Elon Practice Report: A Conversation With...Rich Skrosky

ELON, N.C. -- Every Tuesday during the preseason, we will sit down with one of the Elon Phoenix football coaches for their take on camp, the upcoming season and what players fans should be watching this fall.  This week we sit down with offensive coordinator Rich Skrosky.

You’re now the third offensive coordinator in three years for this team.  What effect does that have on the players?

RS: It doesn’t have that big of an effect because our system really hasn’t changed.  The terminology has stayed consistent.  I think the bigger thing is the internal movement.  The wide receivers have had a different coach every year.  It’s tougher to become a detailed player and we need to become masters in detail.  The playbook is essentially the same as it was four years ago.  These plays have always been in our playbook.

Are there any changes we should look for in the offense in 2009?

RS: I don’t know if it’s a change, but I’d like to think that we’ll be more consistent.  Our philosophy is to take advantage of what the defense gives us ? be that long passes, screens or the running game ? and to take advantage of our personnel.  We’re fortunate to have some very talented kids and we have to find the ways to best utilize their skills.

What do you feel will be the strength of the offense this year?

RS: I think our kids up front may be our biggest strength.  Our offensive line has played a lot of football.  At quarterback, Scott Riddle is very talented.  The biggest thing with Scott is to become more detailed.  Our wide receivers, led by Terrell Hudgins, have done a lot and we have good depth at halfback.  We’re a little untested at tight end.  Andre Labinowicz played a decent amount last year at that position.

You mentioned the depth at running back.  Talk a little about that position.

RS: It’s a great problem to have, having four really strong guys at that position.  They all have certain traits and we have to take advantage of those.  Coach (Scott) Browne does a great job with them and has kept them all hungry and excited.  They know it’s a competition.  Jamal Shuman is a breakaway threat every time he touches the ball.  A.J. Harris is the unsung guy and provides versatility.  Brandon Newsome is a proven, solid player in this league and is a grind it out kind of back.  Dontay Taylor was injured last year, but is very powerful and strong.

Which players have surprised you or really stepped up their game during preseason camp?

RS: There have been some unknown guys that have looked good.  At tight end, Taylor Berry was a scout team guy last year, but had a great offseason.  Fullback Jake Goldsberry has worked hard and keeps getting better and better.  Wide receiver Aaron Mellette is showing signs of being a really good player.  Jamal Shuman, it’s not really a surprise, but he has matured and become a well-rounded back.

What are your expectations for the offense this year?

RS: My expectations are really high.  We need to meld into a consistent unit and if we do that we can be very good.  There are enough guys that can make plays and have experience on this team.  We haven’t done anything yet and I don’t get the sense that we’re comfortable.  We’ve still got a sour taste from last year.

 

 

 

Paladins Bounce Back With Strong Tuesday Practice

Sorrells Engineers Impressive 70-Yard Scoring Drive

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- A day after one of its most disappointing practices of the preseason, Furman's football team bounced back with one of its best efforts, according to head coach Bobby Lamb.

 

"We had a great practice today -- a lot of enthusiasm, concentration, and qaulity work," said Lamb following the two and a half hour session. "We were much more crisp on offense, and I saw some good work by our defense. This was like the last day of camp because Wednesday is the first day of school, so our guys responded pretty well."

 

The highlight of the session was a flawless 70-yard scoring drive that quarterback Jordan Sorrells concluded with a 14-yard scoring strike to Sederrik Cunningham.

 

"Jordan was outstanding on the scoring drive, and Adam Mims also had a couple of big catches."

The defense rallied in a goal line session, recording stops on six of eight plays initated at the two-yard line.

 

Furman also continued work on its kickoff return unit.

 

The Paladins will practice Wednesday evening at 6:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Football Begins Preparation For UCF

The Bulldogs practiced for about two hours Tuesday afternoon

 

Practice Photo Gallery

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team practiced for about two hours in full pads Tuesday afternoon at Seibert Stadium. The practice was the first for the team after it went through the final scrimmage of preseason practice on Saturday.

 

Samford began its preparation for its season-opener against UCF during Tuesday's practice. Head Coach Pat Sullivan said he thought the team got off to a good start in its preparation for the lone FBS opponent on the 2009 schedule.

 

"I thought they were a little fresher with the two days off," Sullivan said. "We started with our preparation for Central Florida, so there were some new things. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good practice."

 

Sullivan announced that Mason Wald, a transfer from Nebraska, originally from Vestavia Hills, has moved from safety to running back.

 

"We are going to look at Mason at running back," Sullivan said. "He is a quality player, and with us having some people hurt, we need to find a place for him to play.”

 

Sullivan added that he has been impressed with what he has seen from UCF so far as the team begins to prepare for its first game.

 

"They are a quality football team," Sullivan said. "Defensively is where they were really good a year ago. They've got all of their guys back up front, they have two All-Americans and Lombardi (Award) people on the front line.

 

"Offensively, you can see the talent they have," Sullivan said. "They have a new coordinator and you know Coach O'Leary is going to have them ready. I think they have a chance to have a great football team."

 

Samford will practice again Wednesday afternoon in full pads. The practice is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Seibert Stadium.

 

 

 

The Citadel Football Fall Camp Report: Final Practice

 

Charleston, S.C. - The Citadel Football held the final practice of fall camp on Tuesday morning at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility. The Bulldogs worked out for approximately three hours. No injuries were reported after the team took a blow to the running back position on Monday with two key injuries.

 

"We had a bunch of bumps and bruises and for this late in camp it's fairly common. So we adjusted our schedule and made sure that we didn't do any live work today. Everything that we did was thud," said Bulldog Head Coach Kevin Higgins. "We ended practice with a good two-minute drill. It was good for our players just to get in that mode again of calling plays at the line of scrimmage and making adjustments to what they see.

 

"The defense was the same way, getting calls from the sideline and making their adjustments. I thought our guys handled that pretty well in terms of the process itself. We had a very good pass skeleton today, on both sides. I thought from an assignment standpoint, our guys did a good job."

 

However, Higgins said the team did not catch the ball as well as he would have liked and was not as focused as they should have been on Tuesday. Higgins spoke to the players about when teammates are injured, encouraging them to rally together, pick one another up, step up and make more plays.

 

"One of the things that is nice about our offense is that it is multiple and we can use different personnel groups, so that if we are low on running backs we can utilize receivers in different positions," Higgins added. "So that is something that we have to constantly look at with the depth that we have right now and with the injuries."

 

Higgins hopes to see the return of starting quarterback Bart Blanchard and wide receiver Andre Roberts this coming week. The Bulldogs will return to the field on Saturday for their final scrimmage before the start of the season. The scrimmage will take place at the Maybank Triplets Practice Facility at 10 a.m.