2009 Spring Practice Review

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

Its back...

Well sports fans, its been just over 4 months since the Liberty Flames completed the best season in school history (as far as wins) with a 26-3 domination of the Elon Phoenix (ranked #10 in the country at the time), finished with one of the highest end of year rankings in school history, but were still denied a spot in the 2008 FCS playoffs (which would be won by Richmond so belated congratulations to them).

Well Thursday night at 7:20 PM the 2009 Liberty Flames will begin their spring practice season. Let's look at what is gone:

2008 Big South Player of the Year Rashad Jennings (a projected first day draft pick according to many prognosticators)

2008 All-conference first team QB Brock Smith
2008 All-conference first team WR AND first team PR AND second team KR Dominic Bolden
2008 All-Conference first team OL Mike Godsil
2008 All-Conference first team OL Britt Stone
2008 All-Conference first team LB Nick Hursky
2008 All-Conference first team DB Kent Hicks
2008 All-Conference first team LS Dan Pope
2008 All-Conference second team WR Jonathan Crawford
2008 All-Conference second team TE Corey Rasberry
2008 All-Conference second team DL Kevin Richard
2008 All-Conference second team DL Colin Dugan
2008 All-Conference second team DB Ryan Greiser
2008 All-Conference second team DB Patrick Calvary

That's an awful lot of very good players but there are plenty who have been waiting in teh wings and now they get their chance starting Thursday night. Here is the workout schedule (Got this from FlameFans, a Liberty University athletics message board http://www.flamefans.com):

March 26 - Thursday - 7:20pm
March 27 - Friday - 4:15pm
March 28 - Saturday - 10:20am
March 31 - Tuesday - 7:20pm
April 2 - Thursday - 7:20pm
April 3 - Friday - 4:15pm
April 4 - Saturday - 10:20am
April 7 - Tuesday - 7:20pm
April 9 - Thursday - 7:20pm
April 10 - Friday - 4:15pm
April 11 - Saturday - 10:20am
April 14 - Tuesday - 7:20pm
April 16 - Thursday - 7:20pm
April 17 - Friday - 4:15pm
April 18 - Saturday - 1:00pm - Spring Game

Hope to have updates on practice as I get out to Williams Stadium over the next few weeks.


Fan the Flames


(FTF side note: Congrats to Mike and Brock on their recent weddings...may God bless them both in this new stage of life)

Fan the Flames: 2008 Wrapup

Well its been a couple weeks since the Flames concluded their 2008 season. LU defeated Gardner Webb 30-10 (the closest one of my predictions has been ALL year long) to complete their second straight perfect run in the Big South, and then capped off one of the best seasons in LU history by pasting the Elon Phoenix from the Southern COnference 26-3.

Then came selection Sunday for the 2008 NCAA Division I Football Championship. LU had heard that if they beat Elon there was a very good chance they made the playoffs so I joined the team in teh Williams Football Operation Center to celebrate an historic occasion. But something happened on the way to history...LU was passed over (along with an equally worthy William and Mary squad) for Maine in the picking of the last at large playoff berth.

Now its been very well documented my feelings about this, as well as what Maine brought to the table to warrant this selection. Maine finished with 3 losses to teams that actually made the field of 16 (New Hampshire, JMU, and Richmond) AND a loss to FBS Iowa. They did not beat a single ranked team all year (W&M beat JMU AND Liberty Beat YSU who was #25 at the time and Elon). Maine went on to be routed by #3 national seed Northern Iowa 40-15. But there are definitely plenty of great things about this season to make mention of:

1. Rashad Jennings. What else can be said that hasnt been said. Rashad in three years has shown that he is one of if not THE best RB we have had at Liberty. he is indeed a very rare talent and we should all be thankful he returned to the mountain
2. Brock Smith. He has matured so much in 4 years, even being considered as an NFL prospect at QB
3. Dominic Bolden. He has blossomed the last two years both as a wide receiver and as a kick
returner. He has shown he an be a dangerous threat every time he touches the ball.
4. JOnathan Crawford. To go from backup defensive back to #2 receiver and kick returner, J-5 has shown great improvement just like Dominic has and both of them have a real chance to make a name for themselves in the pro ranks.
5. Danny Rocco. The job he has done turning around this football program has been nothing short of miraculous. To take a 10 loss football team and turn it into a 10 win team in just three seasons and all while maintaining the exact same coaching staff AND not pursuing other coaching opportunities...Coach Rocco has been an immense blessing to this school and this writer in particular is very thankful he is here.

Well that will do it for the 2008 season, but this blog will be back in March as we get ready for Spring 2009 Practice and we'll start looking at all the different positions for 2009.

