Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Gridders Hold Practice in Rochester
4/7/2012 6:37:04 PM | Football
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The Orange football squad traveled west for the 10th session of Spring football today, holding practice at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester before about 500 fans. Head coach Doug Marrone brought the team back for the second year to show appreciation for the Syracuse fan base in Rochester. The practice was presented by Summit Federal Credit Union.
“We have always had a great many fans from Rochester and also quite a few players from this area,” Marrone said. “These fans have done such a great job supporting us in coming to the Dome, going back to when I was a player here, so this is our way of saying thanks to the fans who make the drive to the Dome every game day.”
Fans enjoyed an 80-play controlled scrimmage featuring offense against defense. Running backs Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley each scored touchdowns, as did receivers Marcus Sales and Jeremiah Kobena. This group of skill players, along with fullback Myles Davis, tight ends Beckett Wales and David Stevens, and receivers Adrian Flemming and Keenan Hale, are working to fill the void left by the graduation of Antwon Bailey, Nick Provo, Van Chew and Dorian Graham.
“I thought Jerome played very well,” Marrone said. “He has had a good Spring. He is much improved from last season. That is exciting. I give him credit. He has worked extremely hard. He has come back from multiple injuries early in his career. He is now looking to go beyond and become the type of playmaker we need. He made a couple of great runs today, which is consistent with what he has done throughout the Spring.”
Quarterback Ryan Nassib took most of the snaps during the scrimmage, with Charley Loeb, John Kinder and freshman Ashton Broyld also getting playing time under center.
“What we want to see from the quarterback position is leadership and you want to see him make everyone around him better. We are looking for that out of Ryan. We want him to take what the defense gives him and be who he is. We are looking for more running from that position, from every player in that position.”
The coaching staff is working Rochester native Broyld at quarterback and running back this Spring, his first on campus.
“Ashton has been great,” Marrone said. “It is very difficult for anyone to go through Spring football for the first time. He goes through his ups and downs, but we are very excited about him. We are dual training him as a quarterback and a running back because we know at the end of the day we've to find a way to get him on the field. He is a playmaker. He is a heck of a football player, but he is a better person.”
On defensive side of the ball, the Orange has to replace Chandler Jones, Mikhail Marinovich, Phillip Thomas, Kevyn Scott and Olando Fisher. The linebacker group returns intact, led by Dan Vaughan, Dyshawn Davis, Cameron Lynch and Siriki Diabate. Junior Marquis Spruill is out for Spring practice due to injury.
“I am excited about the linebackers. We have a good group there and they have been playing well. There is good competition there.”
Syracuse fans will have another opportunity to watch the Orange at the annual Spring game on Saturday, April 21 at the Carrier Dome.
“We have changed a lot of things offensively and defensively and on special teams. We wanted to try different things and see what our players grasped and what they could do and we did not want to give anyone a false impression of who we are going to be going into the season. We closed some practices, but everyone has an opportunity to see us this Spring, today and at the Spring game. It has helped our focus.”
The Orange football squad traveled west for the 10th session of Spring football today, holding practice at Sahlen's Stadium in Rochester before about 500 fans. Head coach Doug Marrone brought the team back for the second year to show appreciation for the Syracuse fan base in Rochester. The practice was presented by Summit Federal Credit Union.
“We have always had a great many fans from Rochester and also quite a few players from this area,” Marrone said. “These fans have done such a great job supporting us in coming to the Dome, going back to when I was a player here, so this is our way of saying thanks to the fans who make the drive to the Dome every game day.”
Fans enjoyed an 80-play controlled scrimmage featuring offense against defense. Running backs Jerome Smith and Prince-Tyson Gulley each scored touchdowns, as did receivers Marcus Sales and Jeremiah Kobena. This group of skill players, along with fullback Myles Davis, tight ends Beckett Wales and David Stevens, and receivers Adrian Flemming and Keenan Hale, are working to fill the void left by the graduation of Antwon Bailey, Nick Provo, Van Chew and Dorian Graham.
“I thought Jerome played very well,” Marrone said. “He has had a good Spring. He is much improved from last season. That is exciting. I give him credit. He has worked extremely hard. He has come back from multiple injuries early in his career. He is now looking to go beyond and become the type of playmaker we need. He made a couple of great runs today, which is consistent with what he has done throughout the Spring.”
Quarterback Ryan Nassib took most of the snaps during the scrimmage, with Charley Loeb, John Kinder and freshman Ashton Broyld also getting playing time under center.
“What we want to see from the quarterback position is leadership and you want to see him make everyone around him better. We are looking for that out of Ryan. We want him to take what the defense gives him and be who he is. We are looking for more running from that position, from every player in that position.”
The coaching staff is working Rochester native Broyld at quarterback and running back this Spring, his first on campus.
“Ashton has been great,” Marrone said. “It is very difficult for anyone to go through Spring football for the first time. He goes through his ups and downs, but we are very excited about him. We are dual training him as a quarterback and a running back because we know at the end of the day we've to find a way to get him on the field. He is a playmaker. He is a heck of a football player, but he is a better person.”
On defensive side of the ball, the Orange has to replace Chandler Jones, Mikhail Marinovich, Phillip Thomas, Kevyn Scott and Olando Fisher. The linebacker group returns intact, led by Dan Vaughan, Dyshawn Davis, Cameron Lynch and Siriki Diabate. Junior Marquis Spruill is out for Spring practice due to injury.
“I am excited about the linebackers. We have a good group there and they have been playing well. There is good competition there.”
Syracuse fans will have another opportunity to watch the Orange at the annual Spring game on Saturday, April 21 at the Carrier Dome.
“We have changed a lot of things offensively and defensively and on special teams. We wanted to try different things and see what our players grasped and what they could do and we did not want to give anyone a false impression of who we are going to be going into the season. We closed some practices, but everyone has an opportunity to see us this Spring, today and at the Spring game. It has helped our focus.”
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