Spring football practice

[UAalum72]

'Game Notes' of spring practice

 

UA release

[danefan]

The Great Danes lost their top passer, an all-conference receiver and the school's career rushing leader. However, quarterback Andrew Smith represents the future after having been used as a triple-threat weapon during his redshirt freshman season. Smith rushed for 379 yards and five touchdowns, threw a scoring pass and caught a pair of TDs. Dan Di Lella (6-5, 225) has some game experience.

 

Interesting. Appears that Smith is still be touted as the future at QB. I'm really hoping that Romain can get into right away at RB and take some pressure off Smith or whoever is under center.

[danefan]

Update from yesterday's practice

 

http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15800&ATCLID=204923042

 

Albany, N.Y. - Head coach Bob Ford welcomed back his football squad for the first day of spring practice on Monday (April 5) at the Mara-Tisch Practice Field near the Western Avenue side of campus. No one was happier to return to the natural grass field than Chris Blais.

"My emotions were high today," said Blais, who missed all of last season due to injuries after making 31 tackles in 12 appearances at outside linebacker during the 2008 campaign. "I physically marked this (date) on the calendar. Last year was frustrating."

A native of Troy, N.Y. where he was the area's top defensive player as a high school senior, Blais was saddled with two separate right hand injuries. He fractured his thumb during the preseason and a pin was surgically placed to help the healing process. After going through the recovery period, he got back on the practice field in October only to break two metacarpal bones in a separate incident.

"It was discouraging, but I look at the positives," explained Blais, who moved to his current position from the secondary two springs ago. "You don't get too many opportunities like this (to play college football), plus I missed being on the field with everyone."

After Blais and his defensive teammates wrapped up the first spring session with a pursuit drill, he talked about his obligations as a senior to the younger players. "I want to help them along the way," he said. "It's too much to handle for a freshman. Dave Nicomini and Trevor DuPont (former UAlbany players) helped me. You want them to do well in the future, so that the program can maintain its level or go even higher."

Blais admits that the first week of the spring will be a transition for him. Maybe he can also assist in the development of those around him.

 

Paw Prints: UAlbany was dressed in helmets and shorts for the first spring workout and will not wear pads until Friday (April 9) ... competition will be keen at several positions after 17 seniors graduated off last year's 7-4 team ... inside lineacker Said Gaida was pleased to be on the field with his new team ... Gaida is eligible immediately as Hofstra discontinued football after the 2009 season ... Rob Cervini, who had to sit out last year after transferring from Rutgers, worked at free safety and as a holder on the field goal/PAT special teams unit.

 

[Clickclack]

What's the consensus out there on the outlook for this years team? Better then last year, worse or about the same?

[danefan]

What's the consensus out there on the outlook for this years team? Better then last year, worse or about the same?

 

 

Hard to say right now. We need to replace a lot on both sides of the ball but we should have the talent to do so. If we get solid QB and RB play our offense should be really good. Defensively we'll need to replace a lot of core players. Looks like we should have some transfers and underclassmen with playing time to fill those holes.

 

My personal feeling is we should always be the favorite or #2 team in the NEC, even in our rebuilding years. Anything less than an NEC championship and trip to the playoffs would be a disapointing season to me.

[DanesRGood]

This is what seems very scary to me from the 'Game Notes'. Hopefully we can overcome the large amount of losses:

 

STARTERS RETURNING (9)

OFFENSE (6) - TE Paul Booker, OT Vince Gonzales, OG Kyle O'Keefe, OT Keith Peifer, WR Jason Poore, OG Andy Sparano.

DEFENSE (3) - CB Ross Bertrand, DT Zach Gallo, DE Mike Kelly.

 

SPECIALISTS RETURNING (2)

KICKER - Herb Glass, PUNTER - Bobby Woods.

 

STARTERS LOST (13)

OFFENSE (5) - WR Tim Bush, QB Vinny Esposito, FB Chris Kenneally, TB David McCarty, C Kevin Richards.

