Eastern’s football schedule might not begin until Sept. 13, but the Panthers’ four new coaches: offensive coordinator John Carr, offensive line coach Mark Hutson, defensive line coach Derrick Jackson and defensive secondary coach Noah Joseph, are getting their first looks at the team now.

Eastern head coach Bob Spoo has been holding spring practices for over a week and the response from the players and coaches have been positive.

“I’ve seen no problems at all,” Spoo said. “I’m really pleased with the effort. The players are really warming up to (the new coaches) and I haven’t seen any difficulties up to this point.”

One of the players warming up to the new coaches is junior Fred Miller, who said the new coaches are doing wonderful.

In his senior season, this fall Miller will be asked to move to another new position. Miller played outside linebacker his sophomore year, collecting 117 tackles, second in the Ohio Valley Conference that year behind teammate Nick Ricks (125). In 2002, Miller moved back to strong safety where he made 87 tackles. He will move back to linebacker, but this time at middle linebacker.

“I think (Miller will do) very well (at middle linebacker),” Jackson said. “From what I’ve seen, he has very good leadership abilities. Along side with (junior linebacker and OVC Defensive Player of the Year) Nick Ricks in there, I think they will be a formidable duo in the interior.”

Miller is hopeful the Panthers defense can mature into a better unit that will help the team compensate for the loss of Walter Payton Trophy winner Tony Romo from the offense.

“I’m kind of excited,” Miller said. “Hopefully the defense can lead Eastern this year.”

Jackson said the defensive line could make big strides in improving the defense. Last season the Panthers were forced to pressure teams with six or seven men in the box at times leaving the secondary vulnerable.

“Hopefully things will be good enough with our front four we will be able to put enough pressure on the quarterback that we won’t have to necessitate blitzing as much,” Jackson said.

Jackson said tackles sophomore Marcus Lorick and red-shirt freshman Will Bihun have done well in the spring practices. Lorick made 48 tackles last season and Bihun had 31 with four sacks.

Jackson has lofty expectations for red-shirt defensive end Kory Lothe, who made 65 tackles and 10 sacks last season.

“Kory Lothe I think potentially has superstar potential,” Jackson said. “He could be an impact player for us.”

Junior end Alex Schmink will round off the Panthers’ defensive front line and give the otherwise young unit some experience.

On the other side of the ball, Carr has had to deal with questions looming about quarterback. He said so far the front runner is sophomore Andy Vincent ahead of red-shirt freshmen Ben King and Justin Duhai.

“Andy (Vincent) has the advantage because of his experience,” Carr said. “Through nine practices, he has been the most consistent.”

The Panthers’ offensive line has two returning starters from last year’s team, but Hutson is confident in the caliber of line Eastern will put on the field next season.

Hutson hopes to build a strong unit around the two returning starters, tackles sophomore Will Bujnak and junior Frank Castagnoli.

“Over the course of two-a-days, ten practices, it’s starting to come together,” Hutson said. “Frank (Castagnoli) and Mike (Bujnak), the two tackles, are certainly really good football players and that’s a good start to build a good core to build around.”