Greetings Fans!
With my schedule as busy as it has been (with graduation now only a coule weeks away) I wasnt able to get out and watch teh 2009 Spring Practice for the two time and defending Big South Champion Liberty Flames football team, but I was able to stay up thanks to the athletics website and a good reporter friend of mine. I'll take just a moment here and give my kudos to the Liberty University Athletic Media Relations department. These guys and gals (under the direction of Mr. Todd Wetmore) have worked very hard the last couple years to keep the athletics website fully updated with all the latest news and getting recaps and score updates and live stats available as quickly as possible and it is a real good resource for everyone from fans to reporters (to bloggers) so thank you Athletic Media Relations for all your hard work.
Now having said that and having attended the spring football game here are some thoughts I have:
1. Liberty has two QBs that both could be VERY good next year in Spencer Landis and Mike Brown. Brown started the game on Saturday but both of them played very well. Landis even had a couple very strong runs so he has shown himself to be a dual threat, although Brown is the one who could really be termed the "gamebreaker" with his speed and elusiveness (as evidenced by his work at WR last year and occasional "wildcat" plays at QB)
2. RB and OL could be the biggest question marks going into training camp. First at RB, Rashad Jennings pretty much was an all world talent coming from Pittsburgh and left a very strong mark on the LU rushing categories and hope he has a very logn and productive NFL career. Going into next year the battle for carries will probably come down to four players: Danny Broggin (backup at A-back to Zach Terrell this past season), Terron Lawrence, COurtney Anderson and true freshman SirChauncey Holloway. Holloway enrolled early at LU so he coudl get right to work on learning the offense, but with Scott Wachenheim taking a job with the Redskins earlier in the semester and QBs coach Brandon Streeter adding the OC hat, itll be interesting to see if there is more emphasis on the passing game going into 09.
On the Offensive Line, the Flames lose two first team all conference selections in Mike Godsil and Britt Stone, although I think GOdsil was the bigger loss as he was the starting center for LU for all four years (including all three of Brock Smith's full seasons as starter). Mario Cosby who served as Godsil's backup is slated as the starter at center next year but there are some with concerns he was getting beat by defenders in practice, so here's hoping that is something that can be worked on.
3. The Flames lose two real" gamebreakers" in Dominic Bolden (first team all conference) JOnathan Crawford (second team all conference) but the cupboard is by no means bare. Redshirt freshman Jimmy Eden, Redshirt sophomore Chris Summers and Virginia Tech transfer Ervin Garner look to be the top three after spring practice although converted QB Kyle DeArmon surprised some people with a very solid afternoon Saturday. Another player who could make some waves is walk on Zach Duke. Duke comes from Indiana and he had the biggest play of the day yardage wise when he caught a Tyler Brennan screen pass and ran 63 yards (before being tackled by Chris McAlister).
4. Defensively probably the one who stood out was Jamal Giddens. I read a freind on another message board say that he was afraid for his life when he saw Jamal come from 20 yards off to make a play. He has a chance to be another in a very good LB out of LU by the time his career is over.
Also on Saturday the 2009 captains were named along with a couple awards being presented:
Luke 2:52 Award (whole person development)
Kevin Richard
Samkon Gado Award (most improved in spring practice)
Doncel Bolt- Defense
Derek Bishop- Offense
2009 Captains
Offense
Bryan Mosier- Offensive Line
Josh Weaver- Offensive Line
Mike Brown- Quarterback
Defense
Trey Jacobs- Defensive Line
Chris Rocco- Defensive Back
Wes Cheek- Linebacker
Liberty kicks off the 2009 season making a trip to Morgantown, WV to face the West Virginia Mountaineers September 5. Until then...
Fan the Flames
