Day Two
by John Berkowitz on Apr 2, 2009 9:32 PM PDT
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PrintThe Huskies split up practice between the Husky Stadium and the Dempsey Indoor today because of the weather. The coaches don't want to lose any reps. The team is still in light-bulbs and won't be in full pads till next week.
Not a real news worthy day and don't expect one till next week when they strap the pads on and start filling out the depth chart.
One problem area is place kicking. Erik Folk is now healthy but he only went 1-5 today. It is still early but you expect a third year scholarship player to start making a move to earn the job.
Bob Condotta's report in the Seattle Times
"You only get 15 of these practices and we have to maximize our time,'' he said. "I'm not worried about being a physically or mentally tough football team. That will come. I know we'll get there. These are valuable reps we are getting, We needed to get in here with some good air. We thought it (the rain) would slow down but it kept coming.''
Chris Fetters Report from Dawgman
"I want to make it as game-like as possible," Sarkisian added when asked about the atmosphere surrounding that final play. "I want as much pressure as possible to put on our guys. I thought that was a pretty good setting for the last play, with the crowd and the team getting into it. It puts our kids in the position of what pressure is like and feeling comfortable in it. We want them to feel the energy and feel the intensity, and it starts with our coaches. If we bring it, our kids will bring it."
1. Players of the Day: On Offense Jermaine Kearse and on Defense Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
2. Play of the Day: Practice winning completion from Jake Locker to Jermaine Kearse
3. Coach of the Day: Jeff Mills ”Just trying to get the crowd involved”
4. Thought of the Day: If you don’t like something change it. Better yet, call an audible.
5. Team Competition Winner: Offense
Quote of the day
You really have to wonder what Ty Willingham and Trent Greener were doing the past four years. Those second half fades of the recent past are getting more understandable as the numbers start to come out from winter conditioning.
The 6-foot-6, 319-pound Ossai, for instance, noted that he went from 31 percent body fat to 19 during the 10-week conditioning program that preceded spring drills, which began this week.
BCS scholarship athletes shouldn't be in the 31% range when it comes to body fat. those numbers are more in line with 50 year old men who sit in front of the computer and type sports blogs.
Sarkisian has accomplished more conditioning wise in ten weeks than Willingham did in four years.
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The amount of competition at these practices is great to see, especially with an audience watching. Can’t make it this Saturday, but I’ll definitely be there M,W,F next week while the wife is out of town.
I had to agree with EJ when he said he was glad the practices were open because it exposes guys who don’t like practicing or playing.
Quick note on Folk and the kicking
After practice somebody (Bob? I don’t know because I saw it on video) asked Sark about Folk’s kicking. He basically brushed off the issue, saying he wasn’t worried about the results because they had been changing some things in terms of the timing between the holder/snapper/kicker, compared to what they did last year. He was basically saying that it wasn’t really Folk’s leg that he’s worried about, it’s just a matter of getting everybody all sync’ed up.
I guess my point is, we can probably anticipate that the kicking will be a question mark in the fall, but we should note that the head coach has zero concern for the results of the kicking at this point, and — at least publicly — seems confident that Folk is going to be fine once they’re all on the same page.
kicking
what would you expect Sark to say after the second practice (even if he was concerned)?
"Greed is Good."
So is Rudy.
He'd say he's not worried, of course.
As he should. But in this case he went out of his way to point out that they’re changing the timing and that we shouldn’t even look at the results yet until they get acclimated to the new method.
I just wanted to add that note to John’s fine summary since 1/5 does look pretty nasty, especially considering how bad the field goal kicking has been the last few years.
Anyway, we’ll see how Folk kicks in the spring game… they should have it ironed out by then (probably sooner, but the spring game will be a good game-like test).
I'd expect
kicking to be lower on the priority list at this point in time. Getting the new offense and defense in has the highest
Practicing Practice...
Is what this is all about. The coaching staff are building a winning atmosphere and what better landscape to achieve that while in practice. What the team does in winter conditioning, spring practice, summer workouts, and in fall camp will lead to success in the season.
