As UCF gets itself set for the season opener against FIU on Sept. 3, there is still some time for experimentation.
At this early stage of camp, most football teams are working on getting the fundamentals of their system and their process down pat. It is too early to be setting a gameplan for that Week One opponent. There are still things to reinforce from that short time in spring.
If spring practice is the time for some experimentation, fall camp is the time for results and to see what that experimentation produced.
And for UCF, there was quite a lot of experimentation going on.
Shanon Owens-Green of the Orlando Sentinel highlighted Cedric Thompson’s shift from running back to UCF’s H-back position. He was among numerous position changes that Owens-Green reported included two quarterbacks shifting to wide receiver, an offensive lineman moving to defensive back and back again.
It is really all about the opportunity to play:
“Everybody wants to play. Even if it’s not your position, we’re all here because we love football. So if coach asks you to change and do something else, if you truly love it, you’ll adjust. That’s why I have a lot of respect for guys like [Nick] Patti and Pete [DiNovo,] because they made those adjustments with no complaints and no backlash from it.”
Shifting positions is nothing new in college. High school players will often show up to team camps and coaches will try out players at new positions to see if they have the potential to make the change at the collegiate level and see if the recruit can take coaching.
In college, it happens often with young players as they get squeezed out by competition. No one likes to see talent buried on a depth chart. With only so many scholarship players allowed, coaches have to squeeze everything they can get out of it.
Thompson is a bit different though. Usually by the time a player is this far into his career — Thompson will be a senior this upcoming year — there is not much time for change. The switch to H-back — more of a fullback hybrid position — meant Thompson had to put on some more weight and become a better blocker.
It certainly takes a special kind of player to make that kind of switch so late in his career, doing what the team needs him to do. The tradeoff is probably not a bad one as it will get Thompson on the field more. His only two starts in his career came last year when he first made the transition to H-back. For his career, he only has 35 rushes for 115 yards.
The Knights are hoping the veteran can reward their experimentation and take advantage of this playing time opportunity.
There will be plenty of other players making such an adjustment. The Knights hope the investment at this time of year can create similar results later in the year. This is the time to do it.
Orlando Magic schedule released
The Orlando Magic’s 2016 schedule was released Wednesday. The team will play only 40 home games this upcoming year, with the team’s trip to London on Jan. 14 against the Raptors officially labeled a home game.
The season opens up Oct. 28 as the Magic host the Wizards and then the Thunder two days later.
You can read further highlights from the Magic’s entire schedule over at Orlando Magic Daily. As well as see the team’s entire schedule.
Single game tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 through OrlandoMagic.com.
Kaka playing for Brazil in upcoming friendlies
Kaka has shown age is only a number as he has come to dominate MLS in his first year at Orlando City. The 33-year-old midfielder has shown plenty of spry play as he has weaved in and out of defenses at the MLS level. He might be entering his “retirement” playing in a “lower tier” such as MLS, but he still has some skill.
Brazil appears to still see that.
The celebrated national team has named Kaka to its provisional roster for friendlies coming up in early September. Brazil will play Costa Rica and the United States.
“It’s a big day for me, so I’d like to share this great news with all of the supporters” Kaká said. “I’m back in the national team after almost a year, and I’m so happy for that because I think I can help the team in this period. Now we’re going to start the qualification [process] for the next World Cup, so it’s a very important period for the national team, for Brazil, for everybody and also for me. So, I’m so happy and glad to be back in the national team again.”
Kaka is not likely to play for Brazil in the upcoming World Cup. There is still some valuable veteran leadership he can provide for the Brazilian national team as they hope to get back to the top of the world three years from now in Russia.
[…] it was replacing the wide receivers or changing positions or a new assistant coaches and members of the coaching staff or the feeling the Knights could […]