Open practice

[ZachTheZip]

Is anyone going to the open football practice tomorrow? I'm out of town this weekend and can't make it. Anybody with an eye for evaluating players that can provide insight would be greatly appreciated.

I do have this little nugget from someone who attended one of the practices earlier this week: Clayton Moore is "legit" and should become our starting QB.

[K92]

Is anyone going to the open football practice tomorrow? I'm out of town this weekend and can't make it. Anybody with an eye for evaluating players that can provide insight would be greatly appreciated.

I do have this little nugget from someone who attended one of the practices earlier this week: Clayton Moore is "legit" and should become our starting QB.

JZ84 is going. I look forward to his report, since I have to work and can't make it. Your CM8 report is encouraging. Hopefully we will get some corroborating eyewitness accounts tomorrow evening.

[ZachTheZip]

Just found out that after the football practice, the volleyball team is holding an open scrimmage in the JAR at 2:00. They're really underrated as far as being a fun sport to watch.

[GoZips]

Just found out that after the football practice, the volleyball team is holding an open scrimmage in the JAR at 2:00. They're really underrated as far as being a fun sport to watch.

Love Spandex.

[Roo]

Just found out that after the football practice, the volleyball team is holding an open scrimmage in the JAR at 2:00. They're really underrated as far as being a fun sport to watch.

Love Spandex.

+1

[ZachTheZip]

Did anybody go to the football practice? Or are you all too busy enjoying the view from the floor seats at the Volleyball scrimmage?

[johnnyzip84]

I toyed with the idea of providing an extremely generic list of observations, laced with coach-speak, as a way of teasing certain members of ZNO. But I decided that after the last few years, that might be considered to be extreme and unusual punishment. So here is my summary of today's open practice:

General Thoughts

1) For those that couldn't make it, the event was a typical 2 hr practice, the last 10-12 minutes of which featrured a 11-on-11 scrimmage. The play calling was very vanilla. I think it was because they saw me with my clipboard

2) This is purely a "gut" observation, but I really believe the team is far more enthusiatic at the moment than at any time during Ianello's stay. This was particularly noticeable during the 3-on-3 drill.

3) There were a LOT of new players (mostly walkons I suppose) on the roster handed out before the practice as compared to the roster on GoZips. If anything, this helps with numbers in practice. And maybe a diamond in the rough or two will emerge.

Offense

1) Neither PN7 nor CM8 distinguished themselves from one another. PN7 worked with the 1st team more often. Both struggled with accuracy at times, especially while rolling out. I'm not one to put too much into the performance of one practice, but whoever the starting QB is, he will need to play better in game situations. The good news is I didn't see any bonehead plays by either of them, and the snap from center is finally routine. ZD11 and KP16 (red shirt no doubt)look to provide acceptable depth.

2) The depth of the O-Line is a pleasant surprise. Bice, Kasparek, Pughsley, Anderson, and Simcovich look to be the starters. Bice was very vocal on occasions. The newcomer Ian Folmar is enormous. He's a long-term project with a huge upside. Rizzo has the attitude you like to see.

3) Chisholm did nothing to change my high opinion of him. Besides being more of a home run threat than either Staten or Alexander, he seems to have better hands too. Alexander dropped a few.

4) Rossi looked good running the ball and catching balls out of the backfield (no signs of hammy trouble). He looks like the kind of player who trys to excel in all aspects of the game. Bailey and Grice (the legs of a linemen) make the FB position relatively strong. Ianello spent a fair amount of time with the FBs.

5) It was difficult to evaluate the receivers in the scrimmage. Suel made a couple of nice plays (shoulder looks fine). Price was wearing a red jersey but still participating. He brought down a high PN7 toss at one point, using his height to full advantage. Russell burned Lartey deep during a drill, catching a TD from CM8.

6) Fleming must have been hurt, because I didn't see his number. A lot of TEs will see action. The new guy Justin Favors (#48) has great size and looks to move pretty well too.

Defense

1) Wilson and Griggs will both contribute immediately on the D-Line. The front four has depth.

2) Besides the known quantities at LB (Wagner, Gilmer, can't recall seeing Little?), Justin March looks like a nice recruit.