Sark and Holt are teaching and implementing the new offense and defense. But more importantly they are teaching and implementing a new attitude, which will foster a winning atmosphere. I think truthfully the main things Sark and company are trying to achieve in spring camp are bringin in the USC system and offering the kids more reps then what they have been accustome to. Figuring out the depth chart will take care of itself, because the cream always rises to the top. Teaching and learning the SC concepts is what is taking place. We’ve got workaholics as coaches so besides reps everything else should be taken care of off the field.
Agree Lear?
All I saw was purple
I do agree, mostly
I really like what I’m hearing from practice. It really sounds like they are pushing the players and the pace of practice, the more reps the better. I really like the results I’m hearing from winter conditioning, specifically the linemen getting in better shape.
I really like the competition in practice, keeping a scoring system, and having winners and losers. I agree the best will rise to the top, I’m just concerned about having enough bodies. I love the coaches work ethic, but the great Vince Lombardi said, “Practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect.” I love hairofthedawgs fan post, we’ve heard all of this talk before, that being said, I really like what I see, but until we win games, it all means jack s. . . ..
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
Kicking
They have five months to get the kicking game in shape so I wouldn’t say that it is an immediate panic situation.
I'm loving every thing coming out of spring practices
Way loving it!
The thing I most worried about was the players’ response to the new coaching staff, the new coaching staff getting through, the conditioning, and now- how the depth is gonna fall in line, after the spring practices have gone full speed into the pads.
Initially, as I was reading the pre-spring drill comments from all you guys regarding the players/their abilities/how many were where and why- I was a little worried. And then I remembered back in 2001 when Coach Carroll came to ‘SC, after taking over for Paul Hackett, the Trojans had (what was considered at the time) a very very bare cupboard. And, for all intents and purposes, they did. What wasn’t understood or acutely perceived by most, was that the roster was chock-full of 2 and 3 stars players mostly from SoCal, Arizona, some from Colorado and a handful of other out of state “untouchables”. They didn’t do too bad, making it to the Las Vegas bowl, but losing to an average Utah team. (Them Utes, they’re powerhouse-killers ain’t they?).
In 2002, Coach Carroll made his mark- eventually finishing 5th in final the BCS poll. The point I want to make is this: even though he was still working with Hackett’s recruits, and trust me- Hackett had a worse roster than what Coach Sark is dealing with now, the program made drastic changes and were leaps and bounds a way better team on the field than what you would have given them credit for if you read (player-by-player stats from high school) that roster in the paper.
Conditioning BROUGHT BACK THE LACK OF SO-CALLED DEPTH!
The players grew into what it means to being champions and a championship-caliber team.
I can’t wait for the Fall practices and. . . . . .the friggin Spring practices haven’t even put their pads on yet?
I’m getting retarded for the UW. (i’m still interested in my Trojans and Tide, but this is so new for me. seeing a team blossom before my eyes. i’m like a guy who hates a loving relationship, but only loves “falling in love”? . . . . .some ex-girlfriend accused me of that one time. . . . . . 3 years later, after confiding with my mom. . . .she accused me of that too! women? what do they know? about tying knots, "infield fly rule, or a Mustang 302 block ;- )
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
Not so fast
Hackett had a lot better talent then what Sark has received at Washington- you’re kidding yourself if you think otherwise. I remember those teams under Hackett. They didn’t lack talent, they lacked leadership.
But I do agree with you on conditioning brings back the lack of so-called deth thing. Most football-related injuries occur when a player is not playing full speed. Now I am not talking about freak accidents here, okay Lear? I’m talking about the nagging tweaks, sprains, and pulls. Getting into top football condition should keep our disabled list to a minimum. Notice Lear I said “should” and not “will”. I don’t mean to sound like an ass, but I just got drilled for being misquoted in another thread. Don’t mean to call you out Lear, I’m just covering all my bases this time around.
All I saw was purple
They had running backs and some good defensive backs
Otherwise, they had no OL or DL- those guys kinda make up for whether a football team go places. Most of the rb’s and wr’s (only Keary Colbert was any good) were injured or didn’t do jack. Only Justin Fargas is still playing.
I don’t know what you’re talking about as far being better, I’d like for you to convince me otherwise.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 5:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I just can’t imagine SC not being loaded with superior talent. Maybe the talent level they had when Carroll arrived was not anything to brag about. When your roster is filled with all 5 and 4 star recruits across the board like it has been the last 8 years, Hackett’s rosters would look largely pathetic.