DEFENSE (8) - ILB Justin Brancaccio, FS Dave Casale, OLB Rich Duff, CB Jean Juste, S Emerson Kinsey, OLB Dave Nicomini, ILB Chris Simpson, DE Tony Sparano.

[danefan]

This is what seems very scary to me from the 'Game Notes'. Hopefully we can overcome the large amount of losses:

 

STARTERS RETURNING (9)

OFFENSE (6) - TE Paul Booker, OT Vince Gonzales, OG Kyle O'Keefe, OT Keith Peifer, WR Jason Poore, OG Andy Sparano.

DEFENSE (3) - CB Ross Bertrand, DT Zach Gallo, DE Mike Kelly.

 

SPECIALISTS RETURNING (2)

KICKER - Herb Glass, PUNTER - Bobby Woods.

 

STARTERS LOST (13)

OFFENSE (5) - WR Tim Bush, QB Vinny Esposito, FB Chris Kenneally, TB David McCarty, C Kevin Richards.

DEFENSE (8) - ILB Justin Brancaccio, FS Dave Casale, OLB Rich Duff, CB Jean Juste, S Emerson Kinsey, OLB Dave Nicomini, ILB Chris Simpson, DE Tony Sparano.

 

Here's my thoughts on replacements

 

Offense:

 

TE - Paul Booker (R-FR)

LT - Vince Gonzales (Jr)

LG - Kyle O'Keefe (So)

C - Kevin Richards (Pretty easy to see the replacement here, IMO. Move Sparano back to C and put fill the RG spot with one of the two deep from last year, e.g. Andrew Stevens, Justin Anderson or Matt Faughman)

RG - Andy Sparano (Jr)

RT - Keith Peifer (So)

WR - Jason Poore (Jr)

WR - Tim Bush (Pretty easy to see replacement here with Ryan Kirchner (R-Fr). John Lullen had some good minutes last year as well)

FB - Chris Kenneally (Ben Carl is listed as the backup on the depth chart from Wagner. With Smith at the HBack and Booker's ability to put a hand down in the backfield, I'm not sure we have a huge need for a FB).

TB - David McCarty (Pretty easy to see replacement with Drew Smith (R-Fr). The addition of Dillon Romain was huge. If another QB doesn't step up we could see Romain at RB and Smith at QB. We also have Triston Akong who has the talent to be an impact player. I think he'll miss most of the spring though because of track practice (he's been running really well on the track team).

QB - Vinny Esposito (The big question mark of the Spring for the offense - will it be Buddy Leathey or Dan Di Lella or does Smith stay at QB? I just hope one of them steps up and Fordie isn't forced to go to a platoon system)

 

Defense:

DLine - We have to replace Tony Sparano, but we have 5 guys coming back with significant playing time: Mike Kelly, Marc Wargo, Zach Gallo, Trevor Anderson and Eddie Delaney.

 

LB - This is where it gets tricky. We are essentially replacing all 4 starting LBs (Duff, Brancaccio, Simpson and Nicomini). Listed on the depth chart are Jon Morgan (R-Fr), Chris Wilk (So), and Dave Plungas (R-Fr). All three got decent playing time last year and had pretty solid years. Morgan ended up 33 tackles, Plungas with 17 and Wilk with 14. We also have Said Gaida transfering in from Hofstra. Gaida had 22 tackles last year for Hofstra from the ILB position. We also get Chris Blais back after injuries last year. We need to find some depth at the LB position though. Playing the 3-5 requires the ILB to take on a lot of blocks. That's tough going.

 

CB - Ross Bertrand is back, but we lose Jean Juste who had a great career for us. Listed on the depth chart at the CB spot is Duane Harper (So) and Nick Crockett (R-Fr). Harper played in all 11 games last year and endedup with 13 tackes. I don't know much about Crockett.

