Afternoon showers Wednesday forced the Griffin High football team to postpone the opening of spring practice to today.

Twelfth-year Bears head coach Steve DeVoursney said he expects about 70 players, rising sophomores through rising seniors, to dress out in full pads today.

“I’m fired up about it — these kids are fired up about it,” said second-year Griffin offensive coordinator Justin Rogers.

It begins 10 days of work which will end with the school’s annual Green-N-Gold Game.

DeVoursney said the team has a number of jobs to accomplish this spring.

Not the least of them is replacing linebackers Eddrick Johnson and Jaylin Piercy as well as defensive back Marcus Stringer and lineman Chase Chapman.

“The big thing is we want to find people to fill those spots who are going to come out every day and compete, go hard and get after it — that’s what we’re looking for,” said DeVoursney. “We’re not looking for a one-day hitter. We’re looking for someone who is going to show up day in and day out.”

With all 11 starters back on offense and eight returning on defense from a Griffin team that finished 9-3 and reached the second round of the state playoffs for a school-record fourth year in a row while increasing the current school-record string of consecutive state playoff appearances to 11 seasons, expect a lot of quality play from the first whistle this spring.

“In spring ball you want to see people getter better each day, each week,” said DeVoursney.

The team, which retained Rogers as offensive coordinator as well as sixth-year defensive coordinator Rusty Easom, expects to add to its playbook this spring.

“We have some new things we want to add offensively, definitely pick up the tempo as far as the pace, and see who can grasp and play at a fast pace,” DeVoursney.

“On defense we’ll put in base package, but also put in some wrinkles — coverages and blitzes — and add on to what we put in last year and see who can grasp it,” DeVoursney added.

Griffin will play its preseason scrimmage on Aug. 18 at Newnan this season. The Bears also have a new region assignment this year, Region 4-AAAA Div. B where they will reside with the likes of crosstown rival Spalding as well as Upson-Lee, Jonesboro, Riverdale and North Clayton. Non-subregion games will come against Dutchtown, Northgate and Woodland-Stockbridge.