[Sly Fox]

From the SIDs:

Countdown to Kickoff: Flames Don Full Pads for First Time

August 7, 2007
Lynchburg, Va.


Defensive coordinator Tom Clark watches as the Flames’ offensive and defensive linemen battle it out on a passing drill.

After two practices without pads and two more in shells, the football program took to the Williams Stadium turf this afternoon in full pads for the first time this season.

Braving another scorching 95-degree afternoon in the Central Virginia area, today’s practice was the final session where the coaching staff focused solely on first and second-down situations.

Click Here for Full Story & a Bunch of Pics

[BucFan]

Was the O-line taking ot to the D? Did the secondary show promise? I am new here and to the falmes...so, what are the strength's of the conference? will the Flames need a strong Pressure on the QB or will LInebackers have to take over he field? what is the running game like? Does the line pull a lot? Sorry for all the questions, but I am needing to know the characteristics of this team.

Out!

[hoseman]

We looking at the home or visitor stands?

[LUconn]

the picture above is of the visitor side.

[hoseman]

I was afraid of that.

Libery must have 15,000 plus attendance at Homecoming?

Thanks

[bigsmooth]

welcome hoseman. we had 15,631 last yr for homecoming for william and mary. this is new though. with coach rocco here the landscape has changed. a few years ago we had 3,000 or less in the stands.

[BJWilliams]

And you won't find a parting of the red sea when PC comes a calling. Last year nary (sp?) a game went by where it was not all red with the exception of a very small pocket of fans for the visiting school (small in comparison to the number of LU supporters at the game). Hope you like what you see when you come up hoseman, and good luck to PC in their first season at the I-AA/FCS level (except when they play Liberty of course )

[FlamingChick]

Was the O-line taking ot to the D? Did the secondary show promise? I am new here and to the falmes...so, what are the strength's of the conference? will the Flames need a strong Pressure on the QB or will LInebackers have to take over he field? what is the running game like? Does the line pull a lot? Sorry for all the questions, but I am needing to know the characteristics of this team.

Out!

I'm with BucFan, I'm also a new Flames fan...Was anyone here at practice yesterday that can give us the REAL scoop? (Of course, the online reports will all be postive..). What are our weaknesses? I see that the article did single out a few players in the below bullets, which was nice so that we know who to look out for. Looks like the returning players listed below are exceeding expections, and it's also nice to hear promising things about newcomers. I tell ya, this whole Countdown to Kickoff Campaign has me pretty excited!

(Quoted from online Article...)
• Vince Redd continues to impress the coaching staff, as the outside linebacker has come back in great shape and is very light on his feet.
• Another group which has impressed the coaching staff is the safeties, including Pat Dickerson, Ryan Greiser and newcomer Ryan Best.
• Reserve quarterbacks Spencer Landis and Mike Brown took a considerable number of reps today, with Landis having “his best day since he has been with the program,” stated Rocco.
• Brown also showed considerable athletic abilities during his time under center.

[SuperJon]

Mike Brown is going to be flat out awesome. He's just good.

Vince Redd is unlike any player at this level.

Our passing game and secondary are the two concerns for the year. Brock's doing great at QB but, as Coach Rocco said, if Brock plays well, we'll play well. If he doesn't, we won't.

[FlamingChick]

Mike Brown is going to be flat out awesome. He's just good.

Vince Redd is unlike any player at this level.

Our passing game and secondary are the two concerns for the year. Brock's doing great at QB but, as Coach Rocco said, if Brock plays well, we'll play well. If he doesn't, we won't.

Well from the article it also appears that Spencer is also doing very well (not sure how his passing game is???). If Brock struggles too much this season, looks we have other viable options...

[SuperJon]

Spencer's the #2 quarterback and will step in if Brock gets hurt. I'm impressed by Mike Brown because he's a freshman this year. Coach Rocco has said before he likes to redshirt freshmen, and I figure we'll do that with Brown, but the kid is going to be good. His future is very bright.

[El Scorcho]

I like all of this football talk. 24 days!

