UC Spring Football 2011
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Thegreatone
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- Feb 2, 2010
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I know thegreatone is going to the game. Who else is planning on attending? I'd like to go as well.
Also..if he or anyone else can go I would ask for two things (if I may).
1. Take copious notes, and post them in this thread or one for the spring game.
2. Take pictures of the coaches/players and lets post them on here. Be great to have the ability to use those in profiles, as avatars, etc.
Thanx.
Also..if he or anyone else can go I would ask for two things (if I may).
1. Take copious notes, and post them in this thread or one for the spring game.
2. Take pictures of the coaches/players and lets post them on here. Be great to have the ability to use those in profiles, as avatars, etc.
Thanx.
JUSTGOPLAY
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- Joined
- Feb 3, 2010
- Messages
- 17
Our group is looking forward to this spring game more than any of the others. I know it is just a spring game, but you can get an idea of how Coach Butch is going to run his program......We're counting on "Kelly on Steroids" from Butch. And, a little more attention to the defense would not suck.
adrock
Well-known member
Looks like somebody's ramping football conversation up! And with spring practice, as you said, only a week away, I'm also getting excited.
I talked to Butch Jones this morning about the start of spring practice tomorrow morning. He said everyone begins with a clean slate, including the quarterbacks, but it’s hard to imagine that after the way Zach Collaros played last year while Tony Pike was injured that he doesn’t enter the spring as the starter and probably one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Big East.
Jones and his staff will use the spring to install a new offensive system, but the learning curve shouldn’t be as steep because the spread offense is similar to the one employed by Brian Kelly the past three years. There is one major difference, though.
“It’s a spread offense, a passing offense, but we’re also going to run the football,” Jones said. “In today’s world of college football, one of the ways you play great defense is to protect your defense a little bit too, so we’ve got to be able to run the football.
“I’m all for scoring points, but there’s going to be times when there’s four minutes to go in the game we’re up by seven. We’ve got to be able to control the clock and not put our defense back on the field.:”
That’s where Isaiah Pead comes in after he led the Bearcats in rushing last season with 806 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
“Isaiah Pead has had a great offseason in terms of our strength and conditioning program,” Jones said. “I’ve watched a lot of film on him. I’m excited about him. He’s added size and he’s added strength. He’s a very capable back. The thing I like about him is not only can he run the football but he can catch the football as well.”
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/03/16/jones-pumped-for-spring-practice/
Jones and his staff will use the spring to install a new offensive system, but the learning curve shouldn’t be as steep because the spread offense is similar to the one employed by Brian Kelly the past three years. There is one major difference, though.
“It’s a spread offense, a passing offense, but we’re also going to run the football,” Jones said. “In today’s world of college football, one of the ways you play great defense is to protect your defense a little bit too, so we’ve got to be able to run the football.
“I’m all for scoring points, but there’s going to be times when there’s four minutes to go in the game we’re up by seven. We’ve got to be able to control the clock and not put our defense back on the field.:”
That’s where Isaiah Pead comes in after he led the Bearcats in rushing last season with 806 yards, averaging 6.7 yards per carry.
“Isaiah Pead has had a great offseason in terms of our strength and conditioning program,” Jones said. “I’ve watched a lot of film on him. I’m excited about him. He’s added size and he’s added strength. He’s a very capable back. The thing I like about him is not only can he run the football but he can catch the football as well.”
http://cincinnati.com/blogs/uc/2010/03/16/jones-pumped-for-spring-practice/
Everything starts anew. Every position is up for grabs.
Theoretically, that’s what will happen Wednesday when the University of Cincinnati football team assembles at Nippert Stadium for its first spring practice under new head coach Butch Jones.
“We’ve stressed from the moment we walked in the door every individual building their identity, their football identity and their off-the-field identity,” Jones said Tuesday. “The big thing is we have a motto that we’re using for spring called ‘As One.’ We speak the same language. We understand the expectations. That’s the big thing.”
Realistically, though, even with a new head coach, there is carryover from last season.
After the success that Zach Collaros experienced last season filling in for Tony Pike, he begins the spring as the leading candidate to be the starting quarterback, just as Isaiah Pead will be the incumbent at running back and linebacker JK Schaffer will be the leader of the defense.
When it comes to an identity, those three players have already done a pretty good job of forging theirs, even if Jones has seen them only on film to this point.
Football coaches always put a lot of stock in spring practice, but with a new regime it becomes even more important as players try to learn a new system and new terminology. In this case, Jones will employ a spread offense similar to the one that Brian Kelly used to win back-to-back Big East championships, which should make the transition easier.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100316/SPT0101/303160076/1064/UC+set+to+begin+spring+practice
Theoretically, that’s what will happen Wednesday when the University of Cincinnati football team assembles at Nippert Stadium for its first spring practice under new head coach Butch Jones.
