Townsend Brings Energy to Defense
By: rmacrae@bellsouth.net August 18, 2012

By Heath Bradley.

Lateek Townsend is ready and focused. After the 2011 season, a season that saw Townsend mostly appear on special teams; Townsend is ready to take the field on defense. Over two weeks into fall camp, Townsend is pleased with what he has seen out of himself and his teammates overall.

“Fall camp is going really well. We came out as a team and worked really hard each and every day. I feel like each day we come out here, we are getting better collectively as a group,” said Townsend.

Improvement is what the coaches are looking for from Townsend. A player with the physical tools, Townsend has spent this off season and fall camp improving his mental awareness of the game, while also getting his body in peak physical shape.

“I have focused getting better mentally and physically, getting my body bigger and stronger as well as getting mental level of the game down. You can never get too ready for the game; you have to prepare each and every day. You can not just arrive at one point and think you are ready, you have to prepare, it is a process,” said Townsend.

This dedication to studying the game should help Townsend the most. His hard work has already allowed him to increase his role under Brent Venables. At this point in fall camp Townsend has played a variety of positions on the defense, depending on situation.

“I have played a lot of SAM, some DIME, a little WILL, however I can help the team,” said Townsend.

Helping the team be successful is what it is all about to Townsend. His goal is to do whatever is asked of him to help the team. One particular way Townsend feels he can help the team, is through the way he plays the game. He hopes his aggressive and excited nature can move through the team and the team be able to control their aggressiveness and translate it into success. “I bring a lot of aggressive and aliveness to the defense and the team as a whole.”

There is no doubt you have seen Townsend’s excitement when he is on the field, this is something that Townsend hopes fans will be seeing a lot more of in 2012.