On today's practice
We had a heck of a good practice today and I'm really pleased with the
lads. They really went after it. They are working like champions, and we
are getting healthier as each day goes by. We have two weeks before our
season opener against Villanova, so we have to get everyone healed up
and in good shape.
Today's practice was very spirited, so much so that I could hardly
hear, because the linemen were banging each other so hard. They were
doing some really great things in the passing game, and the secondary
was doing things, which were important things.
We're getting prepared for tomorrow and there has been some great
effort this week, and there has also been some not-so-great effort this
week at times, and those were corrected.
I thought Pat (White) and Jarrett (Brown) both threw the ball well
today. Dorrell Jalloh had a big day today catching the football, as did
Noel (Devine) out of the backfield. Mark Rogers and Zach Hulce stepped
up and made some nice plays, which was good to see. We need to see that
out of those two young men, and we hope that that will be an everyday
occurrence, and certainly an every game occurrence.
Defensively, they were flying around, and I thought Sidney Glover had a
very nice day. Our corners just keep playing very solid, and our
linebackers are doing well. JT Thomas is back, and he is fast. He is
really very fast, and it was great to see him at full speed flying
around.
We had to put three guys on the stadium steps today, because they have
to learn how to practice in shells. You have to take your feet with you,
when you tackle, or you'll fall down, and if they fall down, they run
the stadium steps, because you can't tackle. You can't tackle if you
fall down-end of story, not debatable and that's the way it is. The
coaches just point, and they go, and they are getting it. You don't run
the stadium steps if you keep your feet under you, hit them up high, and
Sidney Glover did that today which was very nice to see. Some of our
starters did a really great job and were just running straight through
people.
We had a nice scrimmage, practicing second and long situations, where
we worked on draws and screens.
We punted the ball well today, and we worked on situational punts. We
worked on game plan punts, and we backed up and took safeties and worked
on things that might happen in a game. We'll do that again on Monday and
do some more special teams and defensive work. You have to take time to
do that. You can't just tell them what to do, you have to go out and
practice it. There was a lot of organization out there today and that
was nice to see. Pat (McAfee) was on top of his game and that was nice
to see.
On tonight's plan
We are all going to Washington, Pa., tonight, and we're going to have
some fellowship with the guys. We're going to eat here, then go up there
and have meetings, and watch some film. We're going to have some fun
with the freshmen, and they will put on what we call a "gong show". All
the coaches are fair game, including the head ball coach, and they can't
bring it tough enough for me. You have to have thick skin in this
business. When you yell at them for 18-straight days at practice, what
kind of guy would I be if I couldn't take it? I'll take it right in the
chin tonight I hope. Some of the assistants have already heard that
there are some really good skits and that will be fun.
On tomorrow's schedule
Tomorrow, we will come down here and have more of a situational
practice then a scrimmage, although we will scrimmage. We are still
playing football, and we are going to do some kicking game, inside
drills, one-on-one, block and tackle drills. We're going to do that, and
it will be pretty intense. We're going to do the pass skeleton drill,
and I think, although I'll talk to the staff tonight, but I think I am
going to hold Jarrett Brown and Bradley Starks from 11-vs-11. I don't
want anyone to roll up their leg, and I don't want anyone to hit them. I
think I want to keep them out, because of the tweaks they had. They are
fine and could play Saturday if we had a ball game. We don't have a ball
game, we have practice. They will take reps at quarterback in the pass
skeleton. I'm thinking about the longevity of the players. We have three
weeks of camp, and we're playing from August until December 6, and it's
a long road.
We're going to show the kickoff return team tomorrow, and I think we'll
be pretty good at that. We'll start with the victory drill, and that's
pretty intense. We're going to move, hit and get after hit and then
scrimmage.
On the seniors' last camp.
We've had a very good camp and remorse is not a good word, but I'm a
little down. I walked off the field tonight with Mike Dent, Pat White,
Mortty Ivy, Jake Figner, Reed Williams, and other seniors, and that was
tough for me. That knuckle head son of mine brought it to my attention
that it was the last camp for those guys. I hadn't thought about that,
because I've been so busy, but today I stopped, and I thought about
that. That was a tough walk. You better enjoy these lads, when they are
here. It has been a real thrill to coach them. I have spent five years
with Pat White, and I told a scout that he is the greatest runner in
college football today, and he is surrounded by the classiest group of
young men anyone could ask for and any coach could ever ask for.
Tomorrow is the last day of football camp, and those guys have won a lot
of football games but more importantly, they have won a lot of hearts.
They have been great young men in the classroom, in the community, and
they are all talented, special young men of faith. They are good people,
and I stand before you a very blessed man to stand before you and be
their head football coach. I cannot wait till August 30 and every
weekend we have a game because, God-willing we'll keep them healthy, and
it will be a fun year. We will enjoy them this year.
On Reed Williams
We respect all and fear none, and we respect Villanova. I hope that
Reed can go, and we will give him some spot play, but I don't know if he
will start. He is a little concerned, and I think another week would
help him. Mark Magro was sick in camp, and we held him back last year,
and he had a tremendous year so what's a week? To win a football game,
we will do what we have to do, but we will put Reed's best interest
first and make sure he won't get hurt.
On Wes Lyons
I wish he was ready, and we're missing valuable time. He'll be in shape
but not in football shape.
On next week's schedule
We'll have picture day Sunday, and we'll go Monday night, get everyone
settled in classes, and then we'll practice that night. We'll hit
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and Friday, and we will do some special
game situations. We will then give them Saturday off.
