The Lull before the Storm

We have reached the end of Fall camp and the players now have a couple of days off to rest, get a few personal things done, and recover from the last three weeks.

Fall Camp is a lot different then when I played because we simply practiced a lot more since the current rules where not in effect. We had doubles every single day, and we were in full pads most of the time. Water was a rarity on the playing field, and conditioning was endless simply because there were no time restrictions on how long, or when we could practice. I remember going to bed so tired that my body was just humming, and in the morning we had to get up at 5:30 to go for a long timed run followed by breakfast, a meeting, than the first practice. By 7pm when we got off the field and into the cafeteria we were pretty pooped.

Despite the fact that their are now time limits, Fall Camp is still grueling because of the way the coaches structure the workload in the practices. 19 days is still 19 days, and by the end of it you are hitting the wall mentally, and physically. The great thing though with 18-22 year old kids is the recovery time, it's quick. The team has two days off and when the kids come back to plan for SJSU they will feel as if they have broken through to a different level after having time to rest. I think that is the best thing about Camp as a player, it ending, and than feeling the positive results of what you have been through after a little rest.

I wasn't able to watch a single practice this year, but from a few friends that have, and of course the Dawgman staff it looks as if the team is on a great track to improve. It seems a lot of the predictions I made before camp are actually starting to bear some fruit. First of all our defense is going to be really good. We may be thin in a few spots, but we have the potential to do some damage in a way we haven't since the beginning of the decade. Offensively we still are worried about the OL, but the coaches like the guys they have in the starting positions so far, and while we are paper thin, we could end up having the foundation of a decent line during this season if we stay healthy.

As far as health goes this has been one of the healthiest camps we have witnessed in years, just about everyone should be available for the opener.

I predicted 7-5, and right now I feel really good about that prediction. I can feel the team moving in the right direction. If we continue to minimize mistakes on offense the defense is going to give us a chance to win. This is only year two, and we need two strong recruiting classes in a row to right the ship, but I think a winning record is as doable a goal this year as it was last year, if we can get some breaks.

Of course all this is hyperboly, and wishful thinking until they play a game, but I have good feeling about this bunch, I think they are tired of losing, and I think they will pull it together. Showing significant progress in the W/L column will help recruiting, and as we know the future of the program during Ty's tenure is in the next two classes.