2017 Fall Football Camp

[VU2624]

What the??  Kyle Hall would be a huge loss.   

It is. I think Mike Wheeler was going to move to Sam or maybe Dylan Johnson starts but it does make the situation of having to replace two starting LBers from last season rather than one.

[valpofb16]

I like Austin Petrie, Tyler Newkirk, or Dylan Johnson there

[valpofb16]

Jacob Rosiek and Josh Benson have also left the team, Dilan Scargle FR DB appears to be the front runner for the backup corner position

[IndyValpo]

Jacob Rosiek and Josh Benson have also left the team, Dilan Scargle FR DB appears to be the front runner for the backup corner position

Are these freshmen realizing they are overmatched? I hate to say this but Dylan Johnson is no longer on the roster.

[VULB#62]

THAT is significant. Especially Sutter. He is now in Gronk territory (relatively speaking). Hope he hasn't lost any speed and that he plays like Gronk.  As far as the big boys are concerned, hoping the added weight is all muscle and no quickness was lost.

More on TEs -- Ryan Clarke was listed the last couple of years as 6-5, 220.  He is now up to 245. 

Here's the TE group. (Guys most of us know pretty well in Bold)

16  Ryan Clarke (SR) 6-5, 245
31  Alex Kluck (FR) 6-5, 220
80  Brett Bittner (FR) 5-11, 205
84  Mason Sutter (JR) 6-7, 240
87  Martin Petruf (SO) 6-5, 220

Some pretty good size and length. And if Sutter and Clarke can be tough-nosed blockers too, a short yardage, 2 TE set could help move the chains on the ground but still give us a passing option.


Might as well look at WRs too. (Guys most of us know pretty well in Bold)

1    Jean Rene (JR) 5-10, 180 (up from 170 last year)
2    Griffin Norberg (Jr) 6-3, 225 (down from 230 last year)
3    Parker Fox (R-SO) 5-11, 175 (same, new number)
8    Ryan Moore (JR) 6-1, 190 (up from 185 last year)
12  JD Koehler (R-SO) 6-0, 210 (same)
19  Trey Stablein (FR) 5-11, 160
23  Bailey Gessinger (SO) 5-9, 165 (new number, shrunk from last year when he was 5-10, 170)
26  Donny Navarro (FR) 5-9, 180
30  Frank Catrine (SR) 6-0, 210
33  Connor Beer (FR) 5-9, 155 (outstanding name!)
82  Deuce Larose (FR) 6-0, 205 (another intriguing name)
86  Kevin Wright (FR) 5-11, 170

Frank and Griffin outside and Jean in the slot is a pretty talented start.

[VU2624]

Jacob Rosiek and Josh Benson have also left the team, Dilan Scargle FR DB appears to be the front runner for the backup corner position

Are these freshmen realizing they are overmatched? I hate to say this but Dylan Johnson is no longer on the roster.

Another LBer who played some significant time last year. I think he was the fastest of the LBers as well. Scargle was more of a Safety in HS.

Some significant vulnerability here.

Curious as to whether these players(the freshmen) are making the trek to camp and then going home or they never showed up. Never showing up would make more sense to me.

With Johnson leaving, apparently, that would mean both Valpo HS guys are gone.

[VU2624]

THAT is significant. Especially Sutter. He is now in Gronk territory (relatively speaking). Hope he hasn't lost any speed and that he plays like Gronk.  As far as the big boys are concerned, hoping the added weight is all muscle and no quickness was lost.

More on TEs -- Ryan Clarke was listed the last couple of years as 6-5, 220.  He is now up to 245. Here's the TE group. (Guys most of us know pretty well in Bold) 16  Ryan Clarke (SR) 6-5, 245 31  Alex Kluck (FR) 6-5, 220 80  Brett Bittner (FR) 5-11, 205 84  Mason Sutter (JR) 6-7, 240 87  Martin Petruf (SO) 6-5, 220 Some pretty good size and length. And if Sutter and Clarke can be tough-nosed blockers too, a short yardage, 2 TE set could help move the chains on the ground but still give us a passing option. Might as well look at WRs too. (Guys most of us know pretty well in Bold) 1    Jean Rene (JR) 5-10, 180 (up from 170 last year) 2    Griffin Norberg (Jr) 6-3, 225 (down from 230 last year) 3    Parker Fox (R-SO) 5-11, 175 (same, new number) 8    Ryan Moore (JR) 6-1, 190 (up from 185 last year) 12  JD Koehler (R-SO) 6-0, 210 (same) 19  Trey Stablein (FR) 5-11, 160 23  Bailey Gessinger (SO) 5-9, 165 (new number, shrunk from last year when he was 5-10, 170) 26  Donny Navarro (FR) 5-9, 180 30  Frank Catrine (SR) 6-0, 210 33  Connor Beer (FR) 5-9, 155 (outstanding name!) 82  Deuce Larose (FR) 6-0, 205 (another intriguing name) 86  Kevin Wright (FR) 5-11, 170 Frank and Griffin outside and Jean in the slot is a pretty talented start.

Parker Fox got some time last year as well. As it stands now, the bolded guys plus Fox and one of the freshman are probably your travelling group once the real season starts. Rene, Gessinger and Moore inside and Norberg, Catrine, Fox and freshman outside. Moore's played both and they could also use him in a swing role.

[VULB#62]

Parker Fox got some time last year as well. As it stands now, the bolded guys plus Fox and one of the freshman are probably your traveling group once the real season starts. Rene, Gessinger and Moore inside and Norberg, Catrine, Fox and freshman outside. Moore's played both and they could also use him in a swing role.