[Stevev]

Personally I would feel better about this year's team if a 1A transfer were at QB due to the importance of that position but I think that Brock will do well and has certainly earned the right to start. He finished last year very strong after struggling early last year but I think it was the transition between coaches and the style of offense than Coach Rocco ran as opposed to what Karcher did and executing the game plan accordingly. He is a Junior now so he should have a full grasps of the position and should understand the offense better. Besides he is 240 and has a gun for an arm. These things do help a bit. If he falters I would think that Zach would be considered but I think that Brock will do well this year.

[SuperJon]

Why are you so hung-up on I-A transfers? We've got two of them that won't even start this year, and a third that might not start had he been eligible. I-A transfers aren't everything.

[FlamingChick]

Personally I would feel better about this year's team if a 1A transfer were at QB due to the importance of that position but I think that Brock will do well and has certainly earned the right to start. He finished last year very strong after struggling early last year but I think it was the transition between coaches and the style of offense than Coach Rocco ran as opposed to what Karcher did and executing the game plan accordingly. He is a Junior now so he should have a full grasps of the position and should understand the offense better. Besides he is 240 and has a gun for an arm. These things do help a bit. If he falters I would think that Zach would be considered but I think that Brock will do well this year.

Of course, everyone feels better with a great QB. I didnt see any of the games last year, so I'm not familiar with the performance of the guys individually. What were the shortfalls at QB?? I've heard a lot about Zach, did he get a lot of time at QB last year? You think they'd go to him before Landis, who is listed as the #2 QB on the depth chart?? Hopefully Brock will be ok this year. As you said, I'm sure some of the struggles were resultant of the changes to the program.

[SuperJon]

Zach was a backup QB until Brock stepped up, then we moved Zach to running back. Zach is too talented to not be on the field, thus putting him in that A-back position like Reggie Bush this year. Zach hasn't been practicing at QB this year.

[Chris Lang]

And don't forget that the last I-A (FBS) transfer that came to Liberty - Troth - was underwhelming to say the least.

[Cider Jim]

Super, what DIA transfers aren't starting?

[Stevev]

I saw 1 game personally (Towson) and listened to most games last year and it seemed like Smith's accuracy wasn't there at times and that might have been due to learning a new system, the receivers dropped passes and their lack of effort, and overall confusion. Sometimes the QB's are as good as the players surrounding him and hopefully that will hold true this year as the whole offense especially the O Line is more experienced. The way I see their offense is to run more and put the ball up in the air maybe 20 times or less but when we do go for the big play to catch the defense napping.

To answer the transfer thing you are right Superjon, transfers are not everything but you figure that there is more potential for these transfers considering where they came from and what they went up agains't. Not everyone pans out to be what you want them to be but that potential is always there no matter how they did at the previous 1A program. These guys moved down for a reason and that is for more playing time and make more of an impact and quite a bit of these transfers can take a program to a whole new level. I am not talking just about Liberty but all of 1AA.

[Stevev]

And don't forget that the last I-A (FBS) transfer that came to Liberty - Troth - was underwhelming to say the least.

I don't think that it was all Troths fault. He played for a poor coach in a system designed for failure. Also look at what happened to Washington transfer JK Scott when he was here. Worse than Troth.

[Chris Lang]

Super, what DIA transfers aren't starting?

Zach Davis on the offensive line is one. Ryan Best at safety will likely be the other. I think Greiser and Dickerson will hold onto their starting positions.

[Stevev]

Super, what DIA transfers aren't starting

I am assuming that Catterton and Best will not start but should play considerably. Best would certainly have a good shot at starting. Balde, the transfer from Akron won't start but I don't know too much about him. Everyone other 1A transfer should start.

[Chris Lang]

And to speak to Brock Smith, steve, you're right. He was bad early last season. So bad that he got yanked at halftime at Savannah State and barely held onto his job after that. He did improve at the end. I don't know if it was the new system or a lack of confidence or what, but Brock wasn't entirely there early on. His numbers would have looked a lot better at Towson had Wynton Jackson held onto that sure touchdown pass.

He seems pretty confident now, just from talking to him. He has no excuse not to succeed this season. All the pieces -- great OL, WRs, TEs, running game -- are there.

[Stevev]

Forgot about Zach Davis. He will play a lot though

[Chris Lang]

Yeah, he'll be the No. 1 reserve option at guard, and might play some tackle. He'll see plenty of time.

I'm not even sure if Catterton is here, to be honest.