GRAMBLING---The Grambling State Tigers got cerebral Wednesday after thunderstorms forced them indoors as they continued preseason football practice.

 

"We went into the Intramural Center and did a walk-through," GSU Head Coach Doug Williams said. "We worked on special teams and on assignments as we start begining to prepare for Alcorn (State). It's too small in there to even do seven-on-seven drills."

 

GSU opens the 2011 season at 6 p.m. Sept. 3 against the Braves in the Port City Classic at Independence Stadium in Shreveport.

 

"We've been pretty physical for the last couple of weeks, so I'm sure today was good for the players' bodies," Williams said. "They've been banging pretty hard, so taking time to just kind of step back and really think about what they're doing out there on the field."

 

Williams said the defensive walk-through was important because his talented squad will be tested by the offense of his first cousin, Alcorn State Head Coach Melvin Spears.

 

"Melvin's going to be wide open," Williams said. "I would be too, with the kind of quarterback he has. He'll run some traps and draws, but he's going to bomb it down there, too."

 

Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge passed for 19 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards as a freshman last season and was second in team rushing yardage and scored six touchdowns on the ground.

 

"He's going to be tough to stop," Williams said. "It's probably a good thing that our defense of our offense so far, because they'll be tested."