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| − | So last spring, Huff changed the way Penn State's running backs carry the ball, pointing to an study that said ballcarriers who hold the ball vertically fumble less. The transition took time and remains ongoing. But Penn State's backs enter training camp today ready to cleanse the fumbles from their memories.
| + | MARLIN (August 4, 2014) Marlin Police Sgt. Rob Douglas was on paid leave Monday after posting a rant on his personal Facebook page about 鈥渦seless turd bags鈥?with 鈥渦nclean bodies鈥?and mouths 鈥渇ull of bling鈥?whom he encountered on the first of the month in a local grocery store. |
| − | When I came in, I got emails, letters and calls saying, 'These guys can't hold onto the ball?' " Huff said. "I told them, 'I don't know who those guys are.' That's over.
| + | 鈥淚 promise, <a href=http://www. louisvuittontassenkopen.com>Louis Vuitton Tassen</a> if I ever snap and go on a killing spree, it will be in a supermarket on the first (of the month), 鈥?Douglas, who is white, wrote. |
| − | "Anybody can tell players to hold onto the ball. Heck, all 107,000 people in the stadium do it every Saturday. How you hold onto the ball is the question."
| + | Douglas admitted to the post, Marlin Police Chief Daryl Allen said Monday. |
| − | At Penn State, backs now call the ball, "the program." Huff brought that approach from Western , where he coached last year. Head coach P.J. Fleck wanted his backs to take ball security so seriously that "it kills you to put the program on the ground."
| + | He said the rant, even <a href=http://www. louisvuittontassenkopen.com>Louis Vuitton Kopen</a> though it appeared on the officer鈥檚 personal page, has created an atmosphere of distrust in the community. |
| − | To prevent that, Huff asked his running backs to carry the football with the tip pointed toward their chins. Huff quoted a recent NFL study of fumbles, which noted that backs who hold the ball vertically fumble less.
| + | 鈥淲e want to make sure that the citizens know that post itself does not reflect the views of the attitude of the Marlin Police Department,鈥?Allen said. |
| − | Essentially, Huff said, it's difficult to dislodge a football that's being carried tight and vertically against the body. Former back learned that later in his career, curbing his fumbling tendencies by making the change.
| + | An internal investigation is underway to determine whether the post violated department policy, which in part says, 鈥淲e are public servants and the citizens trust in us to provide safety and assurance that their thoughts and their beliefs and their safety are respected.鈥? |
| − | During spring drills, Huff showed clips of backs who fumbled while not holding the ball vertically. On the field, he shouted "Chin" at them daily as a reminder of where to point the football.
| + | If Douglas is found to have violated policy, the consequences could range from required <a href=http://www. louisvuittontassenkopen.com>Louis Vuitton Handtassen</a> counseling to termination. |
| − | Zwinak, who's four yards shy of 2,000 for his career, called the transition "weird" initially, since his muscle memory was so trained <a href=http://www. louisvuitton-pascher.com>Louis Vuitton Tivoli</a> to hold the ball a different way. But he felt more confident with the change as spring drills ended. | + | He's been with the department for five years. |
| − | "It's hard to break old habits," Zwinak said. "I've done it so many times that you develop a rhythm and a muscle memory with the way you carry the ball. But every time I got the ball, coach Huff is yelling, 'Chin,' so it's starting to become a habit."
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| − | Belton has high expectations for his senior year, saying he wants to be considered among the best backs in the country. To do so, he has worked to run more physically and upgrade his pass-protections skills. Handling the ball, Belton said, was another part of his evolution.
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| − | "There are just some things you can't get around," he said . "It's something we had to deal with, and it was definitely awkward at first, but we got into the groove of things. You just have to allow yourself to keep learning, do <a href=http://www. louisvuitton-pascher.com>Louis Vuitton Totally</a> things to get yourself better and prepare yourself for the next level. That's the point I'm at." | + | |
| − | Huff said he prides himself on teaching football concepts rather than being a football "babysitter" on the field. He acknowledged that learning a method of holding the ball would be difficult. He also called it vital.
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| − | "It's like Rocky II, when Mick tried to teach Rocky how to fight right-handed," Huff said. "But when you do it the right way, you won't put the ball on the ground."
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| − | Five things to watch during Penn State training camp<br><br>1. Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line. At the media days, coach James Franklin said he expects the line to end up being a strength for us. Franklin did not note a timeline, though. Left tackle Donovan Smith will play alongside four new starters, two of them who could be defensive tackles converted to guard. Still, Franklin said the issue revolves more around experience than talent, and offensive coordinator John Donovan is skilled at calling plays that hide your deficiencies. <br><br>2. More running from the QB? Christian Hackenberg won t be running the spread, but Franklin wants him to have a scrambling mindset under duress. The coach also said that Hackenberg, who scored four rushing touchdowns last year, moves better than people think. Maybe <there>will be] a little bit more running than you ve seen in the past, Franklin said, but I don t really see us doing a whole lot of designed runs with him. <br><br>3. Broader role for the tight ends. Franklin likes their talent and playmaking ability but wants them to play a bigger part in the run game. Jesse James, Kyle Carter and Adam Breneman, who combined for 58 receptions last year, all have added size, which Breneman said is vital for blocking in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Franklin called freshman Mike Gesicki, who benched 385 in summer testing, everything you want in a tight end. <br><br>4. Downhill defense. We throw the first punch and keep on punching, defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said. That s provocative talk, but what does it mean? Linebacker Mike Hull called Shoop s defensive style downhill, saying he expects it to produce more splash plays and turnovers. Hull, who will be central to the defense at middle linebacker, said he fits such a style. Ends C.J. Olaniyan, Deion Barnes and (a healthy) Brad Bars should thrive in the defense, as should cornerback Jordan Lucas and safety Adrian Amos. <br><br>5. Youth on parade. Freshmen will populate the two-deep and special teams, with 58 first-year players (including walk-ons) on the roster. Wide receivers <a href=http://www. louisvuitton-pascher.com>Louis Vuitton W</a> could have the biggest impact, notably DeAndre Thompkins, Saeed Blacknall and Chris Godwin. <br><br>Mark Wogenrich<br><br> | + | |
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MARLIN (August 4, 2014) Marlin Police Sgt. Rob Douglas was on paid leave Monday after posting a rant on his personal Facebook page about 鈥渦seless turd bags鈥?with 鈥渦nclean bodies鈥?and mouths 鈥渇ull of bling鈥?whom he encountered on the first of the month in a local grocery store.
