Making sure the basics are covered will be the name of the game at the start of the 2009 fall football practice for the Opp Bobcats next Monday.

“We’re just going to start on the basic fundamentals the first three days, putting in the basic offense formation and some defense formations,” Opp coach Jack Whigham said. “We’re going to do a lot of fundamentals for the kids and make sure our kids know the proper way to tackle and the proper way to block.

“Then, when we get in pads, we’ll start doing a lot more physical work,” he said.

During the summer, the Bobcats met three times per week, focusing on lifting weights and conditioning.

Whigham said the conditioning right now is not up to speed, but by the first game of the season, every player will be ready to go.

“I think we’re really in good shape,” he said. “I don’t know if our conditioning is right where it needs to be and that’s not the kids’ fault, that’s my fault. We have three-and-a-half to four weeks to get ready and we’ll be in shape for the first game.”

Whigham said the main key during practice for the next three-and-a-half weeks will focus on developing depth for several positions.

“We need to develop some experience in several key positions,” Whigham said. “We don’t have a lot of experience on the offensive line and we don’t have a lot of experience with linebackers. So, we’ve got to try and develop some depth in those positions.”