ColonialsCorner has covered Robert Morris football in some capacity for 10 years now, with the last 2.5 seasons here at our home on the Rivals.com network.
Over the course of those 10 years, we covered hundreds of practices. Whether it was training camp, spring ball or a mid-week practice in the middle of the season, a Joe Walton coached practice at Robert Morris had a certain rhythm. It was methodical and deliberate. Over the course of practice, the team would go through position drills, followed by 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills, then 7-on-7 and 9-on-7, and finally 11-on-11. Special teams would be sprinkled in, with a final conditioning period at the very end of practice.
Every Joe Walton practice was constructed the same. What happened in that practice varied, as it does at every practice at every college in the country. But the structure was always the same. Even a visitor like us could predict the next period, which made covering practice - especially in the spring and during training camp - easier to plan.
So the first practice session Tuesday under John Banaszak was a bit of a shock to the system.
Everything was different. The structure was different. The attitude was different. And good heavens, the pace was different.
So before we get into some of the individual notes from the first session of spring ball, here's a look at the radical changes as the John Banaszak era gets underway at RMU.
Practice is broken into five minute periods. An air horn sounds at the end of each session. Sometimes that horn means everyone sprinting to a different drill. Sometimes the period just ends for certain position groups or connected groups. The five minute sessions are just part of an overall increase in the pace. Everything, especially on the offensive end, is done at a high tempo. Offensive coordinator Darrin Hicks is constantly on his charges to be on the move, sprinting in and out of formations. Hicks told ColonialsCorner when he was hired that he wants Robert Morris to be the fastest team in the country. The intense pace in practice is designed to promote that mentality. Everything is done rapid fire. There are about 18 or so periods. There are still a number of position drills. That's true at every practice. But there is some alternating between position drills, then full looks like 7-on-7 or 9-on-7. Special teams is still mixed in as well.It's just a crazy pace. I'm sure in time everyone will get used to it, but there's definitely a new atmosphere to a Robert Morris football practice.
DEPTH CHART
A staple of ColonialsCorner practice reports, this one is pretty rough. There are dozens of number changes, and we didn't get a chance to get a good look at everyone. So this is a rough sketch that we'll iron out over the next few practices. If a player isn't mentioned or is in the wrong spot, we'll adjust accordingly as we get a better look.
QB - Paul Jones, Marcus Prather, Derik Abbott, Luke Brumbaugh, Joe Carroll
RB - Phil Peckich, Kenny Davis, Forrest Barnes, Erich Maine, Caleb Stennis, Travis Gregg
H-Back - Ryan Thermil, Corey Garry, Justin Kempka, Luke Zearing, Nick Sponyoe
Slot WR - Kyle Buss, Warren Fields, Jordan Blackmon
WR - Duane Mitchell, Sean Gavin, Luke Centofanti
WR - Chaq Nettles, Chad Dawgiello, D.J. Hayes
LT - Dylan Knight, Riley Feenan
LG - Max Robertson, Blake Chambliss, Mike Randolph
C - Nick Faraci, Anthony Lucian
RG - Josh Thiel, Drew Garbenis
RT - Jon Hill, Chris O'Connor
DE - Ryan Lewis
DT - Zac Bennett, Zack Zamiska, Max Onyenwe, Steve Fiadewornu
DE - Forrest Mason
OLB - Nic Lamica, Zach Cooper
MLB - Mike Stojkovic, Jimmy Masson, Nelson Lucas-Murphy
OLB - Luke Mueller, Jake Tkach
CB - Antwan Eddie, David Taylor, Keith O'Kelly
S - Andy Smigiera, Logan Kelleher, Codi Casper, Sam Woods
DEPTH CHART NOTES
A few items to address:ColonialsCorner has learned corner Marcelis Branch has been suspended for a violation of team rules. It's not related to what happened back in January that led to Brian Jones and Kimani Smith being suspended for a year. We haven't been able to get a timetable on the length of his suspension, either.A couple players arrived late due to class. We spotted Duane Mitchell coming in, but there are probably others that were missed. Again, the depth chart is a work in progress. We'll get it pinned down eventually.The defense is pretty thin when it comes to bodies. There are a bunch of walk-ons involved now, too.The offense is obviously different in terms of positions. The receivers are really, really hard to pin down because they rotate so much. We'll try to get a better idea as the sessions go along.Same with the backs, though it's separated some. The fullbacks and tight ends have been combined into one position as a kind of H-back, so that's what we'll call it for now.
NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS
There were a ton of number changes in the offseason. A ton. We didn't get them all, and we're going to try to track some more information down to make this easier. But for now, a confirmed list of changes:
- QB Paul Jones is now No. 10
- QB Derik Abbott is now No. 3
- RB Phil Peckich is now No. 5
- LB Nic Lamica is now No. 8
- LB Mike Stojkovic is now No. 11
- S Logan Kelleher is now No. 15
- S Andy Smigiera is now No. 18
- LB Jimmy Masson is now No. 31
- LS Dalton Raab is now No. 48
- WR Chaq Nettles is now No. 2
Of the new guys:
- WR Kyle Buss is wearing No. 23
- DL Steve Fiadewornu is wearing No. 95
- LB Nelson Lucas-Murphy is wearing No. 55
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Not many today, as we're still getting sorted, but a few particulars...Mike Stojkovic and Derik Abbott, two of the higher profile injured guys from last year, were both full participants. The team isn't wearing pads - just helmets and shorts right now - so we'll see if that continues once they don the full gear. But both looked like they were going full bore.Abbott had a shoulder injury and looked fine throwing the football. There might be a little bit of a progression for him to get his full strength and accuracy back, but he looked good.Stojkovic had a foot injury that derailed his season relatively early last year. He was slotted in at outside linebacker last year, but for now it looks like he's moving inside. He's a pretty heady guy, so it makes sense. Luke Mueller, who has experience outside, has moved outside at linebacker after playing both spots last yearAndy Smigiera worked at safety but also saw some time at corner. He played some corner in high school but he's likely working there just to give other guys a breather in drills. RMU is pretty thin in the secondary right nowIt's really interesting to see how the new offense utilizes certain receivers. We won't give away too many state secrets, but it's clear that the receivers are divided into two sort of categories. There are the slot types, which are some of the speedier, shiftier guys like Kyle Buss, Warren Fields, Jordan Blackmon, etc. Then there are the more traditional receivers like Duane Mitchell, Chad Dawgiello and Chaq Nettles. But man, there is a lot of mixing and matching at times and a lot of shuffling around.
That's all for now. We'll get more into the individual stuff at the next practice, which is Thursday. We'll start having some other features as well, including our first photo gallery soon.
Over the course of those 10 years, we covered hundreds of practices. Whether it was training camp, spring ball or a mid-week practice in the middle of the season, a Joe Walton coached practice at Robert Morris had a certain rhythm. It was methodical and deliberate. Over the course of practice, the team would go through position drills, followed by 1-on-1 and 3-on-3 drills, then 7-on-7 and 9-on-7, and finally 11-on-11. Special teams would be sprinkled in, with a final conditioning period at the very end of practice.
Every Joe Walton practice was constructed the same. What happened in that practice varied, as it does at every practice at every college in the country. But the structure was always the same. Even a visitor like us could predict the next period, which made covering practice - especially in the spring and during training camp - easier to plan.
So the first practice session Tuesday under John Banaszak was a bit of a shock to the system.
Everything was different. The structure was different. The attitude was different. And good heavens, the pace was different.
So before we get into some of the individual notes from the first session of spring ball, here's a look at the radical changes as the John Banaszak era gets underway at RMU.
Practice is broken into five minute periods. An air horn sounds at the end of each session. Sometimes that horn means everyone sprinting to a different drill. Sometimes the period just ends for certain position groups or connected groups. The five minute sessions are just part of an overall increase in the pace. Everything, especially on the offensive end, is done at a high tempo. Offensive coordinator Darrin Hicks is constantly on his charges to be on the move, sprinting in and out of formations. Hicks told ColonialsCorner when he was hired that he wants Robert Morris to be the fastest team in the country. The intense pace in practice is designed to promote that mentality. Everything is done rapid fire. There are about 18 or so periods. There are still a number of position drills. That's true at every practice. But there is some alternating between position drills, then full looks like 7-on-7 or 9-on-7. Special teams is still mixed in as well.It's just a crazy pace. I'm sure in time everyone will get used to it, but there's definitely a new atmosphere to a Robert Morris football practice.
DEPTH CHART
A staple of ColonialsCorner practice reports, this one is pretty rough. There are dozens of number changes, and we didn't get a chance to get a good look at everyone. So this is a rough sketch that we'll iron out over the next few practices. If a player isn't mentioned or is in the wrong spot, we'll adjust accordingly as we get a better look.
