Monday, March 17, 2008

PRACTICE AT RICE ECCLES: MARCH 17, 2008

A few brief observations from training at Rice Eccles:

Missing in Action: Deuchar (Scotland - work permit), Kovalenko (New York - citizenship), Findley/Seitz/Sturgis (Nashville - Olympic qualifying)

Surprise guest: Duke Hashimoto

Practice format: running, calisthenics, beep drills, 2-touch, team keepaway, scrimmage

Injury update:

  • Wingert - participated in half of the fitness portion of practice, and then ran the rest of the time. Looks quite mobile.
  • Rimando - participated through most of practice with Reynish, but sat out of the scrimmage.

Notable #1: Beltran blew the rest of the team away in the beep drill, which is an endurance test. He lasted long after most of the team had dropped out. Javi Morales was the only one who came close, but Beltran lasted a few rounds past him.

Notable #2: Scrimage seemed focused on making good passes and keeping form. Still somewhat defensive focus.

Notable #3: Olave does look like a monster. I can only imagine a centerback core of him and Horst.