#CampCuse: Full Pads for Day 6

(8/7/2018) #CampCuse: Day 6

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange strapped on full pads for the first time Tuesday morning, opening the second week of preseason camp with a nearly three-hour workout on the Schwartzwalder and Katz Practice Fields. With the NCAA's mandated four-day acclimation period behind them, the team alternated between live reps and "thud" sessions, with the sound of pads popping echoing through the air.

"Football practice started today," head coach Dino Babers said. "It was good to get [pads] on and the guys were eager to do live drills. We can't do it every single day, but there were some periods where we let them go a little bit and it was fun."
Now in year three at the helm, Babers is seeing the players better embrace his schemes and style. Tuesday was just the fifth of 19 training camp practices, but Babers said there's a greater level of comfort and consistency, joking that maybe only he was different.

"I had someone tell me I was mellower, but I'm not sure that's true," Babers joked. "I know the guys better, they know me better. They know things that bug me, I know the things that bug them."

Sights and sounds from the first day of popping 😤 pic.twitter.com/2n8pQdUyHF
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) August 7, 2018

Babers said the emphasis in Week 2 is giving additional repetitions to the second- and third-teamers in preparation for the Orange's first scrimmage, which is set for Saturday, Aug. 11.

"First week in camp was just the one's and two's showing how well they've practiced over the summer," Babers said. "Going into the second week and our first scrimmage, we've got to get the two's and the three's ready. We've got to give a lot of people a lot of work, so they have an opportunity to show what they can do in the scrimmage because the scrimmage is going to matter."

Sophomore defensive end Kingsley Jonathan and junior defensive end Alton Robinson both received praise from Babers, who noted the defense's improved ability to get to the quarterback thus far in camp.

"There's been some outstanding pass rushing," Babers said. "Jonathan had a sack later on [today] in practice. [Robinson's] been doing a nice job – he got a sack earlier today – and he's working on his run stuff."

Syracuse will hold three more practices before Saturday's scrimmage, the first of two, before the team begins narrowing its focus for the season opener at Western Michigan on Friday, Aug. 31.

Season and individual game tickets for Orange football are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125 for Syracuse's six home games. Single-game tickets start at $20 for the home opener Sept. 8 against Wagner and $25 for the Connecticut game on Sept. 22. For Syracuse's four Atlantic Coast Conference games, tickets are available for as little as $35.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Kingsley Jonathan

Alton Robinson

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