QB - Paul Jones, Marcus Prather, Derik Abbott, Luke Brumbaugh, Joe Carroll
RB - Phil Peckich, Kenny Davis, Forrest Barnes, Erich Maine, Caleb Stennis, Travis Gregg
H-Back - Ryan Thermil, Corey Garry, Justin Kempka, Luke Zearing, Nick Sponyoe
Slot WR - Kyle Buss, Warren Fields, Jordan Blackmon
WR - Duane Mitchell, Sean Gavin, Luke Centofanti
WR - Chaq Nettles, Chad Dawgiello, D.J. Hayes
LT - Dylan Knight, Riley Feenan
LG - Max Robertson, Blake Chambliss, Mike Randolph
C - Nick Faraci, Anthony Lucian
RG - Josh Thiel, Drew Garbenis
RT - Jon Hill, Chris O'Connor
DE - Ryan Lewis
DT - Zac Bennett, Zack Zamiska, Max Onyenwe, Steve Fiadewornu
DE - Forrest Mason
OLB - Nic Lamica, Zach Cooper
MLB - Mike Stojkovic, Jimmy Masson, Nelson Lucas-Murphy
OLB - Luke Mueller, Jake Tkach
CB - Antwan Eddie, David Taylor, Keith O'Kelly
S - Andy Smigiera, Logan Kelleher, Codi Casper, Sam Woods
DEPTH CHART NOTES
A few items to address:ColonialsCorner has learned corner Marcelis Branch has been suspended for a violation of team rules. It's not related to what happened back in January that led to Brian Jones and Kimani Smith being suspended for a year. We haven't been able to get a timetable on the length of his suspension, either.A couple players arrived late due to class. We spotted Duane Mitchell coming in, but there are probably others that were missed. Again, the depth chart is a work in progress. We'll get it pinned down eventually.The defense is pretty thin when it comes to bodies. There are a bunch of walk-ons involved now, too.The offense is obviously different in terms of positions. The receivers are really, really hard to pin down because they rotate so much. We'll try to get a better idea as the sessions go along.Same with the backs, though it's separated some. The fullbacks and tight ends have been combined into one position as a kind of H-back, so that's what we'll call it for now.
NUMBERS, NUMBERS, NUMBERS
There were a ton of number changes in the offseason. A ton. We didn't get them all, and we're going to try to track some more information down to make this easier. But for now, a confirmed list of changes:
- QB Paul Jones is now No. 10
- QB Derik Abbott is now No. 3
- RB Phil Peckich is now No. 5
- LB Nic Lamica is now No. 8
- LB Mike Stojkovic is now No. 11
- S Logan Kelleher is now No. 15
- S Andy Smigiera is now No. 18
- LB Jimmy Masson is now No. 31
- LS Dalton Raab is now No. 48
- WR Chaq Nettles is now No. 2
Of the new guys:
- WR Kyle Buss is wearing No. 23
- DL Steve Fiadewornu is wearing No. 95
- LB Nelson Lucas-Murphy is wearing No. 55
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Not many today, as we're still getting sorted, but a few particulars...Mike Stojkovic and Derik Abbott, two of the higher profile injured guys from last year, were both full participants. The team isn't wearing pads - just helmets and shorts right now - so we'll see if that continues once they don the full gear. But both looked like they were going full bore.Abbott had a shoulder injury and looked fine throwing the football. There might be a little bit of a progression for him to get his full strength and accuracy back, but he looked good.Stojkovic had a foot injury that derailed his season relatively early last year. He was slotted in at outside linebacker last year, but for now it looks like he's moving inside. He's a pretty heady guy, so it makes sense. Luke Mueller, who has experience outside, has moved outside at linebacker after playing both spots last yearAndy Smigiera worked at safety but also saw some time at corner. He played some corner in high school but he's likely working there just to give other guys a breather in drills. RMU is pretty thin in the secondary right nowIt's really interesting to see how the new offense utilizes certain receivers. We won't give away too many state secrets, but it's clear that the receivers are divided into two sort of categories. There are the slot types, which are some of the speedier, shiftier guys like Kyle Buss, Warren Fields, Jordan Blackmon, etc. Then there are the more traditional receivers like Duane Mitchell, Chad Dawgiello and Chaq Nettles. But man, there is a lot of mixing and matching at times and a lot of shuffling around.
That's all for now. We'll get more into the individual stuff at the next practice, which is Thursday. We'll start having some other features as well, including our first photo gallery soon.
