SANFORD — Because the competition caters to the development of skill players, offensive and defensive linemen are usually a rare sight at summer 7-on-7s.
But on Thursday evening, the big men joined the party.
The Richmond Senior football team brought along its linemen when it traveled to Sanford for a 7-on-7 with Eastern Randolph and Lee County. While the skill players were on the Yellow Jackets’ main practice field, the linemen from each school were down the hill battling in the trenches.
“It’s always good to get out here and go against another team,” offensive line coach Kemp McSween said, “and get some of aggression out on somebody who’s not your teammate.”
All three teams took turns on both offense and defense, with the defenders trying to get into the backfield and the protectors doing their best to keep the defense away from the quarterback — or in this case whoever was catching the ball.
McSween watched as his group, one by one, did what they could to stand their ground and win their respective battles. There were some teachable moments, but he said the offensive line did “fairly well” when their numbers were called.
“They were aggressive and that’s what we came to see,” he added. “We’re adapting to a whole-new scheme, new terminology and new techniques. So we’ve just got to get better at all of it.”
Defensive line coach Milton Sweenie was also pleased with how his group performed Thursday.
“I thought all three groups gave each other great looks and kept it clean,” he said. “It’s always good when you get an opportunity to go against an opposite-color jersey. And I think we took care of business.”
Sweenie doesn’t have a returning defensive lineman who was named all-conference last season — like McSween does with offensive lineman Jake Ransom — but he believes his group has the potential to be “something real special.”
That’s if they’re able to clean up a few fundamentals.
“I’m expecting a unit that comes together and gives great effort…a unit that wants to improve,” Swinnie said. “And I think we’ve got that group of guys this year. I think we do.”
As for Richmond’s skill players, they were able to practice against a different team for the last time this summer period. The Raiders won’t see another school until their scheduled scrimmage at Cape Fear on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
Head coach Bryan Till said he would’ve liked to get a few more snaps in, but he appreciated the opportunity to get better.
“It was a good chance to get reps and compete against a couple different teams and different looks,” Till said.
Next week is the state’s second and final mandatory dead period, where no team activities are allowed. Richmond will pick back up Monday, July 24 and have one week of summer workouts before officially kicking the season off Monday, July 31.
Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.
The Richmond Senior defensive linemen worked against Lee County and Eastern Randolph while the teams’ skill players competed in a 7-on-7 on Thursday. Defensive line coach Milton Sweenie said his group has the potential to be "something real special."
Raider offensive linemen pleased position coach Kemp McSween, pictured in the background, with their "aggressiveness" during Thursday’s competition.