Hello HOB. I’m back over at the JCFTC for today’s practice update. It’s Tuesday, so that means it’s offense day with OC Rich Scangarello & Co. Should be an interesting day for interviews with the offense struggling to find consistency early in the season. Practice is slated to wrap up around 5:30 ET. Stay tuned…
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On film review of Youngstown State game… Was really disappointed after the game because you know of the pitfalls you can fall into. Thought they head a good week of practice, ready to play an opponent that didn't match up talent wise, but just didn’t meet the standard of expectations. Went to Florida and played much better than they did at home against YSU. Very disappointing to him after the game. Everyone has to do a better job this week, including himself.
* On WR blocking… They've done a good job most of the season and played real physical, not afraid to stick their nose in there. BUT they had 2-3 negative plays happen because of missed assignments at those spots that havent popped up this season. "It just can't happen. You can't accept it." Maybe a lack of focus. Have to get it resolved. It looked much better at practice today.
* Tayvion Robinson has been a really good leader, a highly intelligent player. He had a really good day Saturday. Trying to help the younger players along.
* On adjustment outside zone concept in run game… It’s been frustrating. A combination of factors, one of which is a revolving lineup through three weeks. Don’t want to make excuses, but says he made a terrible call on the 1 that had no chance to succeed. Lost 4. First play of the game probably should have gone for 15, went for minus-4. Need to be more polished and tight. We’ll get better, he says. And sometimes a ball carrier has to run over a guy or make somebody miss.
* Some of the offense has been really good. If you take away penalties, negative plays, and take care of the ball, this team will win games. It's built to succeed. Just clean it up. "That's the part we have to own, all of us."
* Pleased with Smoke’s continued growth. Doing a nice job considering the issues they’ve had blocking. "Someone we can count on." Very good in protection, too. Will stick his nose in there.
* On TEs at the point of attack... Five guys to work with. As a group, some have done better than others in one aspect of the position and some have done better in the other aspect. Still going to be "heavily, heavily involved" moving forward.
* Dee Beckwith at RB could see some more of that. Still not sure what exactly he is, but hes versatile and athletic with size. Did a good job last week.
* Levis has been loose with his footwork on occasion, leading to some high balls. Wants him to eliminate a couple OGf plays each game where he’s not protecting himself. Needs to slow down at times in passing game and let it flow, develop. But the kid is an incredible talent. "The guy is freakin' special, and it's fun to be a part of."
* On one of the INTs, Will threw exactly where Scang would have told him to throw it every time. The other, WR cut the route short but Will still believed he could make the play. Wasn’t really his fault, per se, but maybe trusted the arm strength too much.
OL COACH ZACH YENSER:
* On the wide zone blocking take a while to gel... It's what they believe in, a mentality, "everything comes off of it." You have to be able to do it to execute this offense consistently. There's been too many negative runs with it. They're working to clean that up. They work on those combos every single day, they're not changing it, they're just going to get better at it.
* "If we clean up the one-on-one battles, I think we're going to be fine."
* It's not an excuse, but they've started three different combinations of guys in three games. It's part of football, Yenser says. The reality of it is you seldom get to work with the same five guys for a long stretch.
* Liked what Q Wilson did with his opportunity. A couple of times he got pushed back a bit, but other than that, he was proud of him. No missed assignments. He sees the defense well from his time spent at center in the past.
* Potential of this group is high if you look at the execution in the second half against a Florida team dead-set to stop the run. "We gotta continue to establish the run, and eventually the 2 and 3 yard runs will turn into 4 and 5 yard runs."
* Youngstown showed a couple of looks that he didn't have them prepared for. He took responsibility for that. But when they saw it again, they adjusted well and had a nice 16-yard run against it. "We're going to get unscouted looks. We gotta stick with our rules."
RICH SCANGARELLO Q&A:
* On film review of Youngstown State game… Was really disappointed after the game because you know of the pitfalls you can fall into. Thought they head a good week of practice, ready to play an opponent that didn't match up talent wise, but just didn’t meet the standard of expectations. Went to Florida and played much better than they did at home against YSU. Very disappointing to him after the game. Everyone has to do a better job this week, including himself.
* On WR blocking… They've done a good job most of the season and played real physical, not afraid to stick their nose in there. BUT they had 2-3 negative plays happen because of missed assignments at those spots that havent popped up this season. "It just can't happen. You can't accept it." Maybe a lack of focus. Have to get it resolved. It looked much better at practice today.
* Tayvion Robinson has been a really good leader, a highly intelligent player. He had a really good day Saturday. Trying to help the younger players along.
* On adjustment outside zone concept in run game… It’s been frustrating. A combination of factors, one of which is a revolving lineup through three weeks. Don’t want to make excuses, but says he made a terrible call on the 1 that had no chance to succeed. Lost 4. First play of the game probably should have gone for 15, went for minus-4. Need to be more polished and tight. We’ll get better, he says. And sometimes a ball carrier has to run over a guy or make somebody miss.
* Some of the offense has been really good. If you take away penalties, negative plays, and take care of the ball, this team will win games. It's built to succeed. Just clean it up. "That's the part we have to own, all of us."
* Pleased with Smoke’s continued growth. Doing a nice job considering the issues they’ve had blocking. "Someone we can count on." Very good in protection, too. Will stick his nose in there.
* On TEs at the point of attack... Five guys to work with. As a group, some have done better than others in one aspect of the position and some have done better in the other aspect. Still going to be "heavily, heavily involved" moving forward.
* Dee Beckwith at RB could see some more of that. Still not sure what exactly he is, but hes versatile and athletic with size. Did a good job last week.
* Levis has been loose with his footwork on occasion, leading to some high balls. Wants him to eliminate a couple OGf plays each game where he’s not protecting himself. Needs to slow down at times in passing game and let it flow, develop. But the kid is an incredible talent. "The guy is freakin' special, and it's fun to be a part of."
* On one of the INTs, Will threw exactly where Scang would have told him to throw it every time. The other, WR cut the route short but Will still believed he could make the play. Wasn’t really his fault, per se, but maybe trusted the arm strength too much.
OL COACH ZACH YENSER:
* On the wide zone blocking take a while to gel... It's what they believe in, a mentality, "everything comes off of it." You have to be able to do it to execute this offense consistently. There's been too many negative runs with it. They're working to clean that up. They work on those combos every single day, they're not changing it, they're just going to get better at it.
* "If we clean up the one-on-one battles, I think we're going to be fine."
* It's not an excuse, but they've started three different combinations of guys in three games. It's part of football, Yenser says. The reality of it is you seldom get to work with the same five guys for a long stretch.
* Liked what Q Wilson did with his opportunity. A couple of times he got pushed back a bit, but other than that, he was proud of him. No missed assignments. He sees the defense well from his time spent at center in the past.
* Potential of this group is high if you look at the execution in the second half against a Florida team dead-set to stop the run. "We gotta continue to establish the run, and eventually the 2 and 3 yard runs will turn into 4 and 5 yard runs."
* Youngstown showed a couple of looks that he didn't have them prepared for. He took responsibility for that. But when they saw it again, they adjusted well and had a nice 16-yard run against it. "We're going to get unscouted looks. We gotta stick with our rules."