I just cannot imagine USC not having pretty good talent in hotbed SoCal. For whatever reason Hackett didn’t recruit well. But to say the talent was as bad as Washington’s has been is not compartively close. I might be off a tad, but I think when Carroll took over the talent level was the equivelent of something Oregon has now.
Football wasn’t fun under Hackett, kid’s lost interest, and lost desire to win. Carroll steps in and in one season they land in the Orange Bowl w/ a blow out victory over Iowa. This one year turnaround would explain the immediate success after one season. SC was talented, but lacked excitement, interest, and desire.
Again I could be off a tad, I follow USC from a distance- but it is remarkable that Carroll was able to turn it all around in one season. I don’t expect the same results for Sarkisian. We have serious depth issues and major talent issues at certain positions to turn a 180 like SC.
All I saw was purple
The personnel
The personnel Hackett had wasn’t anything close to what’s needed to run the Chow/Sarikisian system that’s been tweaked and fine-tuned since the early-’00’s. No TE’s, no true blocking HB/FB’s, OL-Guards and Tackles that couldn’t RUN a 40, but yeah- Sultan McCullugh, Justin Fargas, Mafeu Mckenzie (sp?), Keary Colbert- they were more than just decent.
Hackett RAN and passed only to set up the run. Carson Palmer was his coup de grace- that DIDN’T DO SH_T with Hackett. Chow got him as a junior and . . . . .well- you know how that played out.
The defense utterly sucked and not one of them did much. Did they win some accolades? Yes, but in their signature games vs. fUcla and The Fighting Rash.
Across the board, reading in depth of what UW has right now- their starting lines were on par with USC, but their skilled position players have more potential in my view.
Otherwise, Coach Carroll picked and specifically chose top-recruits to complement what Hackett left and designed the defense especially for Chow’s offense (when Coach Carroll was “hands-off” over on Offense- for a whole 2 seasons) and completely re-hauled the defense with recruits he really wanted. Troy Polamalu? He wouldn’t be ANYTHING without the care and mentoring of Coach Carroll. Hackett didn’t even utilize him much when he had him. And the remaining secondary and safeties- same thing.
Coach Sark and Coach Nicky have a lot to work with and will fill in the depth roles where needed, even if it means putting players in “not” their recruited positions and making athletes out of them – thereby making full use of their potential and commitment to the team. Exactly what coaches are supposed to do. Ideally.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 8:52 AM PDT up reply actions
You make a great argument and I can buy into what you are saying. In regards to Hackett’s lack of defensive personnel, if you remember correctly the Pac 10 in general was not a defensive league- it was all about what the offense could do. This would explain why Carroll didn’t have a lot to work with on defense when he arrived.
I am really surprised to hear that USC didn’t have much talent on the offensive line under Hackett. Traditionally SC was always Runningback U, yet the reason they received that trademark is due to year in and year out having the biggest, baddest offensive line in the land.
Again I follow SC from a distance and I knew their was a good chance of being off a tad regarding the Hackett/Carroll transition. And I also have to say that within a few years I think it’s going to be safe to say that we hired the best coach in the land. Holt will be around for awhile, I think he wants to build a defense of his own and run it the way he envisions it to be run. Didn’t have that at Troy, all he had was the name plate and day to day assignments. Love Sark and Holt!
All I saw was purple
It's TAILBACK U.
Tailback U was basically the McKay and Robinson the Ist years. Those days were long gone when Hackett did his hack job.
It is now revived. Thank God.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Larry Smith Era?
If I remember correctly Larry Smith abandoned the majority of McKay and Robinson’s runnning style “student body left … student body right”. Under Smith it was all about Peate wasn’t it? Man how time flys…
All I saw was purple
Hey now!
When I came to this country, I could sing (perfectly) Fleetwood Mac and Micheal Jackson songs, but didn’t know what the “f” I was saying or singing. With that said, when I finally got down English and could read sports pages- Rodney Peete was my hero. I wanted a Rodney Peete jersey. . . . .my sisters got together and bought me a totally fake Marinovich jersey???? (girls from Chile, very very beautiful- a little “too smart” sometimes :- )
Time does fly, I forgot the words to Michael Jackson songs. Just this morning on my way to church I had Journey and Fleetwood Mac blaring on my way to Palm Sunday festivities!!!!!! And I knew EVERY SINGLE WORDS of those songs.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Is that really the music you should be listening to on your way to church?
