Practice Notes:
- University President Eric Kaler attended practice today, and seemed excited on how the team will perform this upcoming season.
- Freshman Nick Hart has been getting a lot of reps, mostly with the second team, and is seeing a lot of balls thrown his way.
- While Mitch Leidner and Chris Streveler have shown their poise in the pocket over these past few days, there have been a few mistakes. Mitch Leidner, in what was supposedly an effort to throw the ball away, threw a pass right to Derrick Wells for an interception during 7 on 7s. Later, Chris Streveler had his eyes to the left side of the field for an entire play, and threw a pick to Grayson Levine.
- Freshman Steven Richardson stood out today, and the coaches noticed as well as he got reps wit the first team.
- Today was the first time the team did full contact, and about half the practice was spent with a “Red Zone” two minute drill that started at the 30 yard line. Here are some notable points from the 2 minute drill.
- The first and second team defense played tenaciously, and it hardly looked like it was their first time tackling in fall camp.
- When the first and second team defense was on, the offense had just one touchdown, four field goal attempts, and two failed fourth down conversions.
- The one touchdown that the team did score was a 30 yard pass from Streveler to Logan Hutton, who ended up wide open in the end zone.
- Freshman Damarius Peppers started playing on the second rep, and was on the field for most of the reps following.
- The freshmen and sophomores also tried their hand at the drill, and freshman Josh Parks had a few notable plays. His 25 yard run was followed by an 11 yard run that showed off a spin move and a couple jukes.
A compilation of quotes from players to the media after practice:
Chris Streveler quotes:
(With Mitch established as the clear number one, does it feel different than last year?)
I think Mitch has done a good job taking the rains as the leader this year. But I think the rest of us have also done a good job of leading our own way, and doing stuff like that. I think we all just kind of approach it, not as much as a competition, but just trying to get ourselves better every day.
(On his comfort level)
It’s coming along better. I feel way more comfortable back there. Comfortable with the guys that I’m working with, and I think it’s going a lot better.
(being able to brush off bad plays)
I think Coach Z helps us out with that next play mentality type of thing. As a quarterback you gotta have short term memory out there. I think we all do a good job of bouncing back if a play doesn’t go our way, just forget about it and move onto the next one.
(On being surrounded by almost all freshmen)
We are all really young, but I don’t really feel like we’re young. I think that’s just an excuse saying you’re only a redshirt freshman or a redshirt sophomore. If the coaches as you to do stuff, you gotta go out there and do it.
Conor Rhoda quotes
(Competition between him and Chris)
Me and Chris, we have a great relationship. None of that stuff ever gets in the way of how we work and how we compete. They just told me and Chris, we have to come to compete every day. Now obviously Mitch is the one with the experience, he’s the one that’s going to get the majority of the reps. He’s the starter every day, but we just have to come in, and we gotta push each other. We’re gonna get better as a group, and that’s just gonna make us all better step by step.
(Going from being a walk on to being close to playing last year)
I came in and had a great fall camp, and the coaches were telling me great things, and I just kept working. I knew it was going to be tough, I knew when I decided to walk on here that it was going to be an uphill battle. That’s the decision that I made, and I was ready for it. I felt like I’ve been prepared for that and I’ve worked my butt off day in and day out. I had a meeting with Coach Kill, I think it might have been Penn State week, he called me in, and asked what my thoughts were on being put in the game. I told him whatever’s the best chance for the team to win. Obviously I want to keep my redshirt, but I don’t want to blow it on two games, but if I need to go in and play to help us win, then that’s what I’m going to do.
Jim Zebrowski (Quarterbacks coach)
(On insulating quarterbacks from media)
I tell them, don’t read stuff. When you play really good at quarterback they tell you you’re awesome. When you play really bad, you’re the reason. You’re always the reason they win or the reason the team loses. There’s no middle ground. It’s like the other 21 kids that play are invisible. And that’s what I always laugh about, if you have a good quarterback, of course you have a good chance to win. But if you have a great defense you have a chance to win, or a great running game and all that stuff. So I do tell them you can’t worry about what people say. Really the expectation you put upon yourself. Do you wanna be great? Then work your tail off and do it that way. Don’t worry about anybody else.
(On the pressure on Streveler)
I think he’s handling it well. Thing about those two guys, if you just talk about those two guys, the top two, they are just so hard on themselves, that I never have to say much to them. Occasionally I’ll say one quick thing, Chris sometimes plays better when he’s pissed. Him and Mitch are a little similar in that they can get pissed off in a good way, and not let it bother them.
(Challenges of coaching quarterbacks)
There’s different challenges all the time. The best thing is they’re really good kids. And I like them all. They’re very competitive, work their butt off type kids, which makes it easier for me. The challenge is that our defense throws so much at us, that by the time we’re done with camp, we’ll never see anything more at all. We may see more coverages in practice than we’ll see in six games. That’s just because of the complexity of our defense. The challenge is trying to keep them sane, when everything’s moving so fast, and try to slow it down. That first year was rough on Mitch, but he’s worked so hard that things kind of slow down for him.
(Conor Rhoda being more of a pocket passer)
Conor is a drop back kid. He’s a good athlete, but nowhere near the other kids. Chris can just gettyup and go, and Mitch runs hard, Conor more has a really strong arm, and can stay in the pocket. He can make plays and he’s a smart kid too. He can put the ball in some places where other kids can’t.