Thursday’s practice was all about team and scheme building. With most of this practice revolving around the kickoff formation, offence vs defence scrimmages, and the implementation of different packages, Thursday’s was easily was one of the most important to date.
All for one and one for all:
Over the course of training camp, quarterback Veronon Adams Jr has been seen leaving the comfort of the pocket. From returning kicks, receiving passes, to playing defending passes, Adams has been doing everything he possibly can to help his team this offseason. Lining up as a wide receiver today in a number of drills, Adams has let the surplus to quarterbacks- which the team has 5 of- on the field, get their reps in. With starting quarterback Jeremiah Masoli looking to get as much work in as he can before the June 1st matchup, Adams decisions to willingly sit out in a drill to step aside to allow Masoli to throw more. This selfless act shows just how much of a team player Adams is. With Jhonny Manziel coming in, Adams has fully welcomed the former Cleveland Brown on the field with open arms and has been allowing the new Tiger-Cat to get comfortable in the limited time he has.
Rolling the dice:
With less veracity of packages to select from when going on an offensive drive, the less chance you have to catch your opponent off guard, this is a philosophy Jones is changing in Hamilton. As players become more comfortable with the positions they are slotted in, Jones has worked meticulously around the offense to develop a multitude of packages to select from. From single set back to the “T” formation, Jones is cementing his “Run and Gun” offence. Led by his starting quarterback, Masoli believes the system allows him to succeed has derived from the simplicity of it. “A lot of high percentage completions…taking what the defense gives you is basically what the system is…were able to get the ball out and the guys know what they’re doing out there”
There is no “I” in “Team”
Moving away from traditional individual tackling and catching drills, Thursday’s practice revolved more around the team itself. With a scrimmage taking place for about an hour, this was Jones’s chance to dissect who works in what position. As quarterbacks rotated throughout their throws, so did the offensive and defensive teams. With all players on the field and on the sidelines staying loose, getting reps in, and having a good time, there is no doubt that this years team has developed a strong chemistry in just a few short days.
