Keith wants Bulldogs to pick up intensity

With the football season opener with Bisbee less than two weeks away the Douglas Bulldogs continue to show improvement leaving returning coach Dick Keith encouraged by what he’s seeing.

“We’re having some up and down days right now,” the coach said after Friday’s practice.  “We’re working hard – the intensity level is not where we want it at just yet.”

The coach said the skill players are set, the speed is there and certain players are really starting to fill into their positions.

Junior CJ Teran will lead the Bulldogs again this year at quarterback.

“He’s throwing a better ball,” the coach said. “His arm is not as strong as I would like it to be – he throws a good ball for 40-45 yards.”

Coach Keith admits however he was “spoiled” by David Rose who could throw the ball 70 yards back when he was playing in the late 1980’s.

“He’s doing a good job for us,” Keith said of Teran.

The back field is loaded, according to the coach with David Figueroa, AJ Acosta, Oscar Rios, Joel Bello, Hunter Long, Marcos Loretto and Jason Sanez all expected to see quality playing time in the back field.

Keith said Rios and Long are more the bruiser type of backs who he knows can get that 2-3 yards the Bulldogs may need while the others have shown quickness.

Coach Keith is impressed with the size of the offensive and defensive front line and how well they play together.

“We’re bigger across the front, they’re physical, they can play the game but they’ll go hard and then they’ll drop off a little bit and that’s something we have to work on.”

The coach said he needs to know his linemen can go however long it takes to get the job done.

“If that means they’re out there for three hours then so be it,” he said. “It’s all mental right now. … When these kids walk out onto that football field that Friday night all I want them thinking about is that particular game. They’re there to do a job.”

The Bulldogs will scrimmage Empire High School Thursday in Tucson.

Coach Keith knows Bisbee will have its scouts in the stands.

“I’ve got only a few select plays I’m going to focus on against Empire,” Keith said. “It is a scrimmage – it’s important but it’s also a practice.”

After playing Bisbee in the season opener Aug. 28 the Bulldogs will be off the following week before hosting Nogales Sept. 11 in the home opener.