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Everything plus Mitchell the DT they led on went Ole Miss. all those 5 stars signed last year arenโt cheap to hold on to.
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Thank you frenzy!
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@cjvogel Happy Birthday my friend.๐ค๐ป
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Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I really do appreciate how many of yall took time out of your day to say something! Looking forward to a great weekend out here in Thibodeaux for the Manning Passing Academy! Will have plenty of updates from camp ahead!
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Look up their 2027 recruiting class rankings on 247 or On3/Rivals and you'll understand those reactions from their fanbase.
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On the way home!
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What is this about?
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PortALonghorn changed their profile photo
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For those who like to geek out on teaching hitting technique, here you go: Amber Freeman shares practical hitting drills primarily through The Art of Coaching Softball (where she contributed content around 2020 while at Vanguard University) and coaching education platforms like Coaches Insider. Her drills align with her philosophy of simplifying swings, generating power through proper mechanics (especially extension), building individualized plans, and understanding swing planes.Here are the main hitting drills directly associated with her: 1. Extension Drill (Her Daily Staple) Purpose: Develop full arm extension through contact for maximum power and to drive the ball to the gaps or over the fence. Freeman emphasizes that โextension is powerโ and calls this a hitting staple she uses with athletes every single day. How to perform (based on her video demonstration): Hitter starts in their normal stance and goes through their full swing sequence/load/stride/rotation as usual. Instead of following through completely, stop/freeze at the point of full extension right after contact. At the freeze point, the barrel should be pointing directly at the pitcher (or straight ahead through the hitting zone). Focus on staying long through the ball rather than cutting the swing short. Repeat for reps, emphasizing controlled power and proper sequencing. Key coaching points from Freeman: Getting to full extension helps hitters develop power. It counters the misconception that a big, loopy swing is needed for distanceโsimpler, extended mechanics work better.Where to see it: Search Facebook for โExtension Drill - The Art of Coaching Softballโ (video posted March 2020 with Freeman demonstrating). 2. Swing Planes Drill / Awareness (Uppercut vs. Flat) Purpose: Help hitters understand and optimize their natural swing plane to match pitch locations and maximize contact/power.Key concepts Freeman teaches: There are uppercut swingers and flat swingers. Uppercut swingers generally perform better on pitches down in the zone. Flat swingers generally perform better on pitches up in the zone. The goal is to stay in the right plane for the situation rather than forcing one style. She demonstrates with video examples and explains specific hitting drills tailored to each type of swinger to reinforce the correct plane.How itโs typically practiced: Hitters take swings (tee, soft toss, or machine) while focusing on plane awareness. Coaches or hitters analyze whether the swing is naturally uppercutting or flattening out. Drills adjust hand path, launch angle, or contact point to reinforce the desired plane for different pitch heights/locations. Where to see it: Search โUnderstanding Swing Planes with Amber Freemanโ on Coaches Insider or Instagram (softballcoachesinsider account). It includes video breakdown and drill recommendations. 3. Separation Drill (Swing Breakdown) Purpose: Isolate and strengthen the early phases of the swing, particularly engaging the backside (loading/separation) before the front side fires. This helps hitters feel proper sequencing and prevents front-side dominance.How it works (from descriptions in the same coaching series): Break the swing into phases. Focus on the load/separation portion: Create separation between the upper and lower body, engaging the back hip/shoulder while keeping the front side quiet initially. Hitters often start with a paused or controlled movement to feel the backside leading the swing. Progress to full swings or live reps while maintaining that feel. Freeman breaks down the swing this way to help hitters understand and own each part of their mechanics. Where to see it: Related content appears in The Art of Coaching Softball videos (search โSeparation hitting drillโ on their Facebook page). Additional Methods from Freemanโs Approach While not always named โdrills,โ these are core to her hitting instruction (drawn from her interviews and success developing power hitters like Sydney Stewart): Machine Work (eHack or similar): Program specific pitchers into hitting machines and take full at-bats. This builds pitch recognition and approach in a controlled environment. Zone/Targeting Work: Identify each hitterโs strengths/weaknesses and โparticular zone.โ Practice hunting pitches in their hot zones with a specific plan (count leverage, pitch selection). Simplified Mechanics Reps: Focus on clean, repeatable swings rather than complex movementsโespecially for power hitters. These drills and methods contributed to major offensive improvements at Arizona (top Big 12 offense with multiple high-average/power hitters). Tips for implementation: Start with the Extension Drill dailyโitโs simple, effective, and reinforces power. Film swings to check planes and extension. Individualize: Not every hitter needs the same emphasis (e.g., power hitters vs. slap hitters). Most of Freemanโs content is video-based for visual learning. Search the titles above on Facebook, Instagram, or Coaches Insider for the demonstrations. Her content is also part of broader The Art of Coaching Softball libraries (some behind membership).
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Happy Birthday CJ! Safe travels and cheers to another year of awesome football coverage and a Texas natty ๐ค๐ผ
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Happy Birthday, CJ!
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Agreed. Hated reading that just a few minutes after he posted it.
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Prayers to a speedy recovery for Matt
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OTF Premium OTF nugget on Greedy James | Wednesday 11 a.m.
UTexas replied to Hank South's topic in On Texas Football Forum
Eh, what do you know Hank? LOL. -
Baseball portal is open
Assistant Regional Manager replied to THookem's topic in On Texas Football Forum
In a 34-man roster era, almost all depth is going to have to come from your HS class. The days of the bench being stacked with guys that would start at other SEC schools are over.