Today I spent the afternoon watching the defense. Here is how the defense looks starting out the spring:
DE- Kevin Richard (R-Sr)
NG- Colin Dugan (Sr)
DE- Trey Jacobs (Jr)
LB- Ian Childress (Sr)
LB- Nick Hursky (Sr)
LB- Kyle O'Donnell (R-So)
LB- Pat Bannon (So)
CB- Kent Hicks (R-Sr)
SS- Ryan Greiser (Sr)
FS- Chris Rocco (Jr)
CB- Pat Calvary (Sr)
Here is the overall look at the defense:
Defensive Line- The two seniors anchoring the first team line Richard and Dugan led the charge during the 11-on-11 work. Looking very good as well was the big German Soeren Wendland, who starts the spring as the #2 right defensive end behind Trey Jacobs.
Looking at the line as a whole, they got plenty of pressure in the backfield in brief scrimmages and looks like they could potentially make the plays that were missing.
Linebackers- One major observation that needs to be made right off is that #11 was all over the field. Flames fans that have been following the team the last two years (and those who read my entry from yesterday) know that number belonged to Stevie Ray Lloyd. This year though. that number belongs to redshirt freshman Mike Connolly. Connolly was all over the field, including just missing an interception off Spencer Landis during 11-on-11 drills. He starts the spring as the backup to senior Ian Childress, who made some good plays as well with the first team.
Another player worth noting is transfer Doncel Bolt. Bolt, a transfer from CA, begins practice behind Nick Hursky at the "Mike" linebacker position. He moved very well when he was on the field and looks like he could make some waves in the coming weeks.
Defensive backs- Only one player is gone from the backfield, as Pat Dickerson graduates in May. There are plenty of players stepping up even on the second day of practice. Kent Hicks. the transfer from Virginia Tech, moves into the left CB position to start the spring, with senior Pat Calvary on the right side. Chris Rocco moves into the #1 spot at free safety with Ryan Greiser, the hard hitting senior from PA, starting at strong safety. The DBs made a few nice plays but the quarterbacks were able to hit a lot of passes in brief scrimmages. Hopefully the backs will improve as the spring progresses, as the backfield was a liability at times throughout the 2007 season.
Looking at the special teams, really not a lot of action at practice but again David Drake and Wes Cheek punting during the special teams work. Cheek was the backup punter in 2007, but did have a number of decent punts and actually was able to consistently get punts out near midfield (he was punting from the 10 yard line).
Tomorrow the team will put on the full pads for the first time this spring and tomorrow I'll analyze that first day as we see, as Coach Rocco put it near the end of practice, "who is going to show up."
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
March 27, 2007
So spring practice opened up for Liberty tonight. My observations this time around will focus on the offense.
Quarterbacks: On offense, Brock Smith worked with the first team and made a number of good throws. He did overthrow a few receivers in drills but generally looked very solid. Spencer Landis looked very solid as well, hitting a couple nice passes down the side. Tonight was my first look at Mike Brown, the QB recruit who redshirted last season. There were a couple things that impressed me tonight. First, was his poise in the pocket. He stood in very well and didn’t let the chaos faze him. On his last play, he showed off his mobility, eluding defenders and making about a 15 yard run on the right side.
Running Backs: Rashad Jennings was his usual self, slashing for big gains in 11 on 11 and showing why he was one of the top RBs in the Big South in 2007. Wes Cheek had a couple nice runs as well. An interesting sight was BJ Hayes working with the RBs and Danny Broggin working with the WRs (more on that later). I talked to Paul Carmany at the practice, and he told me that Hayes is listed as the #2 behind Zach Terrell at the A-Back position instead of Danny Broggin. Also, Derek Bishop did most of the work with the first team offense and he looks like the starting fullback this spring. Other RBs practicing were Osita Ofuani, Shay Nicholson and Terron Lawrence. Joey Sandvig also saw time at fullback. Zach Terrell, the #1 at A-back, saw a couple plays in the backfield, but spent most of his evening with the WRs like Broggin. Also seen working with the running backs was Alphonso Wells, who joins the team from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA.
Wide Receivers: Even with the graduation of Wynton Jackson and Brandon Turner, the cupboard is by no means bare at WR. First team receivers look to be Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden, with Chris Summers (who is wearing #1) and Eugene Rogers working with the second team. Matt Lambros had a few nice catches as well as freshman Mark Blakeney and Aaron Hughlett, both freshmen who joined the team mid-year (Hughlett also runs track from what I was told). James Forystek also showed some good hands as well on the evening. Danny Broggin, who was listed as the #2 A-back behind Zach Terrell in 2007 spent the evening working with the WRs, as apparently he will be shifting to that position on a more permanent basis in 2008.
