MOULTRIE — As the Colquitt County football team left the field on Wednesday after the first day of spring practice, one of the players jogged up to Packers head coach Tim Cokely and said, “I had fun out there, coach.”

Cokely said he hopes to make what is an important 10 days of practice both fun and productive as he embarks on his second year as the team’s head coach.

There was plenty of spirited play, especially when the first-team offenses and defenses collided.

The first collisions are the ones that are interesting Cokely the most. He has made no secret of his focus on improving both the offensive and defensive lines.

Both went at each other hard on Monday when more than 120 players suited up.

Most of those expected to contend for starting positions on the offensive line were in place, although Joe Ben Griffin, who missed nearly all of last season with an injury and then an illness, did not participate.

The defensive line, which will miss Bart Sims and Kelvin Watts, could be stronger with the return of Antonio Sutton and Willie Carr. Sutton may miss all or some of spring football while he chases a state championship in wrestling.

Melvin Dabney, Javaris Jackson, Cory Jordan and others got right back to work on Wednesday in the defensive trenches.

And they worked under a new coach.

Former Packer Tony Long has replaced Ryan Smith as the defensive line coach and looked pleased to be wearing black-and-gold again after coaching the last five years at Brooks County.

“It felt good,” said Long, who also has been hard at work in — and outside — the weight room helping improve the team’s strength.

“It’s great to be home … and around good people.”

Cokely said he is pleased with Long’s approach.

“We’ve gotten stronger,” Cokely said. “Coach Long has got a good structure in place for us getting stronger.”

In addition to Sutton missing practice, several players are with the varsity basketball team, including Duke Banks, Orion Ponder and Channing Hudson.

Ponder and Hudson are incumbent starters and their absence has given other players a chance at reps.

“It gives the other guys a chance to play and gives the coaches an opportunity to work with the 2s and 3s, ” Cokely said.

Rising sophomore quarterback John Michael Harrison looked poised under fire in his work with the first team. Tyler Hancock also worked under center.

After practice, several coaches huddled with the rising sophomores, a group that Cokely has taken considerable interest in.

Last year’s ninth-grade team lost its first two games, then won two and tied one.

Cokely said he hopes to keep the group together as much as possible and have it play an extended B-team schedule.

Players, such as promising running back Travon Littleton, could benefit from playing the allotted six quarters each week, including four in a junior varisty game and two on Friday night with the varsity.

Cokely said one of his goals is to create what he calls “layers” of talent so that each year there will be seasoned players to fill in those positions left vacant by graduation.

A number of the middle school coaches were on hand to help out with Wednesday’s practice. Ninth-grade head coach and former receivers coach Craig Pitts worked with the wideouts.