Leading up to Elon's spring football game this Saturday, April 23, a member of the Phoenix football program will share their thoughts on the team.
 
Featured in this week's edition is offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski, who is in his third season with the program. Wroblewski was named to his current position in January of 2014 following a two-year stint as the offensive line coach at Rutgers, helping the Scarlet Knights to a share of the Big East Conference title in 2012. A four-year football player and 1999 graduate of Lafayette College, Wroblewski began his coaching career at Bryant College and has spent time at Pennsylvania, Hofstra, Stony Brook and Delaware.
 
Q: What improvements did you see from the first to the second scrimmage?
A: As you go through spring practice, the important things that we're looking for are the fundamental improvements and the mental improvements. The execution's going to come with repetition, but as the fundamentals improve and as their eyes and minds improve, then they're going to be sharpened for the season. Does that show up on the scoreboard immediately on a scrimmage Saturday? No, but at the end of the day, you can really see the fundamental improvement and the understanding of what they're looking at.
 
Q: Has the offensive line grown more confident with experience?
A: I think they have a higher expectation of themselves, and that's a good thing. The more that they play, the more that they work together and rep the drills, the more confident they're going to be in themselves. Offensive line play, you can't teach experience. It's impossible. You just have to live it with them and keep correcting them and it gets better as time goes.
 
Q: What is your perspective of the quarterback battle?
A: I think both kids (Connor Christiansen and Daniel Thompson) have a burning desire to be the guy. I think they're both working hard in the film room. I think they're both working hard at their fundamentals and you can definitely see improvements in both of their games. Each one of them is different and unique to themselves and each one of them has their strengths and weaknesses, and you can see each one of them working on those weaknesses.
 
Q: Are younger running backs taking on a bigger leadership role?
A: They're going to need to whether they like to or not. At the end of the day, you can't teach experience and (B.J. Bennett) had a lot of it and (Tracey Coppedge) had a bunch. So we're excited for these young guys and we'll keep teaching them to get better at it. But it's their job and their turn now. That's the way it goes.
 
2016 Elon Phoenix Spring Football Practice Schedule
Friday, April 22 – 3:45 p.m.
Saturday, April 23 – 6 p.m. (Rhodes Stadium, Spring Game)