Tight Ends: Corey Rasberry, who redshirted in 2007 as a senior, enters the spring as the #1 TE. Right behind him, and also showing some good hands, was Will Quarles. Thomas Shaver also made some very nice plays on the evening. The redshirt freshman at 6’6” could see some time in short yardage and goal line situations.
An interesting observation from tonight...
A number of players had new numbers when practice kicked off. Chris Summers had #1 (previously worn by Wynton Jackson), Eugene Rogers wore #3, Rashad Jennings wore #23 (worn by Larry Claiborne last year), and Mike Connolly wore #11 (previously worn by Stevie Ray Lloyd). a number of other players had different numbers but I could not get their names. Look for a more in depth list of player number changes in a future blog.
Tomorrow I’ll focus on the defense and special teams.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Quarterbacks: On offense, Brock Smith worked with the first team and made a number of good throws. He did overthrow a few receivers in drills but generally looked very solid. Spencer Landis looked very solid as well, hitting a couple nice passes down the side. Tonight was my first look at Mike Brown, the QB recruit who redshirted last season. There were a couple things that impressed me tonight. First, was his poise in the pocket. He stood in very well and didn’t let the chaos faze him. On his last play, he showed off his mobility, eluding defenders and making about a 15 yard run on the right side.
Running Backs: Rashad Jennings was his usual self, slashing for big gains in 11 on 11 and showing why he was one of the top RBs in the Big South in 2007. Wes Cheek had a couple nice runs as well. An interesting sight was BJ Hayes working with the RBs and Danny Broggin working with the WRs (more on that later). I talked to Paul Carmany at the practice, and he told me that Hayes is listed as the #2 behind Zach Terrell at the A-Back position instead of Danny Broggin. Also, Derek Bishop did most of the work with the first team offense and he looks like the starting fullback this spring. Other RBs practicing were Osita Ofuani, Shay Nicholson and Terron Lawrence. Joey Sandvig also saw time at fullback. Zach Terrell, the #1 at A-back, saw a couple plays in the backfield, but spent most of his evening with the WRs like Broggin. Also seen working with the running backs was Alphonso Wells, who joins the team from Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, VA.
Wide Receivers: Even with the graduation of Wynton Jackson and Brandon Turner, the cupboard is by no means bare at WR. First team receivers look to be Jonathan Crawford and Dominic Bolden, with Chris Summers (who is wearing #1) and Eugene Rogers working with the second team. Matt Lambros had a few nice catches as well as freshman Mark Blakeney and Aaron Hughlett, both freshmen who joined the team mid-year (Hughlett also runs track from what I was told). James Forystek also showed some good hands as well on the evening. Danny Broggin, who was listed as the #2 A-back behind Zach Terrell in 2007 spent the evening working with the WRs, as apparently he will be shifting to that position on a more permanent basis in 2008.
Tight Ends: Corey Rasberry, who redshirted in 2007 as a senior, enters the spring as the #1 TE. Right behind him, and also showing some good hands, was Will Quarles. Thomas Shaver also made some very nice plays on the evening. The redshirt freshman at 6’6” could see some time in short yardage and goal line situations.
An interesting observation from tonight...
A number of players had new numbers when practice kicked off. Chris Summers had #1 (previously worn by Wynton Jackson), Eugene Rogers wore #3, Rashad Jennings wore #23 (worn by Larry Claiborne last year), and Mike Connolly wore #11 (previously worn by Stevie Ray Lloyd). a number of other players had different numbers but I could not get their names. Look for a more in depth list of player number changes in a future blog.
Tomorrow I’ll focus on the defense and special teams.
Fanning the Flames,
BJ Williams
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Welcome
Hello and welcome. My name is BJ Williams. I am a student at Liberty University and will be graduating in December with a degree in Communications. Over the course of the next few weeks you will see my personal analysis of the 2008 spring practice for the defending Big South Conference champion Liberty Flames football team. I hope to continue this blog during the season as well but for now watch for analysis of every practice session leading up to the annual Spring Football game April 19. The first practice will take place March 27 at 7 PM in Williams Stadium on the campus of Liberty University and is open to the public.
As a note right off the bat, as I said this is a personal blog. This is in no way affiliated with the university and the views expressed are my own and should not be construed as those of the school, the athletic department or the football team itself.
As a note right off the bat, as I said this is a personal blog. This is in no way affiliated with the university and the views expressed are my own and should not be construed as those of the school, the athletic department or the football team itself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)