3) Richmond appears to have fully recovered. He and LT Smith manned the safety spots while Waller and Lartey were the corners. I'm not sure if Holmes (now wearing #4) played much and I'm not sure why (I think he was hurt at some point this year).

4) The defense appears more aggressive to me. I think we'll see more chances being taken in 2011 on this side of the ball.

Special Teams

1) The place-kicking competiton is difficult to gage. There are 4 candidates (lefty Robert Stein, TJ Marchase, AJ Fox and Kevin Ivasku). Each made a few FG attempts. Stein might have the strongest leg. Marchase gets the ball up the quickest. Stay tuned.

2) I didn't see any punts. So I'll assume Zach Campbell remains the man.

3) LS Adam Steiner looked to be working with his backup, a #68 who doesn't show up on any roster.

4) Quite a bit of the practice was dedicated to kick coverage, with the field divided into 3 for simultaneous drills.

Conclusion

1) I like the numbers and I like the enthusiasm.

2) I hope a starting QB emerges soon. Ianello may have to go with his gut on this one.

3) We'll learn more on Sept 3, but IMO we really won't know a whole lot about this team until Sept 10 against Temple.

That's all for now. Go Zips!!!

[Zipmeister]

Nice report.

[K92]

Nice report.

+1. Thanks, JZ84! How many spectators were there? Wish I could have made it.

[72 Roo]

Thanks JZ84. Your report was like water in the desert for those of us outside of NE Ohio who are starving for Zip news. Got a question. Wasn't Rizzo brought in as a starter on the O-line? Is he that good and possibly hurt? Or was he beat out by better linemen who emerged better than we thought? I have no confidence in Nicely as a leader or as a productive QB. The sooner we go to Moore the better the team will be. With the talent level up, the morale and spirit high and the coaching staff coming together we could have some hope this year.

[ZachTheZip]

Thanks for the rundown, johnny.

Here is the ABJ's article.

I will give Ianello until saturday to declare the starter at QB. It looks like the rest of the depth chart is settled, for the most part, except for the PK and returner spots. One thing we absolutely cannot do is go into our first game without a clear QB. We need at least one week where a starter takes all the snaps with the first team in order to prepare properly.

[johnnyzip84]

Keener, another Zip fan sitting with me suggested there were about 250 in attendance. I'd agree.

72 Roo, I believe Rizzo missed some reps early in camp due to an injury. He's a little smaller than Bice, but I think you'll see both play. The article on Bice a while back made it seem like he's in the best shape, by far, of his Zip career.

I forgot to mention one highlight in my summary. With no kick return situations, we only had one glimpse of the skills Tyler Williams brings. He caught about a 15 yard out and easily weaved through defenders down the sidelines for a big gain in the scrimmage.

[K92]

Keener, another Zip fan sitting with me suggested there were about 250 in attendance. I'd agree.

72 Roo, I believe Rizzo missed some reps early in camp due to an injury. He's a little smaller than Bice, but I think you'll see both play. The article on Bice a while back made it seem like he's in the best shape, by far, of his Zip career.

I forgot to mention one highlight in my summary. With no kick return situations, we only had one glimpse of the skills Tyler Williams brings. He caught about a 15 yard out and easily weaved through defenders down the sidelines for a big gain in the scrimmage.

Last night as I was trying to go to sleep, it hit me that you didn't mention Tyler Williams.

You get a star for your report.

[Blue & Gold]

Keener, another Zip fan sitting with me suggested there were about 250 in attendance. I'd agree.

72 Roo, I believe Rizzo missed some reps early in camp due to an injury. He's a little smaller than Bice, but I think you'll see both play. The article on Bice a while back made it seem like he's in the best shape, by far, of his Zip career.

I forgot to mention one highlight in my summary. With no kick return situations, we only had one glimpse of the skills Tyler Williams brings. He caught about a 15 yard out and easily weaved through defenders down the sidelines for a big gain in the scrimmage.

Tom Gaffney's article states that there were around 400 fans in attendance on Saturday.

[Dr Z]

Thanks JZ!!

[2Ball]

Thanks for the rundown, johnny.

Here is the ABJ's article.

