Portland State completed its fifth spring practice at Stott Community Field on Wednesday morning. It came with a little spice and a preview of what lies ahead.
 
The Vikings took advantage of a day with full pads, running live plays for the last half hour of practice, and created some feisty, heated competition between the offense and defense. It offered a live look at all the available quarterback candidates, while the defense could celebrate three forced turnovers.
 
"It was back and forth today," said Vikings Coach Bruce Barnum. "We are playing the game aggressively. If we are tough enough and get turnovers like that, we will have a chance to be really good. I like the changes I've seen."
 
The preview, of course, was for the Vikings' scrimmage this Friday. It is the first of two prior to the Spring Scrimmage at the end of the month and will begin after a 30-minute warmup session. This week's will be a controlled, situational scrimmage, offering another chance for the players to impress the coaching staff.
 
"We will go into different scenarios on the field between the 20s, red-zone stuff. It will be a variety of situations that will extend for about an hour of practice," said Barnum.
 
Certainly it will be a chance to look at Barnum's six-man quarterback group as they compete to earn the starting role in 2025. With only two quarterbacks (Davis Alexander and Dante Chachere – both highly productive in the pass and the run) leading the Vikings over the past seven seasons, it begs the question, 'what are coaches looking for in their new signal caller?'"
 
"There are a lot of things we do as coaches to prepare our quarterbacks," Barnum said. "But in the end, the team will let us know. You look at how the team responds to the guy that moves them up and down the field; who gives them confidence. That confidence will enter the offense.
 
"The entire team will know. The defense knows who is tough to stop. Leadership really helps, but they will know who we are most productive with. We have options with players who have different skill sets."
 
And it's going to be a challenge to whoever separates himself, or themselves, during spring practice. Barnum noted the development and maturity of his defensive line over the past two years to this point.
 
"The defensive line is showing some real progression in their game. They are getting pressure to the quarterback routinely. We need that," he said.
 
SPRING PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Thurs., Apr. 10 8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 11     8-10 a.m., scrimmage
 
Mon., Apr. 14  8-10 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 16  8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 18     8-10 a.m.
Sat., Apr. 19    10-Noon, scrimmage
 
Mon., Apr. 21  8-10 a.m.
Wed., Apr. 23  8-10 a.m.
Fri., Apr. 25     8-9 a.m.
Sat., Apr. 26    10 a.m.-Noon, Spring Game
 
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