“We’ve stressed from the moment we walked in the door every individual building their identity, their football identity and their off-the-field identity,” Jones said Tuesday. “The big thing is we have a motto that we’re using for spring called ‘As One.’ We speak the same language. We understand the expectations. That’s the big thing.”
Realistically, though, even with a new head coach, there is carryover from last season.
After the success that Zach Collaros experienced last season filling in for Tony Pike, he begins the spring as the leading candidate to be the starting quarterback, just as Isaiah Pead will be the incumbent at running back and linebacker JK Schaffer will be the leader of the defense.
When it comes to an identity, those three players have already done a pretty good job of forging theirs, even if Jones has seen them only on film to this point.
Football coaches always put a lot of stock in spring practice, but with a new regime it becomes even more important as players try to learn a new system and new terminology. In this case, Jones will employ a spread offense similar to the one that Brian Kelly used to win back-to-back Big East championships, which should make the transition easier.
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100316/SPT0101/303160076/1064/UC+set+to+begin+spring+practice
March 16, 2010
The University of Cincinnati football team will open up spring practice Wednesday at Nippert Stadium, the first workout for the back-to-back BIG EAST Conference Champions under head coach Butch Jones.
Jones will appear on Lance McAlister's show on 700 WLW tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the opening of spring football.
Spring workouts, with the exception of Bearcat Bowl IV, are closed to the general public.
UC returns 13 starters from last year's BIG EAST Championship squad, including all-league selections Armon Binns (WR), Alex Hoffman (OL), Jason Kelce (OL), and Ben Guidugli (TE).
The defense returns four of the top-six tacklers from the 2009 squad, linebacker JK Schaffer (100 tackles), safety Drew Frey (64 tackles, two interceptions), defensive back Dominique Battle (60 tackles, two interceptions), and linebacker Walter Stewart (59 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks).
The Bearcats will hold practice Wednesday and Thursday at Nippert Stadium before taking off next week due to Spring Break.
Starting on March 30, the Bearcats will hold three workouts a week leading up to Bearcat Bowl IV, set to take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday April 24, 2010 inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by FS Ohio.
http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/031610aab.html
The University of Cincinnati football team will open up spring practice Wednesday at Nippert Stadium, the first workout for the back-to-back BIG EAST Conference Champions under head coach Butch Jones.
Jones will appear on Lance McAlister's show on 700 WLW tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the opening of spring football.
Spring workouts, with the exception of Bearcat Bowl IV, are closed to the general public.
UC returns 13 starters from last year's BIG EAST Championship squad, including all-league selections Armon Binns (WR), Alex Hoffman (OL), Jason Kelce (OL), and Ben Guidugli (TE).
The defense returns four of the top-six tacklers from the 2009 squad, linebacker JK Schaffer (100 tackles), safety Drew Frey (64 tackles, two interceptions), defensive back Dominique Battle (60 tackles, two interceptions), and linebacker Walter Stewart (59 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks).
The Bearcats will hold practice Wednesday and Thursday at Nippert Stadium before taking off next week due to Spring Break.
Starting on March 30, the Bearcats will hold three workouts a week leading up to Bearcat Bowl IV, set to take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday April 24, 2010 inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by FS Ohio.
http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/031610aab.html
At the conclusion of the first day of spring practice, Zach Collaros spoke with a calm humility about battling for the quarterback position and an excitement to prove to new coach Butch Jones what he can do.
No ego here, especially from a guy featured at 10 times his actual size on billboards littered across the city.
Though, that could be because he hasn't seen them.
"I have heard about a couple of those," Collaros said. "I haven't seen them. I don't have a car down here. That would be kind of cool (to look up at one). My mom would probably be pretty excited if she saw it."
For now, as a new era of Cincinnati football begins under Jones, the out-of-sight-out-of-mind arrangement works out just fine.
Collaros sprinted onto the scene last year for South Florida and established himself as the incumbent starter with the departure of Tony Pike.
As much as any billboard would infer Collaros as the man, Jones won't make such assurances at this point. He wouldn't commit to the rising junior as the starter over backup Chazz Anderson, but only to say Collaros opened the spring taking snaps with the first team.
"Right now we will go in and start the depth chart," Jones said. "We won't know who the starter is probably until a week before our first game. But (Collaros) does he have an advantage, yeah, he has an advantage because he has played and he has done some things. But Fresno State doesn't care who made the plays last year."
Collaros did more than just make plays last year, he stepped into the radar as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Big East. He threw for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as running for 343 yards. All of that in seven games, four as a starter.