I will give Ianello until saturday to declare the starter at QB. It looks like the rest of the depth chart is settled, for the most part, except for the PK and returner spots. One thing we absolutely cannot do is go into our first game without a clear QB. We need at least one week where a starter takes all the snaps with the first team in order to prepare properly.

I don't know what Tom Gaffney saw but he said "both starting qb candidates, Nicely and Moore, showed lively arms at times". Now if he meant inaccurate I would agree. I know its one practice but from what I saw I am hoping D'Orazio gets the nod. He showed me the most, I just wish he would have had more snaps. Also, I believe I-coach said while talking to reporters the qb probably won't me named until the monday before we play THE Cheaters.

[72 Roo]

Keener, another Zip fan sitting with me suggested there were about 250 in attendance. I'd agree.

72 Roo, I believe Rizzo missed some reps early in camp due to an injury. He's a little smaller than Bice, but I think you'll see both play. The article on Bice a while back made it seem like he's in the best shape, by far, of his Zip career.

I forgot to mention one highlight in my summary. With no kick return situations, we only had one glimpse of the skills Tyler Williams brings. He caught about a 15 yard out and easily weaved through defenders down the sidelines for a big gain in the scrimmage.

Thanks JZ84 for taking the time to answer my question. If Bice is better prepared and the best we have I am all for him taking the spot. As you said it will be nice to have depth on the O-line for once. We will no doubt need it.

[johnnyzip84]

Keener, another Zip fan sitting with me suggested there were about 250 in attendance. I'd agree.

72 Roo, I believe Rizzo missed some reps early in camp due to an injury. He's a little smaller than Bice, but I think you'll see both play. The article on Bice a while back made it seem like he's in the best shape, by far, of his Zip career.

I forgot to mention one highlight in my summary. With no kick return situations, we only had one glimpse of the skills Tyler Williams brings. He caught about a 15 yard out and easily weaved through defenders down the sidelines for a big gain in the scrimmage.

Thanks JZ84 for taking the time to answer my question. If Bice is better prepared and the best we have I am all for him taking the spot. As you said it will be nice to have depth on the O-line for once. We will no doubt need it.

No problem! Apparently Rizzo is one of the more versatile linemen also, able to back up several positions.

[xu9697]

It's funny how different people see different things. I actually liked A LOT about what I saw from Pohl= strong arm and very accurate. Now, I was chasing around my almost 3 year old son for the most part, but the bits and pieces I caught I liked what I saw from him for the future. Comparing Nicely and Moore from the little I saw...Nicely looked better than Moore. STILL high on some throws....so we will need that added height from guys (AJ Price is certainly a "tall glass of water").

Rossi looked really good. Suel looked good. Potts definitely looking like a WR (couple nice catches, but a couple drops). Can't say I was really able to focus on too much of the defensive guys.

Good time. Looking forward to the season.

[Lee Adams]

Thanks for the rundown, johnny.

Here is the ABJ's article.

I will give Ianello until saturday to declare the starter at QB. It looks like the rest of the depth chart is settled, for the most part, except for the PK and returner spots. One thing we absolutely cannot do is go into our first game without a clear QB. We need at least one week where a starter takes all the snaps with the first team in order to prepare properly.

I don't know what Tom Gaffney saw but he said "both starting qb candidates, Nicely and Moore, showed lively arms at times". Now if he meant inaccurate I would agree. I know its one practice but from what I saw I am hoping D'Orazio gets the nod. He showed me the most, I just wish he would have had more snaps. Also, I believe I-coach said while talking to reporters the qb probably won't me named until the monday before we play THE Cheaters.

Went to the practice. Neither Nicely or Moore did anything to distinguish themselves. Something interesting happened during one of the drills. The QB's were throwing fades to receivers in the corners of the north end zone. Nicely threw to Antoine Russell but appeared to throw late. You could hear Russell yell 'throw the F.....g ball' at Nicely. One of the coaches went over and talked to him. The 2 hooked up again later in the drill. Nicely threw a nice pass and Russell caught it. Nicely went over to Russell,talked to him and shook his hand.

