WEDNESDAY NOTES:

This morning was our second of two practices in shells (helmets/shoulder pads/shorts) and we cranked it up  with two live compete periods between our first and second teams.  The first was a run period, which allowed us an opportunity to take our first real look at the Offensive and Defensive Line groups, as well as the Linebackers and Fullbacks.  On the defensive side, junior LB Chris Miller jumped out, he did a nice job playing downhill and was running all over the place.  DEs Maurice Clement and Bryant Chirinos also played well in the fifteen play set.  The returners on the OL, mainly Ty Olson and Jordan Austin, both looked good at times.  It is still very early to get a read on which combination of Offensive Linemen will be best suited for what we do, so we're getting a lot of guys on film and tweaking the rotations and trying various combinations.  Coach Smith has a good pool to choose from, but it's like tuning-up an engine- you make adjustments until it runs just right.  I'm not much of an automotive guy (I ride a beach cruiser to work), so that reference was for those of you that are (like my father-in-law Sam). 

Props to Linebackers Brandon Pistone, Chris Hogan, and Jeff Hernandez for taking-on the entire Fullback group early in practice in an Iso drill.  It is one thing to line-up five yards apart and take-on those big Fullbacks, but to do it repeatedly when the entire line is fighting for a job in a position where we only have one spot is something else.  That is a job for grown men and those guys stepped-up and served the team well.  It makes me glad that I wear a visor now instead of a helmet, great period on both sides!

Finally, congratulations to Tulane QB Ryan Griffin, the QB of my last team at Chaminade in 2006, who was nominated for the 2012 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team at the FBS level.  Griff was nominated for his work both on campus and in the community, and is a member of Tulane's Student Athlete Advisory Committee.  His family is from Agoura Hills and they're great friends with several members of our staff and to our program here at CLU.

SHELLS GAME
Tuesday morning's practice was the first in shoulder pads.  It's nice to hear the pads popping again, even though there were not any compete periods.  We took time to teach tempo to our scout teams and they did a nice job for the most part in playing with their hands and feet.  We should be able to get most of the same things done in shells that we do in full pads, and we will practice a lot in the later part of the season in shells.  It just takes an investment in teaching time early in camp.

Personnel-wise, the QB group had their best day so far as a collective group.  Wednesday also marked the opening of the competition to replace D-Mar at Fullback (yes, I said Fullback.  We are one of the few teams that still plays with and recruits Fullbacks.  And we'll continue to recruit those guys!).  Sophomore Vance Cramer (6'1" 215) and recently un-retired Adam Hayes (6'0" 230) took the bulk of the reps in the I-formation, and both had nice practices.  Vance is a little bigger than he was last year, where he saw significant playing time, and Adam has been busy as a thrower in the Track and Field program, so there is some rust there but he showed flashes.  TE Alex Moise (6'2" 235) showed nice hands in all of the work today with the QBs.  

Defensively, Dontaie Ferguson continues to be impressive at Linebacker.  He's really flying around and practicing well.  We'll have to wait until the pads come-on and we get some varsity reps to see who's going to be the Mike LB.  Derrick Romo's name keeps coming-up in meetings and in film.  The transfer Safety from Orange Coast College has a nice frame and is very smooth with his footwork, and he is picking-up our coverage schemes quickly.

It was a little wet on the grass when we came out this morning, and freshman Sean Bellotti put on a clinic in kicking a wet football without falling on his rear end.  Being from Oregon, he's had more practice than anyone else in kicking a wet football and handling a wet track, but he hit the ball like an all-state kicker/punter (which he was) today in the kickoff coverage period.

Tomorrow morning we will see our 1-v-1 and 2-v-2 groups in a run compete period, as well as in 7-on-7.  The next couple of practices will go a long way in setting the depth charts which will impact the number of reps guys are getting.  COMPETE!

Here's coach Mac's thoughts on CLU's third practice of fall camp...

SHOE KICK UPDATE:
Kingsmen Senior All-American WR Eric Rogers (6'4" 205) just sent his Charter Oak High School Nike Speed TD cleat from 2008 46 YARDS in the final round of the Shoe Kick Competition.  This ends the multi-year stranglehold that the Vans brand had on the competition and established a new program record.  Hope he can play football like he can kick a shoe...

Different day, different team!  We challenged each other last night as a staff and as players to get better today and everyone responded.  I was really impressed with Kevin Ramay, he came out with great focus and executed at a very high level.  Kevin seemed to be having a great time playing football today, and our team as a whole seemed a lot more comfortable competing with each other.  We'll get our first real looks at what we have on the two lines tomorrow when the shoulder pads are on.  So far, this day has been a win for us.  More film and meetings today, then the always entertaining Shoe Kick competition as our team building competition event.  Note:  Vans shoes (SoCal originals!) fly further than any other brand of shoe for the shoe kick.  Both the slip-ons and the lace-ups work well, but I'd give a slight edge to the lace-ups.  A well broken-in Vans shoe can fly over 30 yards with the right kick.  I'll have results in tomorrow's entry, in the meantime, over to the weight room to check-in with Coach Holmberg and the boys, then back into meetings.

Practice #1 under our belts.  Beautiful morning in the Conejo Valley, decent breeze.  The first two practices, where the NCAA only allows teams to wear helmets and practice jerseys, are really about the players learning how to do things the way the coaches want it done- hustling in and out of drills, learning tempos, understanding our practice formats, etc.  There is usually some confusion and a lot of mistakes, but I can live with that if guys are flying around and competing, which is what I saw today.

Best of the day:  Several defensive transfers looked ready to play right now.  Bryant Chirinos (DL) drew comparisons to Jacob Calderon (2008 SCIAC Defensive POTY), and DBs Jerone Cox (CB) and Derrick Romo (S) will battle to start immediately.  Dontaie Ferguson (LB) is back from his early season injury in 2011 and put himself in a position to make a lot of plays this morning.

Needs work:  EVERYTHING!  More attention to the details.

Overall impressions- we're bigger and faster than we've ever been, but we didn't block, tackle or hit anybody!  Talented group of newcomers, a lot of potential with the freshmen.  Need to develop our rhythm on offense, and find the guys that warrant the reps on defense.  Very happy with the way this group conducts itself on campus, that's a compliment to them and their families, as well as our recruiting coaches.  I'd like to see more energy tomorrow on the field from the players, everyone seemed a little uptight this morning trying to impress the coaches.  Too much thinking, turn it loose and play Lu Ball!  The rest of today consists of film, meetings and more meetings. We'll coach 'em up and get after it again tomorrow.

Here's coach's interview post practice...

The fall sports teams report to campus over the next few days, best wishes to all the Kingsmen and Regals as we prepare for a successful 2012 season!  Preseason rankings are nothing more than a pat on the back for a job well done last year, but props to Regals Volleyball at #6, Regals Soccer at #16, and Kingsmen Football at #12 in the D3Football.com poll.  It's great to see those programs being recognized on the national stage!  I know that Men's Soccer had a tremendous off season as well and we all look forward to supporting each other in the months ahead.  The support that our teams receive from the student body, our families, the alumni, and from the community is something that sets CLU apart from the competition.  Let's keep packing the stands, it really does make a difference, and I look forward to seeing everyone at William Rolland Stadium and at the Gilbert Center this school year!  I can't wait to get onto the North Field for practice...