Thursday, August 25, 2011
All Systems Go
Sometimes all it takes is a little bit of rest to get your juices flowing again. This looked to be the case for CSU-Pueblo this evening as they conducted their last major scrimmage before next Thursday's season opener on the road at West Texas A&M in Canyon Texas. With training camp over and school starting its not football 24/7 for the boys from Belmont. The number one offense put up three touchcowns and a field goal in regulation format and then followed that up with a touchdown in simulated overtime session. Quarterback Ross Dausin continues to shine looking sharp on most of his throws and decisive in his decision making including a number of big time runs. On the other side of the ball the number one defense pretty much had its way all night long stuffing the number two offense. This was a very noticeable difference from last Saturday's scrimmage. These are the highlights I took note of......Redshirt freshman fullback Marquis McNeal, fresh off being named the starter, ripped off a 97 yard run on the first play from scrimmage taking the ball all the way to the one-yard line. He would score on the next play. McNeal is lucky to be alive following a horrific single car accident in early August in Colorado Springs ( http://denver.cbslocal.com/2011/07/31/csu-pueblo-football-player-lucky-to-be-alive-after-crash/ )......On their next drive number one offense went to work through the air as Dausin hit Josh Sandoval for 10 yards on a crucial third down conversion. Dausin followed that up with a gorgeous strike down the hashmarks to Marcial Williamson on third and five from the eight yard line......Kyle Major converted from 29 yards out on the next possesion courtesy of a nifty scramble by Dausin........Number one Defense came up with a big play as Beldy Nseka tipped a pass at the line of scrimmage that sophomore speedster cornerback Stephan Dickens returned 40 yards to inside the five yard line.........Dausin again connected with Williamson on a beautiful post pattern in the back of endzone. This drive culminated a terrific series for freshman running back Johnathon Matthews who showed there will be life in the backfield following the departure of Jessie Lewis and Jamaal Johnson after this season.......In the simulated overtime session Dausin hooked up with Paul Browning from eight yards out. They played it as if number one offense needed two point conversion in triple overtime. Dausin didnt disappoint by bootlegging around right end for the conversion.......Coach John Wristen then called for number one offense to set up shop at the 41 yard line with 40 seconds on the clock. Dausin and Browning needed only eight of those seconds to hook up on a 41 yard beauty in the endzone.......As I noted earlier the number one defense was exceptional all night. In particular newcomer defensive end Corey Orth wreaked havoc with both backup signal callers.......Only downer on the night defensively was preseason All American linebacker Lee Meisner sat this one out. The veteran middle backer was held out as a precautionary measure to help him continue to nurse a nagging back injury..........All and all a very good night in my opinion. But it is also my opinion this team will need to be at very least better if not more crisp to come away with victory next week in front of 15000 crazed west texans.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Rockies Future in Front of Us Now
I liked what I saw tonight in our first good look at just one of the pieces received in the controversial Ubaldo Jimenez deal. Alex White showed he has the tools and the variety of pitches that will make him a solid starter. His velocity is very good. I love his power sinker and his split is decent. The pitch that has the potential to make him millions one day is the slider in which he is reluctant to throw more than 5-10 times an outing right now. Once he develops confidence in that pitch at the big-league level then it could be lights out. Plus one must remember he is just a few days shy of his 23rd birthday. Now already the armchair critics that I have read tonight are making light of him pitching tonight against the lowly last place Astros and getting smoked. I beg to differ. The Astros are about as hot right now as they have been all year. They are also ranked 5th in the National League in hitting this season. White for the most part kept them quiet with the exception of two bad pitches that left the yard. Then you must take into account one of the most horrific umpiring jobs of the year from the man calling balls and strikes (more like missing balls and strikes) Tim Timmons. Lets face it, he was bad both ways. The other thing to remember is this was not the main man in the deal with the Indians for the still scuffling Ubaldo. Big lefty Drew Pomeranz is the main man in the deal and he has been sharp in a couple outings down on the farm. As for White it might be one and done as far as starting for the Rocks. His next scheduled start would be all important game next Monday night versus first place Arizona. Colorado today claimed left hander Wandy Rodriguez off waivers from the Astros. If both teams can agree on a trade by noon Thursday then one would expect Rodriguez to take White's spot in the rotation. Things look bleak for our purple gang but then again all of us still remember how this team ripped off 21 or 22 in September 2007. Now the Rocks have been futile on the road this season but perhaps they are due for a good trip. If they win the homestand finale tomorrow against Houston then take two of three from both the Dodgers and the Snakes then perhaps September will be exciting. Honestly I dont expect it but hey, a fan can dream can't he?
