First-round draft pick S Christopher Egan made a dramatic leap forward in training camp (21-point gain on HA, to an acceptable 73). He may get on the field early in 2011.
Second- and third-round picks WR Johnny Raftery and Louis Gomez came up 12 and 26 points in AC, respectively, but they're both likely long-term projects. HB Jose Conley, a rookie free agent, turned heads with a 22-point pickup in EN, to 73, while showing potential growth in HA and DI.
The Wilson twins--LBs Michael and James, Durham's top two draft choices in 2010--both continued to make strides. Look for Michael and maybe James to crack the starting lineup in 2013.
Lee Olson is no youngster, but the eighth-year S1 might have had the most impressive training camp among Bulls--gaining 16 points on HA, to reach 89. Could this training camp turn the fast, bright Olson into a ball-hawking star?
DT3 Joe Sherman, a seventh-year pro, is making a strong push to join the starting lineup alongside Brett Baker.
I bring you greetings from Coaches Reynolds and Wallach, as well as all of the Patriots players and staff. We are looking forward along with all of you to a successful 2011 NCFA season, and we are working diligently to ensure that success.
I want to share with you some observations from our recently completed training camp in Eden, in Rockingham County. First, let me thank the citizens of that fine community for their warm hospitality. Let me also thank Butch Calloway, David Pritchett and Eduardo Jennings, who came in to help the coaches with the camp. These three men offered valuable expertise, and I'm confident you'll soon be seeing the effects of their contributions.
We are especially pleased with the work Butch did with our offense. "The Cab" was always one of the NCFA's most durable performers, and he worked very hard to improve the endurance of our entire offense. Butch and the 26 offensive players were out and running the streets of Eden hours before most of the town woke up to start their day. We think this training helped every member of the offense--but especially our four rookies (HB David Young, QB Robert Taylor, TE James Stancil and G Michael Gibson), our first-round pick from 2008 (HB Chad Webb) and our 2010 NCFA All-Pro (G Bryan Race).
The defense also made important progress during camp. We are especially pleased with the work of some young veterans who are only now reaching their NCFA prime: DE Michael Hamilton, DTs Charles Marti and Michael Price, LB Fred Snow and S Derrick Herrera. We think each might be ready for significantly more responsibility in 2010--to the betterment of our whole team, not to mention their own careers.
I also want to discuss our big offseason trade with the Wilson Tobs. Jason Fisher is a class person and a fine quarterback with plenty of NCFA football ahead of him, and we know Reginald O'Neill, the Patriots' first-round draft choice in 2009, is also a big loss from this organization.
At the same time, we believe Derrick Smith remains one of the league's two or three best quarterbacks, who gives us a terrific opportunity to build on last season's 5-7 performance. He brings a certain intangible quality that gives us a legitimate chance to compete with the Burlington Bees and dominate the rest of the Piedmont Division. The price to acquire Derrick was high, but we think you'll soon come to agree with us that he is well worth the investment.
Thank you for reading this support. Thank you for your continued support of the Patriots. And go, Greensboro, in 2011 and throughout this second decade of exciting NCFA football!
Sincerely,
Pat Apslund
Greensboro Patriots head coach