I bet we could really have some fun on that one!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
"I'm forever yours. . . .
. . . faithfully. . . " (dun-dun-dun-dun. . . da-da. . . dun-dun-dun-dun. . . da-da. . .)
“There’s a songbir-rrrrrrd that’s singing, like they. . know the score-orrr-orrr-orr. And I love you, I love you, I love you, like never before-orr-orr. . . "
Are those just some serious classic soft rock songs or . . . or. . . I’ll be a monkey’s uncle. By marriage!
(lucky it wasn’t “Any Way You Want It” and “Little Lies”, nope. Not me. No sax before a marriage fight and no lying be layin’ ‘round here! That’s against my Catholic upbringing. Apart from all the “hate” I can have, that’s about it. ???? ) Totally. Just. Kidding.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions
This is what's so ironic and weird about Hackett
He was trying to implement a Buddy Ryan/West Coast/spread offense???? It was a major pain in the tookiss to watch that kinda football. Palmer was all over the place not even knowing how to operate a complex and not-very-well-tested offense. He looked miserably lost (a’la Locker, at times the past two years). Justin Fargas was a Michigan recruit and state 100 meter champion. He got badly injured at Michigan, had a falling out with the OC and HC- and came back to California to try to play for Hackett. Good thing Hackett didn’t last that long afer, Fargas was injured again and almost couldn’t come back to football. Sultan McCullough was a big/fast back in the vein of LenDale White and had some stellar games with Hackett.
Here’s the rub. With an O-line that couldn’t run, pull, or maintain a wall, Sultan (after the 1-yard gain marker) would usually end up being “tackled” by either running into the backs of his lineman or outrunning them by that point and getting gang-tackled coming out off the edge of his pulling lineman. He piled up yardage, but needed 30+ carries to get to 100 yards.
That system just choked. Larry Smith is dear in a lot of Trojan hearts. I’m “meh” on the dude. Again, I’m from the Bay Area. It was all about Jack Elway, Bill Walsh and. . . .gulp. . . Tyrone! Plus Bruce Snyder and Joe Kapp. (SJSU sucked left nut back in the day! They did have Jack E though for a few good years)
I’ve only been a fan of Trojan football (seriously) since the Hackett and Carroll years. (sue me, I’m not that old of retard. retarded, yes. old? I’m getting there)
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Hackett
USC had talent but it was very unbalanced when Carroll arrived.
Carroll really had to rebuild the offensive and defensive lines to get the Trojan juggernaught moving. If I remember correctly Carroll recruited an exceptional second year class heavy on lineman to balance it out.
by John Berkowitz on Apr 5, 2009 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
Yup
You betcha. Nail-head hitter, you are.
I’m not expecting the same results for the UW as it was for USC. I’ll be honest, our AD (“Little Mike the Heis”) Mike Garrett got supremely lucky to land both Coach Carroll and Coach Floyd (bball coach).
I’m just excited for the UW and “think” the possibilities are endless for your program. You guys got the money, inititative, soon-to-be-best facilities in the country, a pro-active AD, an insane QB (I love Jake Locker, love that guy!!!) and the player potential to be great. Coach Sark will make his name in Seattle, you guys will be the benificiaries too.
Down here in LA, people see that Coach Carroll might make a professional move, sooner rather than later. With Belotti gone, Tedford on the hot seat, Riley still the perennial “up and comer”- Neuheisel (his days are numbered). . . .it all points to Sark and Nicky!
Mark my words. I’m hardly wrong (that sounds bad, and I don’t wanna use it, I just can’t think of anything more appropriate to write. apologies are offered now).
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions
I didn't misquote you
I used your exact phraseology. If you want me to play nice, I suggest you should also.
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
I agree on conditioning
The better our team is conditioned the fewer injuries we should have. Ichiro is the best example of that. I don’t agree on playing full speed causing fewer injuries, injuries will happen at any speed. conditioning is the most critical factor.
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
I second that!
