As we put the finishing touches on our training camp on the Moravian Campus (but on the field at Liberty High School) we begin to look towards our opening opponent. Theoretically we will face Kings College in the first game of the 2018 football season.
This is to be a home game – but, not so fast. We are having issues with the newly installed synthetic field at Steel Field. To this point the installation is not a quality job and it is unacceptable.
The company that is installing it and the administrators assure the team and coaches that it will be repaired and most certainly be ready for next weekend. Well??!!
There is certainly a cloud of doubt in most of our minds. After all the same people assured us that the field was to have been finished by the beginning of training camp in early August. Let’s just think about how that has turned out. Not so great. So, you can see why there is some skepticism on the part of the Hounds team.
But, this team has done an awesome job of training throughout the camp days. In fact, in regards to problems with situations like situations in the dorms, arguing amongst team members, poor practice efforts, players missing meetings, some guys leaving due to being homesick or just wanting to stop playing ball – there literally have been none.
Obviously the strong guiding hand of Jeff Puksyzn and his assistant coaches Jim Newhard, Chris Leavenworth, John Harrison, Gary Martell, Evan Harvey, Doug Turrell, Steve Gordy, Ian Heck, Tim Wait, Mike Kane and John Menegakis things have been extremely smooth. Strength Coach Tom Long has long been a steadying influence on the team throughout the year.
But, a lot of the success we have seen in camp is due to the newly elected captains. Seniors Nick Zambelli (two year captain) and Nick Tone – Juniors Sal Pagano and Brett Poling. Although they have just been officially named to these leadership posts – they have been working hard a long time with their teammates..
************Honestly this is an honor that is rightly deserved!****************
Also, we just have a team with an awesome personality. They work hard and are very diligent in their efforts both on and off the field. They are a tight knit group and they genuinely care about one another. Quite honestly they are fun to be around!
The guys – the troops – are the reason we have been on autopilot for the whole camp. They can also be credited for keeping things in perspective and ignoring the negative shadow the lack of our football field has cast upon us.
Again – not a single glitch in our constantly changing schedule. These 100 or so guys are a very calm and confident bunch – I can’t wait to watch them play because I know this steadiness will carry onto the field.
As we begin to approach our opener there are some changes that must be made to the way we practice. No longer are the coaches in the training and evaluation phase of camp…we now begin the preparation phase.
As we enter the first of many game weeks our practices begin to change in how we work with the team. For instance we are now concentrating on how we can best match our teams strengths with the opposition.
However, it still comes down to doing what we do. As a coach you realize that you cannot change the makeup of your team – therefore you continue to develop your offensive, defensive and special teams schemes.
But, you have to stay within your philosophy….it is impossible to have success if you are constantly changing your approach each week. For instance – on defense you cannot suddenly become a blitzing and high pressure team if you don’t have the players who can execute those assignments. It is silly to try and cover man-on-man if you don’t have the skilled athletes who are up to the task.
If you lose touch with your philosophy and become a “grab-bag” team that changes its personality each week you are asking for trouble. As a coach you have to stay true to yourself or you are inviting disaster.
So as we practice it is now important that we build scout teams to help the offense, defense and special teams prepare for the game. These teams will simulate what our opponent will do on game day – they allow the starters to work the various schemes we will use during the competition.
Most often the “Look Squad” will be made up of some older backup players blended with younger (inexperienced) members of the team. These are truly the unsung players on our team. But, they may be the most critical guys we have.
If we don’t get a good look from the scout players – then the starting units won’t be as prepared as they should be on game day.
******In professional football there is a saying “You are only as good as your Look Squads!” It is right on the money. In professional football you only have 63 players and your scout team is made up of backup players and during critical weeks some starters will be involved to create a “great look”.*****
Often the players making up these important facets of our team are just about ready to become members of the top two units. So, consequently many of these guys end up leaving the service teams within a few weeks.
Football is the ultimate team game – and sometimes it is hard to be a good teammate. There are times when our egos get in the way. It happens to players and yes to coaches as well…..guess what – it will ultimately hold them back.
To have a solid and cohesive team everyone must play their role….sometimes it isn’t easy. But, no one said it was going to be easy…and no one said it was going toe fair either!
Lets go Hounds!