Practice report-day 9
It was, Marrone said, the final day on which installing the new offense would be a major focus of practice. Wednesday’s agenda had the offense working on goal line and short yardage plays, and, to a lesser extent, some work on a no-huddle package.
Except for a short period of working on goal-line offense, the scrimmaging in the lengthy practice was almost all non-tackle. But there were some pads popping on both sides of the ball, evidence of a fiestiness that had Marrone smiling.
“When you get both sides of the ball being competitive with each other, its always a good thing,” he said. “These are the type of practices you’re looking for throughout spring. I’m hoping today sets the tempo for the rest of the spring.”
» See a photo gallery from Day 9 of spring practice
That competitiveness started early, when defensive end Chandler Jones broke through and blocked an extra point attempt during special teams drills.
During various scrimmages, the offense and defense seemed to take turns going at one another.
In one early series, the defense turned in consecutive nice plays. On the first, cornerback Phillip Thomas intercepted a Ryan Nassib pass over the middle and scooted into the end zone. On the next snap, the defensive line batted a Nassib pass high in the air, and running back Antwon Bailey had to make a hustle play to keep the defense from intercepting another one.
A short while later, wide receiver Aaron Weaver took a pass and ran into the secondary, delivering an unexpected pop to safety Shamarko Thomas, which drew hoots from both sides.
Delone Carter made a nifty run when he broke through the line, then hopped to his right to leave a defender grasping air, and took off on what would have been a lengthy touchdown run.
Later, when the offense was running goal line plays from the 2-yard line in a full-contact scrimmage, the two sides went at it hard again.
On one play, Carter took a handoff, rammed into the end zone, then went right at Shamarko Thomas, talking and pushing. On the next play, Carter went in again from several yards out, this time around the left side.
Then the defense took over, with a coverage sack on the next play. After that, junior defensive end Torrey Ball broke through and tackled Averin Collier for a 3-yard loss.
Sophomore quarterback Charley Loeb came right back with a touchdown pass to tight end Nick Provo, but the defense responded on the next play by swarming Collier on a run up the middle, causing a fumble which it recovered.
Marrone on the D-line
The coach likes to spread the praise around. On Wednesday he had lots for the defensive line.
“The defensive line has really done a nice job,” he said.
Marrone started with ends Mikhail Marinovich and Chandler Jones. Jones, he said, has been added to the nickel package as a down lineman. He also mentioned backups Ball and Brandon Sharpe before moving on to the tackles.
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2010/04/offensive_defensive_lines_get.html
It was, Marrone said, the final day on which installing the new offense would be a major focus of practice. Wednesday’s agenda had the offense working on goal line and short yardage plays, and, to a lesser extent, some work on a no-huddle package.
Except for a short period of working on goal-line offense, the scrimmaging in the lengthy practice was almost all non-tackle. But there were some pads popping on both sides of the ball, evidence of a fiestiness that had Marrone smiling.
“When you get both sides of the ball being competitive with each other, its always a good thing,” he said. “These are the type of practices you’re looking for throughout spring. I’m hoping today sets the tempo for the rest of the spring.”
» See a photo gallery from Day 9 of spring practice
That competitiveness started early, when defensive end Chandler Jones broke through and blocked an extra point attempt during special teams drills.
During various scrimmages, the offense and defense seemed to take turns going at one another.
In one early series, the defense turned in consecutive nice plays. On the first, cornerback Phillip Thomas intercepted a Ryan Nassib pass over the middle and scooted into the end zone. On the next snap, the defensive line batted a Nassib pass high in the air, and running back Antwon Bailey had to make a hustle play to keep the defense from intercepting another one.
A short while later, wide receiver Aaron Weaver took a pass and ran into the secondary, delivering an unexpected pop to safety Shamarko Thomas, which drew hoots from both sides.
Delone Carter made a nifty run when he broke through the line, then hopped to his right to leave a defender grasping air, and took off on what would have been a lengthy touchdown run.
Later, when the offense was running goal line plays from the 2-yard line in a full-contact scrimmage, the two sides went at it hard again.
On one play, Carter took a handoff, rammed into the end zone, then went right at Shamarko Thomas, talking and pushing. On the next play, Carter went in again from several yards out, this time around the left side.
Then the defense took over, with a coverage sack on the next play. After that, junior defensive end Torrey Ball broke through and tackled Averin Collier for a 3-yard loss.
Sophomore quarterback Charley Loeb came right back with a touchdown pass to tight end Nick Provo, but the defense responded on the next play by swarming Collier on a run up the middle, causing a fumble which it recovered.
Marrone on the D-line
The coach likes to spread the praise around. On Wednesday he had lots for the defensive line.
“The defensive line has really done a nice job,” he said.
Marrone started with ends Mikhail Marinovich and Chandler Jones. Jones, he said, has been added to the nickel package as a down lineman. He also mentioned backups Ball and Brandon Sharpe before moving on to the tackles.
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2010/04/offensive_defensive_lines_get.html
