By Andy WalterNEWARK — Danny Rocco thinks of his Delaware football roster as a “moving target.”
The Blue Hens’ coach just means that, in a world ruled by COVID-19 protocols, which players are cleared to practice at any given time is constantly evolving.
“It’s really day to day,” Rocco said before practice on Tuesday. “For a guy that prides himself on being very detailed and very organized. ... I’ve got to be able to recognize that what I put together at 8:30 in the morning might not fly at 3:30 in the afternoon.”
Such uncertainty at practice is one thing. But Delaware is getting ready to host Maine at noon on March 6 in its first real football game in about 16 months.
Having key players not cleared to play just before a game presents much more urgent problems for a coach.
Rocco said his staff has been doing more cross-training of players to try to prepare for any eventuality. Most of the time the players are just learning a fairly similar position. But Rocco said there have been a few “conversations and experiments” about moving a player from defense to offense, or vice versa.
“It’s going to be very much week to week,” he said. “You’ve got to assume that your opponents are dealing with something similar. But you don’t really know what they’re dealing with.
“I know within our roster, we’re really trying to be creative. And I think we started with it a while ago, probably even in the fall.”
Rocco said he’s even preparing the coaching staff for the possibility of having some of them miss games. He’s tried to make it so more of the coaches are able to call plays if need be.
The bottom line is that there’s a certain amount of mystery for every team playing spring football this year. Everyone’s been practicing against their own players for so long that they can’t really be sure how they stack up against another team.
“There’s more unknowns about your own team to some extent,” said Rocco. “And there’s more unknowns about your opponent. We’re certainly doing our due diligence and studying Maine. ... But then again, they might do something dramatically different.
“You’ve got to be a little more honed in on yourself I think — just in terms of ‘Are we where we need to be?’ It’s the old, control the things that you can control. In this environment right now, it’s less and less than what it’s been in the past.”
After an unprecedented long wait, though, the only way the Hens — or any other squad — are going to find out what they’ve got is to play a game again.
Finally.
“They’re excited to play,” Rocco said about his players. “It really feels like it has been forever.”
Henderson ready to go
The Maine game will be Nolan Henderson’s first time playing as Delaware’s full-time starting quarterback.
In the past two seasons, the Smyrna High grad has shared the job with Pat Kehoe.
Rocco said he likes what he’s seen from Henderson, who is considered a junior athletically.
“I think Nolan’s really good,” said Rocco. “I think he’s unique. He’s highly motivated, he’s very talented. He is chomping at the bit to really go out there and compete.”
But Rocco said he continues to be impressed with UD’s other quarterbacks, including East Carolina transfer Zach Gwynn from Salesianum, Anthony Paoletti and Cade Pribula. Considering the uncertainty of playing during a pandemic, Rocco said any one of them might end up contributing.
“They all bring a little something different to the table,” said Rocco. “I do think in a year where there’s a higher probability maybe that your starting quarterback doesn’t play every game, it’s nice to feel like we’ve got some different guys that can be ready in a week’s time or a second guy to go in a game.”
Extra points
Rocco said linebacker/end Colby Reeder won’t play against Maine. But Reeder, who missed the entire 2019 after having back surgery, is expected to play later in the spring ... Rocco said he’s been pleased with UD’s four freshman offensive linemen and expects them to play this spring. ... According to Rocco, the defensive line may be the deepest position on the squad.