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Thunderwolves Scrimmage
I have never been a fan of using intra-squad scrimmages as a measuring stick as to where your team stands for any organized team sport other than baseball. The reason being is you have been practicing against that same team over and over and over again and pretty much have a handle on what their stuff is. It is the main reason professional sports teams conduct a preseason schedule in order to measure progress against an opponent who is not real familiar with what you do. Hell even on the local level here in Pueblo the high school football programs conduct at least one and most times two scrimmages against an outside opponent. College football doesn't have that luxury. There is no preseason. There are no exhibitions. You are expected to be at your best right from the get go if you expect to in some cases make the post season let alone win your conference. You get no mulligans. And of course when you conduct scrimmages against yourself inevitably not everybody comes out of the circus happy.
Last Saturday at The Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Colorado State University-Pueblo held their first of two such scrimmages before their season opener Thursday September 1st at West Texas A&M. And as usual nobody came out of the deal happy. See it goes something like this.......Man the offense looked good on that opening drive but it was the "number 2's" going against the number one defense. What the hell is wrong with our defense. Later on it might be why cant our number one offense put up more points against the number two defense. When the number threes take the field and battle each other pretty much nothing looks pretty. But then again that's why they are number threes! And so it goes pretty much for a couple of hours.
Now that you have the backdrop for a typical intrasquad football scrimmage here are what I felt were the big highlights of Saturday's work with some added emphasis on the local Pueblo kids angle............Early on the first big hit of the day was andministered by safety Jon Bailey as he crunched redshirt freshman tight end Trent Thompson. But the former Central Wildcat product held on to the pass and moved the sticks picking up 11yards...............Number two offense moved downfield efficiently but not a whole lot on the glamourous side eventually settling for a 32 yd field goal attempt that sailed wide left from the foot of sure to be redshirted freshman K Greg O'Donnell.........One thing that was apparent from the first drive and then on several other occasions during the scrimmage is Johnathon "JB" Mathews is the real deal. The Aurora Rangeview High freshman is perhaps a slight tick slower than all-american candidate Jessie Lewis but he does have that little "shake" that you either have or dont at the running back position.........one of the big highlights on and otherwise mediocre day for the defense was the play of Pueblo East freshman DE Darius Allen. The former Eagle put alot of pressure on the QB all day long and recorded two sacks against first string QB Ross Dausin...........Speaking of Dausin he made it crystal clear there is no battle for number one at the most important position on the field. Last spring and then again early on this summer camp there were rumblings that there was gonna be a battle for number one with transfer Jon Kuzava from Chadron State and former prep star at Heritage High in Denver. But the 6-5 junior native of San Antonio, TX made it know with his size,skills and moxy that this was pretty much an open and shut case. Plus his play in the scrimmage left no doubt as well. On the number one's first drive that resulted in a touchdown Dausin hitting Jonathan Owens for 13 yards and a first and goal. Dausin finished off the drive by hitting reshirt freshman Deontrae Cooper on a 3yd fade pattern for the touchdown.........Still for sure the most exciting player on the field if not all of division two football is running back Jessie Lewis. I have dubbed him early on as "a touchdown just waiting to happen." The senior pre-season all american didnt disappoint ripping off runs of 18 and 11 yards on his first two carries of the day. Later on he delivered again on a well designed screen pass that produced a 25yd gain but did result in a fumble proving the senior speedster is human..........Dausin led the number one "O" to another score highlighted by a gorgeous 37yd pitch and catch to Pueblo South senior Da'Quan Cartwright. Dausin then hit jr Jared Sperber for 16 yards on 3rd and 13 to give the number one O a first and goal at the seven. The defense then rose up and produced a stand resulting in 20 yd field goal by preseason all american Kyle Major..........And to top things off it just wouldnt be right if Pueblo East sophomore Josh "Beetle" Sandoval didnt produce a spectacular catch. The former Eagle did just that tipping a fastball delivered high and outside twice to himself before hauling it in amongst heavy traffic. Sandoval looks noticably stronger this year after working out hard all spring and summer........On defense senior all-American Lee Meisner looked uncomfortable to say the least just getting stretched out before the game. The defensive team leader has battled a tender back at times all summer. But after a couple of shaky series early on he came to life. It seemed as if he gained confidence in his health and that translated into making play after play in the middle......outside Linebacker Beldy Nseka was his usual disruptive self on a number of plays.........One cause for concern is the relative inexperience at cornerback for the Thunderwolves. Sophomore Stephan Dickens sat out the scrimmage with what was described as a groin strain. You would never know it was bothering him judged by his dance moves as the team came out to warm up. In his place CSU-P started Mark Sterling on the right side. On the left side perhaps the best looking Thunderwolve in a uniform Florida redshirt freshman C.J. Roberts established his presence.
There you have it. A quick synopsis of what this broadcaster took in. All in all I thought it was a good day for the offense. The playmakers made plays. The new look O-line played well after losing starting guard Drew Swartz to a season ending knee injury Thursday. The defense must get better should they want to stay in the first game or the RMAC let alone win it. The kicking game is solid strength of the team with Major and punter Brandon Kliesen. The return game has a home run hitter in Jamall Johnson. But like most home run hitters they strike out from time to time. In Johnson's case he has showed a penchant for leaving the ball on the carpet which is sure to give coach John Wristen and the fans cause for unease if he doesnt find a way to hold onto the pigskin. But as I said right from the top. This was an intrasquad scrimmage. None of us will really know what the Thunderwolves have 'til they turn on the lights in west Texas September 1st.
