as offensive players and coaches alike have noticed the improvement that is evident in the defensive backfield.
Aside from Sparks, returning DBs DeMarkus Acy and Christian Holmes add a newfound depth to the position group and will be focusing on maintaining the mentality achieved during the remarkable turnaround that wrapped up the 2017 season.
"Really just taking initiative," Acy said. "We just decided not to lose any more, you know, we got tired of losing."
Having that winning mindset is important to Acy and he plans on using it as well as more tangible techniques to improve his play and the play of the defensive backs around him.
"Just getting our hands on the ball, trying to force turnovers," Acy mentioned. "We're seeing what we can do on a consistent basis going back to the end of last year trying to carry that over to this year. At the end of the day just trying to get our hands on the ball."
Echoing what Acy said earlier, Christian Holmes relayed the importance of improvement, especially coming off of an injury a year ago, and also the impact of having younger competition.
"Just the secondary room in general the competition is high," Holmes said. "You're trying to go out and compete for a job. The margin for error has been really slim."
Increased competition has led to increased productivity and as a result, DeMarkus Acy pointed out how the secondary group that the Tigers will field in 2018 ultimately differs from that of their 2017 counterpart.
"I just feel like we're really starting to get down into the scheme and system more, were starting to recognize the situation and have more awareness on the field," Acy said. "I feel like last year we didn't really get it to click until the win streak. We're just really knowing our keys and calls, so I just feel like we have more awareness on the field."
Stay tuned to #MIZCAMP18 by following Mizzou Football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @MizzouFootball. Tickets are available for the season by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS locally) or visiting MUTigers.com/FBTix.