That's in fact what some people forget now, while people may expect Collaros to act like the starter, it's a role he's unfamiliar with. He's always had to battle for position. If anybody should know about how quickly a backup can step in and steal a job, it's Collaros.
None of his mentality not about to change for him now.
"I always approach practice the same way," Collaros said. "It is a little different getting the first snaps. It is exciting feeling like you are the guy. Like I say, Chazz, is a great quarterback, we are going to be out there battling
http://cnati.com/college/jones-collaros-start-anew-001539/
No ego here, especially from a guy featured at 10 times his actual size on billboards littered across the city.
Though, that could be because he hasn't seen them.
"I have heard about a couple of those," Collaros said. "I haven't seen them. I don't have a car down here. That would be kind of cool (to look up at one). My mom would probably be pretty excited if she saw it."
For now, as a new era of Cincinnati football begins under Jones, the out-of-sight-out-of-mind arrangement works out just fine.
Collaros sprinted onto the scene last year for South Florida and established himself as the incumbent starter with the departure of Tony Pike.
As much as any billboard would infer Collaros as the man, Jones won't make such assurances at this point. He wouldn't commit to the rising junior as the starter over backup Chazz Anderson, but only to say Collaros opened the spring taking snaps with the first team.
"Right now we will go in and start the depth chart," Jones said. "We won't know who the starter is probably until a week before our first game. But (Collaros) does he have an advantage, yeah, he has an advantage because he has played and he has done some things. But Fresno State doesn't care who made the plays last year."
Collaros did more than just make plays last year, he stepped into the radar as one of the top returning quarterbacks in the Big East. He threw for 1,434 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as running for 343 yards. All of that in seven games, four as a starter.
That's in fact what some people forget now, while people may expect Collaros to act like the starter, it's a role he's unfamiliar with. He's always had to battle for position. If anybody should know about how quickly a backup can step in and steal a job, it's Collaros.
None of his mentality not about to change for him now.
"I always approach practice the same way," Collaros said. "It is a little different getting the first snaps. It is exciting feeling like you are the guy. Like I say, Chazz, is a great quarterback, we are going to be out there battling
http://cnati.com/college/jones-collaros-start-anew-001539/
A NEW DAY - But if we learned anything from the first day of practice at Nippert Stadium on Wednesday, it's that last year is forgotten.
Jones moved around the practice field giving chest bumps to players and at every interchange the Bearcats screamed and sprinted to the next station.
All the way down to the student managers, who ran like they were preparing for the 40-yard dash, the first day was as much about acclimating the team to the speed of practice as it was the any specific football drill.
"I told our ballboys, they will be in the best in shape of all the student body," Jones said. "But we expect a lot from them. Our managers become just as important as anyone else just because of the tempo. It is a whole learning curve. It is a whole learning process."
The learning process of spring football is enough without having to worry about what a crew of all new coaches have to say, as well.
"There's usually three phases you go through in spring ball for fundamental improvement. That is the big thing in developing toughness and developing your leadership. Being a new staff, you throw in another fourth element and that is learning your schemes. Things we talked about was you can't let the mind tie your feet up. I thought kids did a good job for the first day. Tomorrow is going to be criticial and each day we progress during spring ball is going to be critical."
PROBLEMS -- The first day of practice wasn't all rainbows and lollipops. While compliments, excitement and enthusiasm were flying from every angle, it wasn't without some concerns from Jones.
"We were a little bit sloppy with the football," Jones said. "First and foremost, we have to take care of the football. That's kind of typical on the first day because you are not allowed to use footballs in the offseason. We have to do better job of taking care of the football and job security and I think overall we just have to do a better job running to the football."
http://cnati.com/college/jones-collaros-start-anew-001539/
Jones moved around the practice field giving chest bumps to players and at every interchange the Bearcats screamed and sprinted to the next station.
All the way down to the student managers, who ran like they were preparing for the 40-yard dash, the first day was as much about acclimating the team to the speed of practice as it was the any specific football drill.
"I told our ballboys, they will be in the best in shape of all the student body," Jones said. "But we expect a lot from them. Our managers become just as important as anyone else just because of the tempo. It is a whole learning curve. It is a whole learning process."
The learning process of spring football is enough without having to worry about what a crew of all new coaches have to say, as well.
"There's usually three phases you go through in spring ball for fundamental improvement. That is the big thing in developing toughness and developing your leadership. Being a new staff, you throw in another fourth element and that is learning your schemes. Things we talked about was you can't let the mind tie your feet up. I thought kids did a good job for the first day. Tomorrow is going to be criticial and each day we progress during spring ball is going to be critical."
