Robert E. Lee High School defenders run tackling drills on Monday during practice at the school in Tyler. Andrew D. Brosig/Tyler Morning Telegraph via AP

 

“Faster!”

“Hurry!”

“Let’s go! Move it! Faster!”

Those calls were heard every few seconds from Robert E. Lee coaches on the first day of two-a-day football practices at Red Raider Field.

New coach Clayton George aims to improve on a 5-5 season in which Lee missed the playoffs.

Temperatures rose steadily throughout the morning, but the pace never lessened.

“We want to play fast. We want to play physical and we want to play smart,” George said. “That is sort of the motto we live by.

“To play fast you have to practice fast, so everything we do from the time we step on this field to the time we hustle off after their position coach is through talking to them; everything is on the move, everything is full speed and everyone is bouncing drill to drill. When you do that, it’s a mindset and the kids play like that on Friday night.”

The work began just after dawn at 7 a.m. and continued until 10 when freshmen took the field and their fast-paced practice began. The only time Lee stopped was for five scheduled water breaks before regular service

Lee will don full pads on Friday and George expects things to be turned up even more as REL works toward its scrimmage Aug. 19 against Irving MacArthur and season opener Aug. 26 at home to Marshall.

“I told the guys after practice that today is a starting point, it’s not an ending point and we want to be just a little bit better tomorrow than we were today,” George said. “If we do those things, then the wins of every drill, the wins over every period, of every day and the wins on Friday nights take care of themselves.”

The Red Raiders return three starters on offense and three on defense with junior quarterback Chance Amie and seniors Campbell Miller (DE) and Makyle Sanders (CB) expected to lead by example from start to finish.

Amie started three games for Lee last season – after senior Zach Hall suffered an injury in a win over John Tyler – including a comeback victory over Garland Lakeview Centennial. He is now the unquestioned starter and said he was excited and ready to get on the field and begin working toward a successful 2016 campaign.

“We are just very intense and high paced and do everything efficiently,” Amie said. “Everybody is just buying in and changing the culture. I know I could have done more things last year and now I am coming into this season more prepared and way smarter and faster.”

Miller was REL’s top tacklers last season at linebacker and now moved to defense end. He admits it is a bit of a change.

“I kind of miss being the leader of the defense (as linebacker), but this move definitely fits my body more and I’ve been able to put on some weight, and it has been a good (transition) so far.”

Sanders is the team’s top returning tackler and said the players enjoy the pace and intensity with all of it working toward Aug. 26 and Marshall.

“I and glad to be back out here with my teammates and get ready for this season,” Sanders said. “The coach wants me to lead defense and play with intensity and make sure my teammates are doing (things) right.

“They are pushing us. We are ready for (Marshall). We have been preparing for them since spring.”

Raider Rap: Lee’s Media Day is Aug. 18 at 4 p.m. with the Red Raiders scrimmage against Irving MacArthur slated for 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at Forney’s City Bank Stadium. Lee will kick off against Marshall at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26 as part of the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Football Classic. It will be the first regular season meeting between Lee and Marshall in more than a decade. The teams scrimmaged against each other the past two years.

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