Since he will be meeting with the media nearly every weekday between now and the end of training camp, instead of posting daily transcripts to the front page that could be repetitive, I figured I would compile some notes on each of head coach Paul Rhoads' media sessions.
I'll try to post updates to this thread every day there is Rhoads media availability following practice. We'll still be posting position coach transcripts on the front page, since those usually contain pretty good information and don't get to be repetitive. Please feel free to post your comments within this thread and if you have any questions for me, I'll try to answer those below.
Here is a summary of what Rhoads had to say to the media following training camp practice #4 on August 10:
The team had very good focus in practice today; the days have gone like this. Knocked the rust off, had a great practice and this was the second day in shoulder pads so there was an adjustment to that. He liked the intensity and mental focus.
Regarding Joshua Thomas and playing true freshmen in general, he likes ones that are ready to play good. There’s not very many that are very ready to play productive football at this level. The further away from the ball, the better the opportunity is for that to take place. That’s all skill spots. At 225 pounds, he is physical enough to be productive from that spot due to playing with good pad level, drops his shoulder and has good vision.
As far as what Thomas has facing him, he draws comparison to what Jauan Wesley went through last year as a true freshman. The wide receiver looked great on the scout team and made defense look bad in practice, but once he was tasked with the responsibilities of preparing to play on Saturdays, Wesley took a step back. Instead of a card telling him what to do, he had to know the signal, know the play, read coverages and do all of that. Wesley went from a dominant practice player to a guy “struggling to keep his head above water.”
Offensive tackle Brock Dagel is confident with how he feels right now. Has a rotation worked out that he’s not taking every rep with the number-ones. He’s a mature young man and is taking care of his body well. He knows how to work and knows how to grind and the coaching staff needs to keep him healthy. At the same time, the twos and threes are benefiting from the extra reps.
On the offensive line, he believes that Oni Omoile has developed the most over the past year. He was out there in the spring practicing and pound-for-pound is the strongest football player on the team. Has confidence now that he can be a regular guy, and not sure if he played with that confidence last year.
Offensive tackle Jaypee Philbert is learning and making the transition with academics and football on the same level. He has toughness and Rhoads has seen that in the four practices. But he’s a first-year junior college player that has a lot to learn, and the more seriously he realizes that the better off he’ll be.
Rhoads says the biggest concern with all junior college offensive linemen is their pass protection. Philbert has shown good pass protection background. The other pieces can come along with it, because he’s shown the toughness to stick his face in there and push and move his feet.
Through two days in pads, there are some players that are sore and banged up. But overall the health of the team is good.
I'll try to post updates to this thread every day there is Rhoads media availability following practice. We'll still be posting position coach transcripts on the front page, since those usually contain pretty good information and don't get to be repetitive. Please feel free to post your comments within this thread and if you have any questions for me, I'll try to answer those below.
Here is a summary of what Rhoads had to say to the media following training camp practice #4 on August 10:
The team had very good focus in practice today; the days have gone like this. Knocked the rust off, had a great practice and this was the second day in shoulder pads so there was an adjustment to that. He liked the intensity and mental focus.
Regarding Joshua Thomas and playing true freshmen in general, he likes ones that are ready to play good. There’s not very many that are very ready to play productive football at this level. The further away from the ball, the better the opportunity is for that to take place. That’s all skill spots. At 225 pounds, he is physical enough to be productive from that spot due to playing with good pad level, drops his shoulder and has good vision.
As far as what Thomas has facing him, he draws comparison to what Jauan Wesley went through last year as a true freshman. The wide receiver looked great on the scout team and made defense look bad in practice, but once he was tasked with the responsibilities of preparing to play on Saturdays, Wesley took a step back. Instead of a card telling him what to do, he had to know the signal, know the play, read coverages and do all of that. Wesley went from a dominant practice player to a guy “struggling to keep his head above water.”
Offensive tackle Brock Dagel is confident with how he feels right now. Has a rotation worked out that he’s not taking every rep with the number-ones. He’s a mature young man and is taking care of his body well. He knows how to work and knows how to grind and the coaching staff needs to keep him healthy. At the same time, the twos and threes are benefiting from the extra reps.
On the offensive line, he believes that Oni Omoile has developed the most over the past year. He was out there in the spring practicing and pound-for-pound is the strongest football player on the team. Has confidence now that he can be a regular guy, and not sure if he played with that confidence last year.
Offensive tackle Jaypee Philbert is learning and making the transition with academics and football on the same level. He has toughness and Rhoads has seen that in the four practices. But he’s a first-year junior college player that has a lot to learn, and the more seriously he realizes that the better off he’ll be.
Rhoads says the biggest concern with all junior college offensive linemen is their pass protection. Philbert has shown good pass protection background. The other pieces can come along with it, because he’s shown the toughness to stick his face in there and push and move his feet.
Through two days in pads, there are some players that are sore and banged up. But overall the health of the team is good.