PROBLEMS -- The first day of practice wasn't all rainbows and lollipops. While compliments, excitement and enthusiasm were flying from every angle, it wasn't without some concerns from Jones.
"We were a little bit sloppy with the football," Jones said. "First and foremost, we have to take care of the football. That's kind of typical on the first day because you are not allowed to use footballs in the offseason. We have to do better job of taking care of the football and job security and I think overall we just have to do a better job running to the football."
http://cnati.com/college/jones-collaros-start-anew-001539/
CINCINNATI - The 2010 season officially got under way Wednesday, as the University of Cincinnati football team held its first of 15 spring practice, Wednesday under sunny cool skies at Nippert Stadium.
It was the first workout for the back-to-back BIG EAST Conference Champions under head coach Butch Jones and the first time in helmets for the squad since the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The workout, which ran just under two hours, was intense, fast paced, and full of constant motion and learning. Jones and his staff had their first opportunity to work with the 2010 squad on football-specific activities and the head coach came away pleased with the effort.
"There's usually three phases you go through in spring ball for fundamental improvement," Jones said. "That is the big thing in developing toughness and developing your leadership. Being a new staff, you throw in another fourth element and that is learning your schemes. One of the things we talked about was you can't let the mind tie your feet up. I thought kids did a good job for the first day. Tomorrow is going to be critical and each day we progress during spring ball is going to be critical."
Referring to schemes, Jones will install his spread offense during the spring while the defense will transition back to a 4-3 after working out of a base 3-4 set during the 2009 season.
The opening half of practice was heavy on individual position drills with several periods of punt, punt return, and kickoff return mixed in.
One of the battles this spring will be to identify the primary punt and kick returners following the graduation of all-America return man Mardy Gilyard.
Among those getting an early look at return duties were D.J. Woods, Darrin Williams, Vidal Hazelton, Isaiah Pead, and John Goebel who is back at full strength following an injury-plagued 2009 campaign.
Among the fundamentals stressed on Wednesday was ball security, something Jones wants to emphasize to his team through the spring session.
"We were a little bit sloppy with the football," Jones said. "First and foremost, we have to take care of the football. That's kind of typical on the first day because you are not allowed to use footballs in the offseason. We have to do better job of taking care of the football and job security and I think overall we just have to do a better job running to the football."
UC returns to the field Thursday morning for practice number two of the spring, ahead of UC's spring break next week.
Starting on March 30, the Bearcats will hold three workouts a week leading up to Bearcat Bowl IV, set to take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday April 24, 2010 inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by FS Ohio. Spring workouts, with the exception of Bearcat Bowl IV, are closed to the general public.
http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/031710aaa.html
It was the first workout for the back-to-back BIG EAST Conference Champions under head coach Butch Jones and the first time in helmets for the squad since the 2010 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
The workout, which ran just under two hours, was intense, fast paced, and full of constant motion and learning. Jones and his staff had their first opportunity to work with the 2010 squad on football-specific activities and the head coach came away pleased with the effort.
"There's usually three phases you go through in spring ball for fundamental improvement," Jones said. "That is the big thing in developing toughness and developing your leadership. Being a new staff, you throw in another fourth element and that is learning your schemes. One of the things we talked about was you can't let the mind tie your feet up. I thought kids did a good job for the first day. Tomorrow is going to be critical and each day we progress during spring ball is going to be critical."
Referring to schemes, Jones will install his spread offense during the spring while the defense will transition back to a 4-3 after working out of a base 3-4 set during the 2009 season.
The opening half of practice was heavy on individual position drills with several periods of punt, punt return, and kickoff return mixed in.
One of the battles this spring will be to identify the primary punt and kick returners following the graduation of all-America return man Mardy Gilyard.
Among those getting an early look at return duties were D.J. Woods, Darrin Williams, Vidal Hazelton, Isaiah Pead, and John Goebel who is back at full strength following an injury-plagued 2009 campaign.
Among the fundamentals stressed on Wednesday was ball security, something Jones wants to emphasize to his team through the spring session.
"We were a little bit sloppy with the football," Jones said. "First and foremost, we have to take care of the football. That's kind of typical on the first day because you are not allowed to use footballs in the offseason. We have to do better job of taking care of the football and job security and I think overall we just have to do a better job running to the football."
UC returns to the field Thursday morning for practice number two of the spring, ahead of UC's spring break next week.
Starting on March 30, the Bearcats will hold three workouts a week leading up to Bearcat Bowl IV, set to take place at 7 p.m. on Saturday April 24, 2010 inside Nippert Stadium. The game will be televised by FS Ohio. Spring workouts, with the exception of Bearcat Bowl IV, are closed to the general public.
http://www.gobearcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/031710aaa.html