Two Weeks to Go ...

The season is fast approaching and I get more excited by the day. Two days ago, I was at the league Jamboree and was able to see four of our 2007 opponents in action. Here are some impressions from Sunday:

* If we're going to be competitive this year, we need to get bigger; in a hurry!

* The Vermont Ravens are for real. I wasn't sure how good they were after the shellacking the Icestorm gave them, but I came away impressed. RB#25 Marvin Jenkins is special.

* The team to beat might just be the Mass Fury. They are loaded at the skill positions and QB#10 Ryan Minns is the real deal. Minns might just be the best quarterback in the League.

* The Northern Berkshire Kings, our first opponent, only traveled with 17 players. But even though they wore black from head to toe in the 90 degree heat, they played tenacious defense and moved the ball effectively.

* Central Maine FB#13 Dan Bibeau is a load to bring down and is a tough, tenacious runner and blocker. He might have had the most rushing yards at the Jam. He reminds me of another #13 who played for the Icestorm in 2001.

* Kudos to Ravens DB#32 Brad Lamell. He had the hit of the day on Kings QB#5 John Marlowe, Jr. Not only did Marlowe leave the game with a mild concussion, but he was cut behind the ear as well. Lamell's hit made all four teams turn around and take notice. #32 is definitely in our scouting report.

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When I heard the news that legendary pro football head coach Bill Walsh died yesterday, I was stunned. Not only because I didn't realize that Coach Walsh was ill, but because I've always felt a special connection to him.

I've never met Bill Walsh, but my collection of his writings, playbooks, and clinic notes is impressive. In fact, our UVM offense is based almost entirely on Bill Walsh's philosophy of offensive football. He developed this philosophy from his years as an assistant under Paul Brown and coaching in close proximity to Sid Gillman.

The innovations that Walsh brought to football are extensive:

* Scripting the first 15 plays of each game (which evolved from a conversation from Paul Brown).

* Controlling the clock and moving the chains with the passing game.

* The use of formations, motions, and personnel substitutions to create favorable matchups.

It also helped that Walsh was a great executive. From the drafting of Joe Montana and Roger Craig, trading a draft pick to move up and pick Jerry Rice, and trading for Steve Young, Walsh showed his skill in evaluating talent. And the coaching tree that he spawned (Holmgren, Shannahan, Green, Wyche, and many, many others) also shows his eye for talent.

As a coach, if my coaching career is half as successful as Bill Walsh's, I'll consider it a great success. Until then, I will continue to copy the master and walk in his footsteps.

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Thanks, again, the guys at ESPN 1390 WCAT. Rich, John, and Chris sure do a good job of promoting our team and we can't wait to hear our games on the radio!