Notes From Preseason Camp, Day 1

Kent State's preseason football camp is underway.

I just got back to my office after after watching the first practice at Dix Stadium in preparation for the 2013 season.

There was one highlight for me. In fact I snapped a picture with my iPhone. That's it to the right. We haven't seen Dri Archer and Tyshon Goode line up on the same field together in a real game since 2010. Those are two of the biggest playmakers we've seen at Kent State in recent years, so let's hope the Golden Flashes see this same image on a regular basis in 2013.

Goode, appears to be healthy. See this story on the KentStateSports.com front page for more on Goode's comeback from last year's season-ending hamstring injury. He moved well in today's practice. Some of the younger receivers also benefitted from his knowledge. There were several opportunities for Goode to make some teaching points during, and he took advantage of them the way a fifth-year senior should.

As for Archer. He did just about everything you'd hope on day one of camp. While he didn't have many chances to flash his speed, he did turn in a few nice catches during team and 7-on-7 drills. He also looked confident fielding punts. The one hiccup came on a deep throw from Fisher that was on target. Archer's speed had him several yards behind the defense, but uncharacteristic of late, he couldn't make the catch.

Some of the other highlights from practice No. 1:

• The catch of the day was turned in by tight end Tim Erjavec, whose locks are longer than ever, by the way. He made a diving grab of another throw by Fisher after coming open on a seam route.
• The seam was open for some big plays most of the day, as first-year freshman quarterback Nathan Strock hit redshirt freshman C.J. Brathwaite for a big game. The 6-foot-4 Strock looked understandably wide-eyed early in his first college practice, but flashed a big arm on several throws as the day wore on. I think this is as deep in terms of talent as Kent State has been at the quarterback position in a very long time. Of course, the group only has 23 combined attempts (all by Fisher last season) in Division I football.
• Colin Reardon continues to look sharp. The red-shirt freshman quarterback split time running the first-team offense with Fisher. 
• Speaking of Fisher, he looks like he is settling in and understanding he doesn't need to be a riverboat gambler. That desire to make a play was one of the reasons Rock and former head coach Darrell Hazell recruited Fisher from junior college to come to Kent and compete with Spencer Keith for last year's starting job. He has always had great leadership qualities, but this year he appears to be finding the balance between trying to make something happen and avoiding turnovers. Fisher did a nice job of recognizing a blitz during 11-on-11 drills, then changing to a run play that was perfectly blocked by the offensive line for Trayion Durham.
• Georgia Tech transfer Nick Cuthbert, who played his high-school football at West Geauga, picked off a pass by Brett Maxie late in practice. It sure would be nice to have Cuthbert available this season, but he has to sit out under NCAA transfer rules. He could be a nice fit at safety in 2014 when there will be a hole after Luke Wollett graduates.
• Kent's own Evan Shimensky turned in several nice grabs at wide receiver. The Kent Roosevelt grad continues to be one of the hardest workers on the team.
• The difference in demeanor between Hazell and first-year head coach Paul Haynes is noticeable. Haynes is Mike Ditka to Hazell's Tom Landry. Haynes is extremely vocal, and he's not just willing, but eager to get right in with players to demonstrate a teaching point. In period eight, he took on the same role he did in the spring, coaching the "star" position while allowing safeties coach Jeff Burrow the chance to give a little closer attention to the free and strong safety positions.

There were a few moments when coaches had to remind players to run hard through an entire drill and not let up at the end. That was one of the few things to irritate Haynes, who closed practice with this address to his players:

We don't coach effort. We demand effort ... It doesn't take talent to give effort. Coaches should never have to tell you to give effort. Never again do I want to hear a coach yell '"run."

Practice ended a little after 11 a.m.

It's almost 2 p.m. now, which means players are about to head back to Dix Stadium for a walk-through, some meetings and a short lifting session.

A short "Newsstand" today.

• Stephanie Storm previews camp in today's Akron Beacon Journal with this story: "Kent State football coach Paul Haynes seeking chemistry as he opens his first day of camp." 
• The State College News is getting a jump start on previewing Penn State's opponents for 2013. You can find their preview by Ben Jones here.