NATCHITOCHES – With the final week of preseason practice now in the books, Northwestern State football coach Brad Laird needs a good look.
 
When the Demons return to practice Sunday afternoon, after a day off Saturday, they'll be focused on the game plan for Thursday night's season opener at Texas A&M. NSU's "look" team – the scouts replicating the Aggies anticipated schemes and formations, since they also have a new coaching staff – will be vital in preparations.
 
"This week has allowed us to incorporate a little of Texas A&M game plan, and still do a lot of good-on-good, speed-on-speed work," said Laird. "We'll still do good-on-good, speed-on-speed work on Sunday and we'll be immersed in game plan installation for Texas A&M."
 
NSU will be in full gear Sunday going through what will ordinarily be their Tuesday practice during a normal game week culminating with a Saturday contest. A key will be effort and execution by younger players who are unlikely to make the travel roster but will play a key role in helping the Demons get ready for their biggest challenge of the 2018 season.
 
The other part of the equation is for the front-line players to maintain their approach that has been consistent in preseason camp and during spring practice.
 
"We've got to make the transition from team offense vs. defense, good-on-good, to scouts. We have to take that same mindset, that same intensity because that period is just as important, if not more so, because it's a look team, and not the first offense or the first defense," said Laird.
 
"That's the next step we have to take. You reflect back on fall camp and even spring practice, there hasn't been a look team," said Laird. "We need to maintain our intensity level now more than ever. The stakes are higher."
 
The Demons will have three afternoon workouts before departing for Texas Wednesday.