 

S/FS - We lose two great Safety in Kinsey and Casale. Jacke Ciccarello (So) really stepped it up this year though and he'll be a solid replacement at S. Justin Hassan (R-Fr) got some good time at FS this year and ended up with 16 tackles, which for a backup at FS is a good year.

 

Also looks like Rob Cervini (transfer from Rutgers) could be a real good addition to the defensive secondary this year.

 

Special Teams:

 

We lose a solid punt and kickoff returner in Gannon. And with Smith being the feature back we can't rely on him too much in the special teams game. Especially considering he'll likely be carrying the load on offense with a new young QB.

 

We should be solid in the kicking game for sure.

 

Place Kicker - Glass should be back as will Sean Kenny.

Punter - Bobby Woods should be back.

 

We also have Paul Layton who was a great high school kicker (and QB) for Burnt Hills. He redshirted this year and should be ready to go next year.

 

 

Defnitely a lot of holes to fill, but the loses are fillable, IMO.

[DanesRGood]

danefan, Thanks for the detailed info! I'm still learning some of the younger players on the team (a lot harder that learning the bball roster ). It's always a crapshoot though when you are depending on freshman and sophs to fill the voids. We learned that the hard way with hoops this year. I hope Ford can keep the team on top with the younger players contributing so much.

[danefan]

First week recap

http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15800&ATCLID=204926519

 

 

A new name in the fray at RB position... Freshman Tramaine Wilson

 

His HS highlight tape (NOTE: music has some curses in it so keep it on mute if you're at work)

 

 

Also happy to see Dilella and Leathey getting reps at QB. I would rather see one of them under center than Drew Smith. Smith is too valuable in the slot and at RB, IMO. We're better off if he doesn't have to play QB.

[danefan]

Latest update

 

http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15800&ATCLID=204929599

 

As expected, Sparano moves to center from right guard.

 

Purple-Gold game schedule for April 24th 3pm. In conjunction with the Spring Stomp.

[danefan]

Singleas with his first (and probably only) spring article.

 

No mention of next weeks scrimmage. I hope they have another article before next Saturday - preferably on Wed. or Thurs. There isn't much going on in terms of local college sports right now. A back page spread would get some people out for the spring scrimmage. That is of course, assuming Singleas will even go himself (unlikely).

 

People love football and right now, UA spring practice has a literal monopoly on football.

 

http://www.timesunio...category=SPORTS

Looks like Leathey is emerging perhaps. Smith has been hampered by hamstrings.

[UAalum72]

Maybe Mark's saving talking about the defense for another article

[danefan]

 

Looking like they've got something working here.

[danefan]

http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15800&ATCLID=204934048

 

Albany, N.Y. - The University at Albany football program will hold its annual Purple-Gold spring scrimmage at University Field on Saturday, April 24, beginning at 3:00 p.m., as part of the UAlbany Alumni Association's Spring Stomp.

Head coach Bob Ford and his staff have attempted to balance the rosters with an equal amount of experienced players on both teams. The Great Danes are coming off a 7-4 campaign and a second-place standing in the Northeast Conference

 

***

 

Paw Prints: The UAlbany Alumni Association's Spring Stomp is scheduled for Saturday, April 24 ... the Great Danes play a baseball doubleheader at 12 noon at Varsity Field prior to Saturday's spring football scrimmage ... a tailgate party will take place following the football scrimmage in the SEFCU Arena parking lot ... Verizon Wireless t-shirt giveaways and a live disc jockey are part of the activities ... men's lacrosse takes on conference-rival Stony Brook at John Fallon Field (7:00 p.m.) ... SEFCU will sponsor a post-game fireworks display at the conclusion of the lacrosse game ... contact 518-442-4683 for ticket information ... come to the Alumni Association Purple & Gold Tent, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. on John Fallon Field ... the first 500 students who show a UAlbany ID will receive a free game ticket, DANEger Zone t-shirt, food and chance to win great prizes, including an Xbox.