Expectations: 6-Man League [ edit | delete ]
By Adam Knoll | September 25, 2010 at 12:29 PM EDT | No Comments (0 new)
We dropped our first game last night, not that it was life or death or anything. We are specifically using this 6-man league as a way to look at our new guys in game conditions and play those who are switching positions or didn’t get the bulk of the PT last year. So, in essence, we aren’t taking the outcomes too seriously.
I suppose a 28-26 loss to a team that looks pretty well polished and practiced (and you would have to be to pull off some of the wishbone plays they were), isn’t too bad. Our veterans know the system, yet the new guys have had only two practices in it before this game, and we started a brand new QB along with a new center and two new CB/WR. I’d say, from the 10 guys that played last night only 4 were starters on last years squad.
What did I see? Well, we played pretty well considering it was our first game, and the lack of multiple practices. We did just fine. However, the perfectionist in me is not as forgiving, and that’s the line that I’m dancing this morning. Ryan Schuk, the new QB, played ok for his first time. He’s still not comfortable in our system (holding the ball a bit too long, not ‘reading’ the right area),but really…after two practices, what could you really expect. Just because I see it, doesn’t mean he should have to, yet. He did make some nice reads though, and his arm is more than sufficient; most importantly, he didn’t turn the ball over, and we scored 4 times. The new Center, Cody Siggler…played great. Between him and Schuk we only fumbled two snaps (not bad for a new center), and he was impressive with his blocking. One of the new WR/CB’s, Gary Wensing, caught a TD pass, and he buckled down and took on some hits while making tackles. The kid may be only 140 pounds, so size is not to his advantage. The last new guy, Joe Georgiafandis (or as he shall be known, Georgia), perhaps had the worst night of the four. He got beat deep a few times (both passes were dropped), ran the wrong routes a few times (on one he would have been so open, I thought it would have been an easy touchdown, he turned the wrong way), and frankly, after missing a few tackles (which happens), gave up on the play. I think he’s a good talent, but you’re trying to make a team here man.
Of the vets, Will Peebles had a 50 yard TD on a dumpoff pass. Good for him, he needs to do more of that. Again, I don’t feel he was overly aggressive, which is his main detriment. Shane Willis provided good pressure from the DT spot. He was beating his one on one matchup, that’s what you want to see. Jesse Wine will chase someone down from 20 yards away…he does not know how to stop running. Ricky Martinez had an INT (and almost another), while making a few catches. He is a very nice receiver to have around. Jeff Thorpe played a good game both on O and D, dropped a few balls…which he almost never does.
Nick Weiss, played really, really well. He had two TD’s and ran over people, which is his calling card. He’s a grinder, and people love playing with him. It’s easy to see why, he gives you all he’s got every chance he gets.
Overall, for the first game, I think we did really well. Over this next week, I will expand the playbook a little while trying to work out the kinks with the newer guys. I must temper my own expectation, because, to be honest, even though I know what I would do in those situations…I’m not playing in these games. I need to teach them what to do, and so far, they seem to be willing pupils.