Aug. 15, 2009

PHOTO GALLERY

Bronx, N.Y. - A day after their first practice in full pads, the 2009 Fordham University football Rams took the field for their first session of the first day of double-sessions of camp on Saturday. The Rams are gearing up for their first scrimmage of camp which will be held on Monday night at 8:00 p.m. on Jack Coffey Field.

The main message in this summer's camp is tempo. A passerby would think that the Rams are always being punished as they sprint all over the field on and after every play. But it's all in head coach Tom Masella's strategy to craft Fordham into the best conditioned team in the Patriot League. And being well conditioned will translate into the Rams being able to control the tempo of the game.

Another point being stressed at camp is the chemistry between the quarterbacks and the wide receivers. With six of their top eight receivers from 2008 returning, led by seniors Asa Lucas and Jason Caldwell along with juniors Stephen Skelton, David Moore and Jon Arnold, the Rams already have a good fit in the department. But every little bit helps.

"It started over the summer when the receivers and quarterbacks got together just about every day to practice seven-on-seven drills," said Lucas who led the Rams with 36 catches for 449 yards and three scores last fall. "The chemistry between us is very important and we work on it every day."

Another receiver who has plenty of experience with senior quarterback John Skelton is his younger brother, Stephen Skelton, a junior tight end.

"We worked out together every day back home in El Paso," said Stephen Skelton. "It's going to be more important this year that we're on the same page since I'm going to be out there a lot more."

Defensively, coordinator Patrick Moore, who is in his first year as coordinator after serving as linebackers coach the past two years, is also looking for his unit to control the rhythm of the game. As a result, the defense is also on the move as soon as each plays ends.

The big news on the defense was the move of James Crockett, who was named Second Team All-Patriot League at linebacker the past two years, to safety.

"We've got to keep concentrating on the small things and working to the best of our ability," said junior linebacker Andre Delaire, who led the team in tackles last year. "Putting James back in the secondary opened a spot at linebacker for Isaiah Leake, who proved that he can do the job back in the spring."

Notes: The Rams had their first practice in full pads on Friday afternoon and were expected to be in full pads for Saturday night's session... Five Rams have celebrated birthdays in camp, including three (Wendell Joly, Langston Lacroix and David Mendez) on the first day... The other birthday boys were twins Dozie Onyeabor and Namdi Onyeabor, who turned 20 on Friday.