Welcome to Penn State, Coach Craig Fitzgerald. We'll cover his hiring in the "Meet the Coaches" series, but take a first look at the new Strength and Conditioning Coach here first.
4 months ago
Jeff Junstrom
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OK, here is my take on the sledgehammer
Stay with me here. Our line is going to open such huge wholes for Silas that it will basically be like a train is blowing through opposing defenses. So the hammering skills will come in handy when they are laying down the track. Its obvious, really.
That which we are, WE ARE...PENN STATE.
Forever.
by Nittany_Ryan on Jan 20, 2012 11:27 PM EST up reply actions 5 recs
The host is a real marble mouth
I can’t even tell if he has an accent or what the problem is. He’s like a King of the Hill character.
"WHY IS EVERYONE THE FREAKING STUPID?" BMAN13
Jeffrey Dexter Boomhauer III!
"Is that a shot at me? 'cause that makes me want to read it all the less."
We shall see
I loved the idea of HIT for Penn State but I dont think that Penn State ever used it properly for their offensive scheme.
Coach Fitz using different techniques = cool?? Ok I understand the tire flips, but the Sledge Hammer I dont get.
Last point I have is that HIT has been used for a while and correct me if Im wrong but wasnt HIT one of the main reasons why several current players decided to join PSU?? If so they might not appreciate the change.
No one went to PSU for HITS
I remember Kevin Jones was all set for PSU, his father met JT and sent the kid to VA Tech
http://www.pittsburghsportsreport.com/2003-Issues/psr0311/03110107.html
Sledgehammer is a good end of workout conditioning exercise.
May no act.................
by SweepTheLeg on Jan 20, 2012 11:38 PM EST up reply actions
OH come on.
We can’t be that willing to buy into that nonsense. The kid who INVENTED the classless move of picking up the jersey for the school he wasn’t attending to make everyone think he chose that school, only to throw it aside and pick another? You think he didn’t come here because of HIT? Bullshit. He didn’t come here because he knew he didn’t fit in and couldn’t get away with dickhead moves like the one he pulled at his press conference. Strength training was an excuse.
Leaders Co-Champions
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 20, 2012 11:49 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Thinking about it logically,
That workout sems to use all of your muscles at once, so it seems effective.
by misdreavus79 on Jan 20, 2012 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Seriously
Maybe he could even have them chop some wood. Sledge/axe will do much more for your core than a bunch of crunches ever will.
I, for one, plan to continue my life long contempt for the powers that be and I fully expect to be disappointed with whatever choice is made. ~PSUgirl
Fitz was inspired to use a sledge for strength training
when he saw Stephen Garcia doing community service on a chain gang.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 1:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
excerpt
Dave Kennedy is the head strength coach at Pitt, formerly of Ohio State . Kennedy acknowledges that there is a greater risk of injury with Olympic movements; yet his teams don’t use any machines.
“There is almost no chance of injury when you’re strapped in a machine,” he admits. “There is also nowhere near the reward from a machine.”
Former Penn State tight end Kyle Brady, now with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, trained using exclusively HIT at Penn State and does the same with the Jags. He cross-trains in the off-season with free weights and says the risk of injury can be easily minimized.
“We have trainers and strength coaches whose forte is kinesiology and human movement, and they help you pick up the proper techniques so you’re not hurting yourself,” Brady said.
Some former Penn State players now in the NFL have come under fire because they seemingly lack the strength of their peers, Brady being a notable exception. The St. Louis Rams made defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy their number 1 pick this season. Rams’ coach Mike Martz said of Kennedy on the eve of the regular season, “He needs to learn the speed and physicalness of the game. His strength just isn’t there yet.”
Penn State strength coach John Thomas, along with offensive line coaches Dick Anderson and Bill Kenney, did not respond to several interview requests for this story. Former Nittany Lion defensive lineman Michael Haynes, now with the Chicago Bears, also declined to discuss Penn State with PSR.
San Francisco 49er Anthony Adams, who played alongside Haynes and Kennedy on the Penn State d-line last season, said only, “As long as you’re working hard you’ll do okay, no matter what the system is.”
The Packers’ Rubin isn’t so sure.
“Take two equal people and work one on HIT and the other on Olympic movements and free weights for three months each,” Rubin offers. “In the end, the Olympic person will be the better, more athletic, more explosive player. There really is no question about it.”
The question, “What is wrong with the Lions?” is still valid: although the answer may not be too far away.
In fact, it may be as close as the weight room.
May no act.................
AGENDA.
How come the article doesn’t mention the many dozens of other programs that use it in CFB, as well as all the NFL players that do? Strange, the media leaving one side of the story out.