It could be just me and a lopsided perspective, but in the past 2 seasons it seemed that it was WR-by-committee with a lot of situational substitutions -- i.e., multiple WRs running onto and off the field almost every play.  For some reason, I get the feeling that this season the rotation will be more simplified and there will be more reliance on a smaller core of receivers.  Why?   I have no idea  .

[VU2624]

Parker Fox got some time last year as well. As it stands now, the bolded guys plus Fox and one of the freshman are probably your traveling group once the real season starts. Rene, Gessinger and Moore inside and Norberg, Catrine, Fox and freshman outside. Moore's played both and they could also use him in a swing role.

It could be just me and a lopsided perspective, but in the past 2 seasons it seemed that it was WR-by-committee with a lot of situational substitutions -- i.e., multiple WRs running onto and off the field almost every play.  For some reason, I get the feeling that this season the rotation will be more simplified and there will be more reliance on a smaller core of receivers.  Why?   I have no idea  .

I doubt it will change. Quite normal in the game to substitute freely. This wr corps isn't as good as the senior year Kuramata's year and he came off the field and packages for the other 5 receivers were used liberally including Cassara who also was probably better than any other receiver on the current roster.

[valpofb16]

If only Carlson wasn't the worst coach of all time. I remember one practice him telling scout team dbs "it's third and long safeties read run". Safeties barely read run against him anyway. What a dummy

[VU2624]

If only Carlson wasn't the worst coach of all time. I remember one practice him telling scout team dbs "it's third and long safeties read run". Safeties barely read run against him anyway. What a dummy

What does Carlson have to do with this discussion unless this is just an impulse rant?

[valpofb16]

He wasted three years of this receiving core, responding to comment above

Tony TaibI
Andrew cassara
Kent Warren
Fred Gladney
Tanner Kuramata

[hardbody314]

Don't know much about the receiving core in the past but I can tell you that this recieving core is as talented as they come. Not to many kids running a 4.6 and below and multiple kids having state championship rings. This core is physical and will go get it. I am truly excited to see this core in action. 

[vu72]

Check out the new practice helmets. Glad to see the University is placing a high degree of importance on avoiding head injuries.   

https://www.facebook.com/ValpoFootball/photos/pcb.1422633034451102/1422632354451170/?type=3&theater

[VUOR63]

I think the few concussions I had occurred in practice--so it is good they are protecting the players.

As far as the players dropping off--let's find out who wants to be here and who doesn't.  I get a good vibe from Coach C and I'm optimistic about the product he'll be putting on the field.

[VU2624]

He wasted three years of this receiving core, responding to comment above Tony TaibI Andrew cassara Kent Warren Fred Gladney Tanner Kuramata

Got ya and I agree.

[IndyValpo]

Jacob Rosiek and Josh Benson have also left the team, Dilan Scargle FR DB appears to be the front runner for the backup corner position

So we started with 50 freshmen, officially announced 48. Invited some number of existing players to no longer be on the team and we are already down to 38.

[VULB#62]

On the latest version of the roster, I counted a total of 99 listed players.  Stokes, Kye Hall, Johnson, Rosiek, and Benson were not on the list.

Breakdown by class:

True Freshmen: 37
Redshirt Freshmen:  10
True Sophomores:  13
Redshirt Sophomores:  14
True Juniors:  17
Redshirt Juniors:  0
True Seniors:  6
Redshirt Seniors:  2

Bold = From a maturity perspective, we have 49 players who are the age equivalent of a college junior.  I am guessing that proportion is larger this year than in each of Coach C's previous years, but I am too lazy to go back the last couple and do the calcs.  That junior class is hanging together pretty well.

[VUOR63]

So, if Coach is entering his 4th season, the seniors this year were recruited in the short recruiting season (he was hired in December, I think).  The Juniors and RS Sophomores were recruiting class 2, the sophomores and RS Freshmen were recruiting class 3.  The team is in a position to have 30+ 4th year guys next year--I think that's pretty good.

[covufan]

With only 8 seniors, the 2-deep will have plenty of players expected (and experienced!) to return in 2018!

[VULB#62]

That's what it is looking like.

[VU2624]

On the latest version of the roster, I counted a total of 99 listed players.  Stokes, Kye Hall, Johnson, Rosiek, and Benson were not on the list. Breakdown by class: True Freshmen: 37 Redshirt Freshmen:  10 True Sophomores:  13 Redshirt Sophomores:  14 True Juniors:  17 Redshirt Juniors:  0 True Seniors:  6 Redshirt Seniors:  2 Bold = From a maturity perspective, we have 49 players who are the age equivalent of a college junior.  I am guessing that proportion is larger this year than in each of Coach C's previous years, but I am too lazy to go back the last couple and do the calcs.  That junior class is hanging together pretty well.

Wouldn't it be 31 collegiate juniors (essentially true Juniors and RS Sophs)? Still a good number.

I mentioned in an earlier post, this is why I think next year will be the year they can make a serious move in the Pioneer League. Too many other programs play with athletes who are equal or better and at least a couple of years older than Valpo.

[VULB#62]

I made the initial statement and added up the numbers for this season to show we have an improved core going into Montana.  Then we began looking ahead.  I think both metrics are helpful.  And I agree, we will be even stronger going into next season.

[IndyValpo]

More bad news as DB Campbell has disappeared from the roster. The defense has now lost Hughes, Hall, Campbell and Johnson.  Time to start worrying?

[VULB#62]

Campbell had a pretty good resume going into this season. Season ending Injury?