It is definitely not the most perfect spring practice Bart Snyder has been a part of, but he will take an opportunity to get on the field any time.

The Goshen Eagles opened spring football practice earlier this week, and spent the first couple of days running through drills and getting back in the swing of football.

Snyder said that he isn’t a fan of having spring drills late in the semester, but will use the time to get younger players ready to go.

“We try to have it a little earlier in the year, when it is a little cooler,” said Snyder. “Later in the year, the weather is warmer and seems like there is a lot more going on in the school. We have a lot of younger players, and will use the spring to get going to work.”

Goshen finished 5-6 in 2012, and made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive seasons. The Eagles have made the Alabama High School Athletic Associations playoffs every season Snyder has been head coach.

The spring will be a time for Snyder and team to work on fundamentals, but they also plan to put the wheels in motion in laying their offensive and defensive foundations. Ed Rigby, Goshen’s offensive coordinator in 2012, left to take the head coaching position at Elba.

Rigby installed the spread offense prior to the season, but lackluster results forced the Eagles to abandon the attack early in the year. Goshen installed more of a ground attack running game, and the results followed. Fans can expect to see more of the running offense this season.

“We are going to run a system that we can be successful with,” said Snyder. “We want to play a hard nosed style of football. We have good depth, especially on the line, that we haven’t had in the past few seasons. But the spring is all about working out the kinks, and getting back in a groove.”

Goshen will take part in a four-team jamboree game next Friday, May 10, at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy. The Eagles will meet the Ariton Purple Cats in a scrimmage, while Pike County will face off with Rigby’s Elba Tigers.

Snyder said that winning the game against Ariton is not top priority of the spring. He wants the team to get better every day and be ready to hit the ground running in August.

“We want to get as many kids reps as we can,” said Snyder. “You need to find out who you can count on now, instead of September. Guys who are here now, will be ready in August.”