Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain....
I was at practice for about 45 minutes today, until a pretty big downpour had me running off the field for cover. I tried toughing it out by standing under a tree for a few minutes, but as Strength Coach Mike Gerber accurately told me, "That tree isn't gonna help you out too much."
Anyways, nobody is here to read about me standing in the rain, so let's get on to the good stuff. I watched most of the red zone drills and some of the 11 on 11 today. Here are some of my observations:
- Wide Receiver Anthony Kazmierczak made several nice plays today. The sophomore from Thompson Falls caught two touchdowns that I saw during the red zone drills. On the first one he streaked wide open down the left sideline and Jeff Larson hit him in the corner of the endzone. There looked to be a blown coverage on the play, because there was nobody within 10 yards of him.
The second TD catch was a beauty. Andrew Selle placed the ball perfectly in the back of the endzone and Kazmierczak went up to get it, but still had the presence of mind to drag his right foot on the ground as he fell out of bounds. That catch drew a "1-2-3 KAZ" cheer from the first team offense standing on the sidelines.
Kaz also showed his toughness across the middle. On a comeback route from Cole Bergquist, he went up to get the ball and was absolutely drilled by linebacker Brandon Fisher. He held on to the ball and popped right back up to his feet like nothing happened.
- Selle had good chemistry with the tight ends today, finding both Dan Beaudin and Steve Pfahler for touchdowns during the red zone drills
- All three quarterbacks got into the touchdown throwing act in the red zone. Bergquist hit Marc Mariani on a short crossing route over the middle and the speedy junior did the rest, running by cornerback Trumaine Johnson, linebacker Shawn Lebsock, and the aforementioned Fisher for six.
- Thomas Brooks-Fletcher was back on the field practicing today and didn't seem limited in any way. He took part in all the drills and was back out there getting reps with the first team offense during 11 on 11. Head Coach Bobby Hauck said his injury was a sore knee and mentioned again that it wasn't too serious.
- Brody McKnight looks to have the edge for the starting kicker job. This isn't coming from any conversations with the coaching staff, but rather the good old fashioned eye test. Of course all of that can change depending on his performance during Saturday's scrimmage, but he was more consistent with his distance and accuracy on his field goal attempts today than Russel Schey. Here's something else that will be sure to endear him to Griz fans. I was talking to him before practice today, and the Vancouver native told me he had always dreamt about playing for the Griz.
- Finally, there's something great about watching football in the rain. Almost makes you wish all games were played in those conditions....as long as you have somewhere to stand for cover. When the it started to rain hard, there was plenty of hooting and hollering from the players, who were clearly excited to be playing in the downpour.
Won't be able to make it to practice tomorrow. I'll have more on Friday and then plenty of thoughts on Saturday after the team's first scrimmage.
~Varun
varun@maxmontana.com