[Lee Adams]

I toyed with the idea of providing an extremely generic list of observations, laced with coach-speak, as a way of teasing certain members of ZNO. But I decided that after the last few years, that might be considered to be extreme and unusual punishment. So here is my summary of today's open practice:

General Thoughts

1) For those that couldn't make it, the event was a typical 2 hr practice, the last 10-12 minutes of which featrured a 11-on-11 scrimmage. The play calling was very vanilla. I think it was because they saw me with my clipboard

2) This is purely a "gut" observation, but I really believe the team is far more enthusiatic at the moment than at any time during Ianello's stay. This was particularly noticeable during the 3-on-3 drill.

3) There were a LOT of new players (mostly walkons I suppose) on the roster handed out before the practice as compared to the roster on GoZips. If anything, this helps with numbers in practice. And maybe a diamond in the rough or two will emerge.

Offense

1) Neither PN7 nor CM8 distinguished themselves from one another. PN7 worked with the 1st team more often. Both struggled with accuracy at times, especially while rolling out. I'm not one to put too much into the performance of one practice, but whoever the starting QB is, he will need to play better in game situations. The good news is I didn't see any bonehead plays by either of them, and the snap from center is finally routine. ZD11 and KP16 (red shirt no doubt)look to provide acceptable depth.

2) The depth of the O-Line is a pleasant surprise. Bice, Kasparek, Pughsley, Anderson, and Simcovich look to be the starters. Bice was very vocal on occasions. The newcomer Ian Folmar is enormous. He's a long-term project with a huge upside. Rizzo has the attitude you like to see.

3) Chisholm did nothing to change my high opinion of him. Besides being more of a home run threat than either Staten or Alexander, he seems to have better hands too. Alexander dropped a few.

4) Rossi looked good running the ball and catching balls out of the backfield (no signs of hammy trouble). He looks like the kind of player who trys to excel in all aspects of the game. Bailey and Grice (the legs of a linemen) make the FB position relatively strong. Ianello spent a fair amount of time with the FBs.

5) It was difficult to evaluate the receivers in the scrimmage. Suel made a couple of nice plays (shoulder looks fine). Price was wearing a red jersey but still participating. He brought down a high PN7 toss at one point, using his height to full advantage. Russell burned Lartey deep during a drill, catching a TD from CM8.

6) Fleming must have been hurt, because I didn't see his number. A lot of TEs will see action. The new guy Justin Favors (#48) has great size and looks to move pretty well too.

Defense

1) Wilson and Griggs will both contribute immediately on the D-Line. The front four has depth.

2) Besides the known quantities at LB (Wagner, Gilmer, can't recall seeing Little?), Justin March looks like a nice recruit.

3) Richmond appears to have fully recovered. He and LT Smith manned the safety spots while Waller and Lartey were the corners. I'm not sure if Holmes (now wearing #4) played much and I'm not sure why (I think he was hurt at some point this year).

4) The defense appears more aggressive to me. I think we'll see more chances being taken in 2011 on this side of the ball.

Special Teams

1) The place-kicking competiton is difficult to gage. There are 4 candidates (lefty Robert Stein, TJ Marchase, AJ Fox and Kevin Ivasku). Each made a few FG attempts. Stein might have the strongest leg. Marchase gets the ball up the quickest. Stay tuned.

2) I didn't see any punts. So I'll assume Zach Campbell remains the man.

3) LS Adam Steiner looked to be working with his backup, a #68 who doesn't show up on any roster.

4) Quite a bit of the practice was dedicated to kick coverage, with the field divided into 3 for simultaneous drills.

Conclusion

1) I like the numbers and I like the enthusiasm.

2) I hope a starting QB emerges soon. Ianello may have to go with his gut on this one.

3) We'll learn more on Sept 3, but IMO we really won't know a whole lot about this team until Sept 10 against Temple.

That's all for now. Go Zips!!!

Tonga appeared to be in better shape than in the past. Oren Wilson looks like a nose guard. Brod. Alexander appears to have recovered and looked quick at least straight ahead. They are getting more size at wide receiver. The secondary still looks scary. The entire team just looks to be in better shape.

One of the guys who works in marketing/tickets (he had on a nice blue balzer and tie) tells that they are looking at bringing back something like the old Acme Zip game.