Ten practices into spring training, and the Escambia Academy Cougars are beginning to gel as they prepare to run a new offense for the 2010 season.

The Cougars led by head coach Heath Gibson have had 10 practices with 39 players consistenly suiting up, but there have been some problems with injury.

Gibson said the numbers have been pleasing, but the physical toll has shown its ugly head.

“We have had really good numbers this spring,” Gibson said. “Things have gotten really physical though, and we have some guys who are injured because of it, but they should be back by Monday.”

Aside from injuries, the Cougars have been giving it everything they have had in practice.

Gibson said he is excited with the dedication he has relieved from each player on the field.

“Things have been great at each practice,” Gibson said. “All the guys are getting really physical, and we have had several guys stepping up each day. One thing that we have had this spring that we haven’t had in awhile is a lot of team speed. This is one of the fastest teams I have had as a coach.”

As far as positions go, Gibson said he has seen good things on both sides of the ball.

He said that play of his receivers and quarterback have been strong as well as the offensive line.

“Our receivers are coming along,” Gibson said. “They are hitting their routes and catching the ball. We just need to work on them taking are of the ball and making the play before going for extra yardage. The offensive line has really grown up, and they are all taking their jobs seriously. At quarterback, Michael Thompson has grown up a lot this spring. His throws have a ton of velocity and he is doing a great job at running the spread option.”

The spread option is one of several new things that the Cougars will put on display this fall when they take the field.

Escambia Academy has been working in a new offense complete with playbook that features a variety of plays, which are similar to what former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow performed.

Gibson said his team has started coming along with the new offense with efficiency getting better every day.

“Wednesday was probably the best day we have had in terms of learning the new playbook,” Gibson said. “We made a lot of progress, and it’s not perfect but they are learning.”

Learning the playbook has become the goal for Gibson and the Cougars.

He said that if his team can learn more than 50 percent of the playbook then he considers the spring a success.

“If we can have 60 percent of the playbook learned then we will have accomplished something this spring.,” Gibson said.