VIPERS HOLD 1ST EVER PRACTICE
With the College Kickoff just 4 weeks away. Coach Dodge and his staff finally got to take the field with their team. With only 38 players (19 on Off and 19 on Def). Coach Dodge was looking to see what players might be able to make a impact playing on both sides of the ball.
Here are comments by Coach Dodge on each posistion.
QB- "Kyle is still our #1 QB going into the season, but I was impressed with Andy Akpan and what he also can bring to the team"
RB- "We have a great combo of Javon Duece and Erik Chestnut. It's like Lighting and Thunder. 3rd String Ryne Johnson showed he can play both HB and FB, so he give us good depth. FB Junior Ross was a beast blowing up huge holes and giving McClay the feeling of having a 6th lineman back there watching his back."
WR- "TJ Deuce and JeMarcus Green give us amazing height and catching ability on the outside, Freddie Brown and Chris Rice were making catches all over the field and Josh Keith will be a capable 5th WR and backup TE. However I was also impressed with Aaron Wheeler. I think he has the potential to play alot of WR for us this year as well"
TE- "Josh Gates is a Quarterbacks dream. If the ball is within 10 feet of him he catches it.. Josh Keith showed he can be a valuable 2nd TE in goaline sets"
O-Line "Ian McLaughlin and Kelsey Charles give us 2 huge Tackles who are 2 of the best boyguards in the nation when it comes to protecting their QB. Billy and Bobby Tubbs (Twin Brothers) are 2 huge road graders who can open up huge holes with their 350 lbs frame and Center Philip Henderson is the man who makes it all happen."
D-Line "Harvey Walters is huge. The kid is bigger then anyone I have every seen. His 6'8 frame dwarfs everyone on the field. Justin Young gives us the pass rush we need off the end and Chris Dejulia gives us another big body that can make plays off the end. Jayshon Schmidt and Jeff Auw are huge hogs, that plug every hole the O-Line opens up."
Linebackers "Jeff Davis, Scott Hemberry and Adam Fusion give us 3 Linebackers who can compete with the best of them. Dan Rhodes and Michael James are decent backups who give us great depth."
Corners "Chuck Cruz is small at only 5'7 but he plays his man well, and players bigger then he is. Chris Lydman is huge 6'3 and is a shutdown corner that every coach dreams of, and Seth Johnson is a capable backup that will also see time at WR as well"
Safeties "With a 3-3-5 Defense it is very important to have both size, quickness and the ability to make someone fear catching a ball over the middle. Aaron Wheeler,Richard Barriga, and Jamal Williams offer all of that. Chris Powell is more of a CB but will offer backup behind Williams and give us another guy who can run..."
Kicker/Punter "Joe Powerton is a Defensive End with a leg that can kick a mile. I would love to see him gain control over it so he might be able to actually make a FG ,but at least he is consistant in kicking the ball out of the stadium. Shoeless Joe Jackson is a old school punter. It's been years since I have seen a player take the field without shoes. I just hope nobody steps on him. At 5'5 150 lbs. I fear for his life everytime he steps on the field.