Last Saturday at The Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl Colorado State University-Pueblo held their first of two such scrimmages before their season opener Thursday September 1st at West Texas A&M. And as usual nobody came out of the deal happy. See it goes something like this.......Man the offense looked good on that opening drive but it was the "number 2's" going against the number one defense. What the hell is wrong with our defense. Later on it might be why cant our number one offense put up more points against the number two defense. When the number threes take the field and battle each other pretty much nothing looks pretty. But then again that's why they are number threes! And so it goes pretty much for a couple of hours.
Now that you have the backdrop for a typical intrasquad football scrimmage here are what I felt were the big highlights of Saturday's work with some added emphasis on the local Pueblo kids angle............Early on the first big hit of the day was andministered by safety Jon Bailey as he crunched redshirt freshman tight end Trent Thompson. But the former Central Wildcat product held on to the pass and moved the sticks picking up 11yards...............Number two offense moved downfield efficiently but not a whole lot on the glamourous side eventually settling for a 32 yd field goal attempt that sailed wide left from the foot of sure to be redshirted freshman K Greg O'Donnell.........One thing that was apparent from the first drive and then on several other occasions during the scrimmage is Johnathon "JB" Mathews is the real deal. The Aurora Rangeview High freshman is perhaps a slight tick slower than all-american candidate Jessie Lewis but he does have that little "shake" that you either have or dont at the running back position.........one of the big highlights on and otherwise mediocre day for the defense was the play of Pueblo East freshman DE Darius Allen. The former Eagle put alot of pressure on the QB all day long and recorded two sacks against first string QB Ross Dausin...........Speaking of Dausin he made it crystal clear there is no battle for number one at the most important position on the field. Last spring and then again early on this summer camp there were rumblings that there was gonna be a battle for number one with transfer Jon Kuzava from Chadron State and former prep star at Heritage High in Denver. But the 6-5 junior native of San Antonio, TX made it know with his size,skills and moxy that this was pretty much an open and shut case. Plus his play in the scrimmage left no doubt as well. On the number one's first drive that resulted in a touchdown Dausin hitting Jonathan Owens for 13 yards and a first and goal. Dausin finished off the drive by hitting reshirt freshman Deontrae Cooper on a 3yd fade pattern for the touchdown.........Still for sure the most exciting player on the field if not all of division two football is running back Jessie Lewis. I have dubbed him early on as "a touchdown just waiting to happen." The senior pre-season all american didnt disappoint ripping off runs of 18 and 11 yards on his first two carries of the day. Later on he delivered again on a well designed screen pass that produced a 25yd gain but did result in a fumble proving the senior speedster is human..........Dausin led the number one "O" to another score highlighted by a gorgeous 37yd pitch and catch to Pueblo South senior Da'Quan Cartwright. Dausin then hit jr Jared Sperber for 16 yards on 3rd and 13 to give the number one O a first and goal at the seven. The defense then rose up and produced a stand resulting in 20 yd field goal by preseason all american Kyle Major..........And to top things off it just wouldnt be right if Pueblo East sophomore Josh "Beetle" Sandoval didnt produce a spectacular catch. The former Eagle did just that tipping a fastball delivered high and outside twice to himself before hauling it in amongst heavy traffic. Sandoval looks noticably stronger this year after working out hard all spring and summer........On defense senior all-American Lee Meisner looked uncomfortable to say the least just getting stretched out before the game. The defensive team leader has battled a tender back at times all summer. But after a couple of shaky series early on he came to life. It seemed as if he gained confidence in his health and that translated into making play after play in the middle......outside Linebacker Beldy Nseka was his usual disruptive self on a number of plays.........One cause for concern is the relative inexperience at cornerback for the Thunderwolves. Sophomore Stephan Dickens sat out the scrimmage with what was described as a groin strain. You would never know it was bothering him judged by his dance moves as the team came out to warm up. In his place CSU-P started Mark Sterling on the right side. On the left side perhaps the best looking Thunderwolve in a uniform Florida redshirt freshman C.J. Roberts established his presence.
There you have it. A quick synopsis of what this broadcaster took in. All in all I thought it was a good day for the offense. The playmakers made plays. The new look O-line played well after losing starting guard Drew Swartz to a season ending knee injury Thursday. The defense must get better should they want to stay in the first game or the RMAC let alone win it. The kicking game is solid strength of the team with Major and punter Brandon Kliesen. The return game has a home run hitter in Jamall Johnson. But like most home run hitters they strike out from time to time. In Johnson's case he has showed a penchant for leaving the ball on the carpet which is sure to give coach John Wristen and the fans cause for unease if he doesnt find a way to hold onto the pigskin. But as I said right from the top. This was an intrasquad scrimmage. None of us will really know what the Thunderwolves have 'til they turn on the lights in west Texas September 1st.
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