Sorry about late to post anything. I was running late on the Saturday viewing guide.
You will excuse me if I don’t get too worked up over anything published first and only on FootballScoop.com. They are willing to publish just about any rumor. The fact that a newspaper blog is going with the report only tells me how afraid newspapers are of being scooped and bypassed now.
Former Akron head football coach J.D. Brookhart, who was fired after the season, has spoken to Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone about one of the Orange staff vacancies, according to FootballScoop.com. The web site reported yesterday that Marrone had also spoken to Akron quarterbacks coach Walt Harris and hoped to talk with former SU running back David Walker. The curious connection or coicidence here is that Harris is a former Pitt head coach; Brookhart is a former Pitt assistant and Walker is currently on the Pitt staff coaching the running backs.
So here’s what amuses me. Syracuse needs a new offensive coordinator, receivers coach and running back coach. Yesterday the rumor surfaced about Marrone wanting to talk to Dave Walker and that he may have spoken to Walt Harris.
I’ve made no secret how highly I think of Dave Walker, and any rumors of his departure bug me. So a couple of Syracuse bloggers and I exchanged tweets over this sudden interest in Pitt related coaches leading to this from me:
@HoyaSuxa @NunesMagician Here’s the deal. You can have Harris and we’ll even toss in ex-Akron coach Brookhart, but we keep Walker.
Now the next day a rumor site says that Brookhart and Marrone talked. Hmm.
I’m not saying someone passed along Brookhart as a fake tip for their own amusement. But, um, it has happened before.
IT’s not a good scene and strikes me as a very sad situation with a kid in some trouble personally and legally.
link to community.post-gazette.com
I do believe Tyler Smith did have a run in with the law when he was at Iowa, he was arrested for theft or burglary.
link to qctimes.com
link to pittsburgh.rivals.com
Thus, a prospect such as Mark Myers, who didn’t start last year, would have little chance of making the team. However, I read that he is going to play for a national all-star team on Jan 30 which can be seen on the NFL network
Sure, we’ll never get the numbers of blue chips that Floridas and Bamas get, but there is also the skill of selecting and developing potential.
I agree that winning the big games will get us even better but we neither have the great recruting area, nor play to a large TV market or have 100,000 sellouts.
His final numbers –off of memory– ended up to be 14pts (8-14 FT); 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 turnovers. He played the first half on the wing and most of the second half at point. He was not the MVP of the game (teammate 6’7” Nick Harney /not signed) had 20 points and was an absolute beast on the boards. Those two were clearly above all talent on the court.
Cameron is a long and lean 6’5” in the same look & feel as Sam Young. I’ll give my completely uneducated, non-expert, enthusiasm curbed opinions of what I saw. I apologize for the bad grammar, but this is what I put in my phone as notes…
Very aggressive, right hand shooter but is equally comfortable with left. Good court vision and shot mechanics seems very smooth. Deceptively fast, plays like a Sam Young but with smoother ball handling. Loves to go to the hoop. Only shot one 3pter. Started very lackadaisical in the first half off the glass and on defense. Defense was very passive in first half. Came out of the second half very aggressive and clearly ready to play. He was clearly charged up for the second half. Boxed out, tight defense, diving for loose balls (more Pitt style!). FT performance was disappointing (lack of concentration led to 8-14), but the mechanics are smooth. In the second half, he broke many presses with his ball handling. Leaper, and can get up and finish or grab big rebounds. Didn’t attempt many outside shots. Runs the lanes very well. Unselfish, will pass to open man. Seems coachable with his interaction with coach. Body is lean (no body fat). He was harassed the entire game and fought through screens and hacks. Overall, I loved his desire to get to the hoop and his ball handling skills. Shot mechanics seems good, but he really didn’t take many attempts. Passing was good, not great. Definitely someone with skills that I assume (with great coaching) could become a nice player for Pitt.
He is thin but cut in the right places (arms, legs). To me, he has a very similar body type to Sam. I was right behind the bench, and his shoulders seemed broad to me. His hands are huge too and there is no ounce of baby fat on him.
Very Sam Young-like!
link to youtube.com
On the other hand …note the offensive guru, Brian Kelly, had Tony Pike 4th on the QB depth chart at the start of the 08 season, but only with Ben Mauck being ruled ineligible and injuries to the next two QBs did Pike get a chance to play. Funny how things work out sometimes.
PITT guys did relatively well over the weekend – but where was Gerald Hayes yesterday – was he hurt? I didn’t hear his name called at all…. only 4 tackles on the day.