The negotiation between resistance (weights), aerobic/anaerobic (sprints&jogging/distance), plyometrics (core/muscle/ligaments), and calisthenics (conscious warm-up & warm-down stretching&flexibility) adds a multi-faceted dimension to football players and their dedication to conditioning. Chris Carlyle is the award-winning strength and conditioning coach at ‘SC, and he’s the one responsible for making Rey-Rey, Cush, C-Matt, T-roy, CJ, and Stafon to look like. . Rey-Rey, etc.
Here’s the kicker, because Coach Carroll (and I’m sure Coach Sark/Holt will duplicate) maintains the environment of “competing” for your position, which means insane intensity play in- play out, practically every play all practice- there are a whole host of injuries that soon pile up after a few weeks of full-contact practicing. So, despite the conditioning work and all it’s numerous benefits- concussions, broken bones/ligaments/, torn muscles, and knee injuries are intrinsically unavoidable. If I remember correctly, there’s always been some badass on the injured list throughout all of Coach Carrolls tenure. It’s definitley not unique to ‘SC, injuries do not discriminate (well they do to an extent, especially towards the undiligent/lazy/emotionally uninvested team players)- but as an example, last season only truly saw 3 “in-game” injuries occur to ’SC’s players. Out of the roughly 12 total team injuries. Which means at least 7 or 8 injuries occured DURING TEAM PRACTICE!
I can only think of Joe McKnight’s hand being crushed in the “hinge” side of a gym door and a lineman’s hand getting cut at his residence. Oh yeah, and then Jeff Byers’ Rocky Mtn Spotted Fever diagnosis. So, 6 practice injuries that were severe enough for the players to lose two games or more.
Conditioning is preventative health practice for sure, however playing out of your head each and every practice will eventually get you injured nonetheless.
Is Jake fully recovered? Does anyone know any data or info as to his diagnosis and rehab treatment. Especially would be cool if you knew of any surgical or medical procedure(s) he experienced. (I’m in medical/health fields, and love the stuff)
Oh yeah, Lear- I didn’t see your “aviation” question until late last night. (he had a Piper 2 Seneca – Now he’s in a Cessna 421 (i think C, i could be wrong. he’s had it less than a year) Man, I love them twins!!! He DEFINITELY can’t afford a Lear. That’s just way out of his price range. He’s an electrical engineer by trade. Retired and bored now. Got him a bullet-press for his birthday this year. Keeps him busy making bullets for his guns. (i suck at gifts, i give people what I WANT. selfish Libra that I am)
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 6, 2009 10:17 AM PDT up reply actions
Good stuff
I’d guess Locker is actually at 80-90% recovered, although they claim he’s at 100%. The thumb probably just need some good use to get back to where it use to be, and spring practice should do just that.
I flew cargo over the Cascade’s for a year in Seneca II’s and twin Cessna’s. They’re great planes that handle the weather around here pretty well. One of the routes even took the Seneca to Friday Harbor once a week, such a beautiful area!
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
Garrett
Garrett was about done as AD at USC.
Carroll was like fourth or fifth choice. Sometimes it just works out that way.
Succint and funny
But totally totally true!
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
I've said this before, I'll say it again because I feel I have to
Coach’s move to Seattle was strategically planned by himself. He turned down the Raiders job, numerous pro OC positions and probably various HC positions in college football BECAUSE HE WAS WAITING FOR THE UW job to open up.
I know this to be true, trust me. I have Sluman’s and Roth’s phone number in my cell phone. Enough said.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
Not their new ones though
Probably for the better, I might hit them up for some Apple Cup tickets. I’m seriously planning on that game. For the record, my dad lives in Friday Harbor. We fly into Bellingham in his plane to get to his “pad on the water”. I get up to Seattle about 3 times a year, and have been for about 8 years now.
Comer4tide to Nico2.0: "How come I've never heard of any of your random songs?"
Todd to Comer: "Because if you had, he wouldn't listen to it. BOOM. Roasted."
Nico to Todd: "Shouldn't you be off voguing somewhere?"
by BixBeiderbecke on Apr 5, 2009 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Now your talking my language
Can’t beat Friday Harbor, what type of plane?
"Bow Down to Washington"
"Kick the tires and light the fires!"
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