By Andrew Scharff
As the NFL draft came and went this weekend, so did the end of the spring practice period for the Hofstra football team. Practice concluded last Saturday night as the Pride played their annual Blue-Gold game at the Hofstra Soccer Stadium. The Blue team, containing the Pride offense, beat the defensive Gold team, 36-16.
More importantly than the score, the Blue-Gold game allowed new head coach Dave Cohen and the rest of his staff a chance to see how their players adjusted to the new schemes and strategies. Cohen, the former defensive coordinator at Atlantic 10-rival Delaware, gave fans a preview of what they will see from the Pride this fall.
“You saw the run to pass percentage increase from what it was last year,” Cohen said.
Along with that increase, there were a lot of formations that showcased two backs in the backfield, something Hofstra fans rarely saw in the last year of the Joe Gardi era.
The Pride coaches also saw the team’s new defensive schemes, which were the biggest flaws last year. Cohen, who is a defensive specialist, has implanted new strategies and moved people around.
One of those players moved around was linebacker Gian Villante. Villante, who missed the 2005 season due to injury, is moving back to the inside linebacker position.
“It’s a big difference moving back inside, [but] the coaches are great in critiquing me every play,” Villante said.
The most important thing the coaches drew from the game is the attitude of the players. With a totally new coaching staff comes a big change, and the Pride has been working hard to adapt.
“I think without a doubt the players set a tone, a great demeanor and mentality,” new offensive coordinator John Perry said. “They got better. The kids have really bought into what we are trying to create here.”
Cohen echoed those sentiments. “They worked hard, had good energy and competed. We have taken steps, but we’re not their yet,” he said.
Throughout the game Pride coaches were trying get the players to understand the level at which they want them to execute with the intensity effort each snap. Pride players must have gotten the message, because they played a very physical game.
Along with seeing the players adjust to the schemes, the game gave Cohen and his staff the chance to watch his players go at full speed. Offensively, there are positions to be won, mainly at wide receiver. The Pride lost three starters at wide receiver in NFL draft pick Marques Colston, Devale Ellis and Brian Wolman. However, Pride fans shouldn’t be concerned, as the coaches came away impressed by other receivers who were waiting in the wings last year and will get their chance this season. Sophomore Ottis Lewis and junior Chris Manno got the attention of wide receivers coach Jaime Elizondo, both catching touchdowns.
Other Pride players creating a buzz were returning quarterback Anton Clarkson and receiver Charles Sullivan. “Anton did some good things and so did Charles in run blocking,” Perry said.
Cohen was also impressed with kicker Rob Zarrilli and running back Kareem Huggins. Huggins left the game early for precautionary reasons due to a knee contusion.
The concentration then moved to the defensive side ball.
Villante, a 2005 All-American selection, will be the centerpiece new Hofstra defense, and he will be joined by senior linebackers D.J. Talvacchio (who missed the game due to an undisclosed injury) and Chris Sebald. With Villante’s return, the Pride defense should be much better than last year.
For now, the Pride will rest up and continue to work on the new schemes during the summer workouts, with more to do between now and the season opener at Stony Brook on Aug. 31.
“We don’t have far to go, but we still have strides to make,” Elizondo said.