Fan the Flames

Fan the Flames: Game # 11

Liberty got back on the winning track and what better place to do it then Lexington VA home to the VMI Keydets. Brock Smith threw for two TDs and Rashad Jennings added yet another 100 yard performnce to his stellar LU career as the Flames won 38-26. With the loss by this week's opponent (more on that in a minute), the Flames claimed their second consecutive outright Big South Conference football championship. The focus now changes. Liberty still has an outside chance at making the postseason even with two losses so far. But to make that a reality they need to win their last two games, which moves us to this week:

(5-5, 2-2)

vs.

#22

(8-2, 4-0)

The meaning of this game changed last weekend after Gardner Webb lost to Coastal Carolina 23-18. If the Runnin Bulldogs had pulled out the victory, then this game basically would have been for all the marbles (just like last year). That does nto mean that the Flames can relax any. Gardner Webb may not be able to play for the conference title anymore but they can still play the role of spoiler for the Flames' playoff hopes. Devin Campbell is the major catalyst for this team. He has yet to throw an INT on the season but has thrown for 9 TDs. Phillip Peoples is the leading rusher having gone for 583 yards and 6 TDs in his 115 carries.

The Flames know how important this game is. As a friend of mine of the Liberty "FlameFans" message board "JDUB" said, this team is hit or miss. If the team that very nearly knocked off Georgia Tech shows up at Williams Stadium, we could be in for a dogfight (pun not intended). If the team that lost to Tennessee Tech, Sam Houston State and Charleston Southern shows up...the Flames could roll right over them. I think the Flames take the win because they dont look past this team.

LU 31

G-W 10

Fan the Flames: Game # 10

I did something similar to this last time with Coastal Carolina but now it has an official name.

I will, starting with this weeks game against VMI, combine my Preview and Prediction into one post.

Liberty is coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Blue Hose of Presbyterian College 31-28, and (random stathound alert) This is actually Liberty's first loss in the state of South Carolina since 2006 (28-26 loss to Coastal). Liberty's playoff hopes took an almost deadly blow with the loss. The Flames still have a small chance of making the postseason but they cannot lose another game (including the very tough season finale at home vs Elon which very well could be for a playoff berth). Now the focus turns up 501 to an old foe...

#25 (7-2, 3-0)

vs.

(3-5, 1-2)

VMI and Liberty...well you cant sugarcoat it...they just dont like each other. The teams have met 7 times with the Flames taking 4 of the meetings including the last 2 in Lexington. VMI is led by converted slotback Tim Maypray who took over the signal calling duties with the injury to starting QB Kyle Hughes early in the season. VMI runs a wishbone offense and that means a lot of running plain and simple. In spite of their record the Keydets have rushed for a staggering average of 337.4 yards per game as a team led by Maypray and his 879 yards (approx 110 yards per game). Liberty is equal to the task running the ball led by Walter Payton Award candidate Rashad Jennings. The Flames have rushed for 2045 yards (227.2 yards per game) while allowing only 960 yards (107 yards per game) while the Keydets have allowed 1327 yards on the ground this year (166 yards per game).

The big issue for the Flames is trying to force VMI into something they do not do all that often...passing the ball. Maypray has only attempted 12 passes on the year (completing 8 for 202 yards and 4 TDs) so getting VMI to pass more than they run would be a definite advantage, although the Flames have had trouble with the short passing game (as evidenced by last week vs Presbyterian and a few other occasions in the Danny Rocco era).

Prediction:

Really how this game turns out will depend on which Flames team we see at Foster Stadium Saturday. If its the team that played last weekend in CLinton, this game will go south faster than a pack of birds in teh wintertime. If its teh team that pounded VMI in Williams Stadium last fall The Flames will dominate. After the Flames lost to Lafayette they came out guns a blazing against Charleston Southern. I think more of the same this week as they see the absolute need to finish this "unfinished business."

Liberty 56

VMI 21

Fan the Flames Prediction: Presbyterian

Im gonna make this quick as Im posting this from WBRG 104.5 and Supertalk 1050 as I get ready to produce a high school game.


Liberty wins...big...nuff said

LU 49
PC 0

Fan the Flames Preview: Game #9

#17 (7-1. 2-0)








vs.






(3-5)

Liberty hits the road for the final road swing of the 2008 season (hard to imagine that we were just discussing the opener not too long ago) as they face the soon to be Big South foe Blue Hose (Presbyterian is not eligible for the conference title this year but their games will affect conference standings)

The Blue Hose come into this week after a 28-24 win over fellow transitioning program North Carolina Central in Clinton followed by a 47-21 loss in Boiling Springs to Big South member Gardner-Webb (in their first season as a member in all sports). The Blue Hose are led by RB S.J. Worrell who leads the Blue Hose with 420 yards on 101 carries (4.2 yard average) and 4 TDs, along with QB Tim Webb who has 1428 yds and 9 TDs. after recovering from a broken neck suffered in the game last year (which the Flames won 48-14 on Homecoming).

Game time is set for 1:30 PM from Bailey Stadium in Clinton, SC. I'll have my prediction up later this week. the game can be heard locally on 88.3 FM and online at www.wrvlfm.com


Fan the Flames