Leaders Co-Champions
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 20, 2012 11:54 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Some pro teams use HITS...I just think Olympic is better for pure power.
Mix in some HITS good program….need Olympic style for strength.
My bud wrote a nice article on Olympic and Crossfit http://www.fletcforum.com/2010/08/10/why-olympic-lift-for-fletc/
May no act.................
by SweepTheLeg on Jan 21, 2012 12:01 AM EST up reply actions
How are there only two programs for weight lifting/strength training?
Like I said in the John Thomas article, I have zero knowledge of this stuff. But are there really only two options? HIT or “Olympic”?
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Black Shoe Diaries
SBN - Pittsburgh
Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 21, 2012 12:07 AM EST up reply actions
It's a false dichotomy.
HIT and “olympic lifting” are definitely not the only two options, nor are they incompatible with one another. People get too hung up on a program or one facet of a program and forget to look at the principles underlying the methods. For instance, somewhat recent research has investigated the power production of hang cleans vs. jump shrugs and high pulls (broken down, easier to teach variations of a clean) and showed that you don’t need to perform a full clean with the catch to train power of the posterior chain. This has influenced a lot of the coaches that I know as teaching a jump shrug is so much easier than teaching a good clean when working with large numbers of athletes (side note: olympic lifts are not dangerous at all, just technical. huge difference there). Does this mean there needs to be a “jump shrug program”? Not at all, it’s just another tool in the toolbox. The best coaches wrt program design think in terms of principles and physical qualities, not specific methods and catch-all programs.
Fair point.
Most professional players probably use multiple training styles. I just think our problems our more position coaching related than strength training.
I’m quite willing to bet that different individuals, different positions etc all respond differently to a training routine. As long as college restricts the number of coaches and everyone has to essentially follow the same routine, a certain percentage of players or positions will not get the most out of the program. You can’t custom desing a workout for each player like professionals can. But I don’t think you can accuse too many players of being not physically capable of handling the game at this level. It’s more about coaching and executing, in my opinion.
Leaders Co-Champions
by PSUinBOSSton on Jan 21, 2012 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
HIT
First time poster long time follower and PSU alum from ‘02. First off I love HIT as I use the same strategy myself but I don’t think it should be used for lineman. Think about the movements. Do o or d lineman need to be able to drive over and over or just sustain one physical push? You never see an lineman push the opposing player 20-25 times in one play. It’s all about getting a hold of the opposition and driving as hard as you can. HIT may work for skill players but not all.
by SpecialAgentJohnnyUtah on Jan 21, 2012 1:08 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Welcome aboard, SAJU!
You’ll soon get addicted to posting, just like the rest of us . . . .
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Welcome.
And agreed. Though I admittedly know less than zero about strength training (made it to day 4 in P90X, though), it seems you want your linemen to be the muscle-y type, while the skill positions could presumably work with something like HIT.
___
Black Shoe Diaries
SBN - Pittsburgh
Success With Honor
by Jeff Junstrom on Jan 21, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions
Take a look at an O-lineman and a WR/RB type of body type.
They are both very skilled athletes but obviously different body types and perform different missions on the field. HITs is excellent for the “skilled position” (hate that term) but for an O or D lineman, short bursts of explosive power are needed and will only come via Olympic style movements of weight training.
That being said the human body can adapt easily to certain types of workouts so supplementing HIT based training for conditioning is smart.
Personal example…I always performed Olympic style lifts in my personal workouts. When I was in training for the Secret Service we rarely picked up a weight, everything was body weight based (push/pull/sit up, burpees, box jumps, air squats, prowlers sleds, etc) and I was in awesome shape.
Post training we all moved back into the gym, most of us lost about 20% of our strength. Fighting to place someone in cuffs is tough, you want to be explosive and dominate that subject….not wrestle for 10 mins.
Same concept for O-line, short burst of intense power where you can kick the crap out of adversary. If you crush them with brute force by the 4th quarter they are already walking wounded.
BTW – I am not doubting a JT workout is insane, I would probably be puking my guts out after 20 mins….just saying that style is not best for the mission of playing FB
May no act.................
by SweepTheLeg on Jan 21, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
might explain why...
PSU’s line never seems to just blow people off the ball. You make great points.
I don’t think one single method is better than any other. It depends on what an individual responds to. I do think some agility training is good for offensive lineman. Footwork and lateral movement is important. You need to combine explosive power with the ability to have the endurance to kick out and pull in the 4th Quarter.
"Each one hopes that if he feeds the crocodile enough, the crocodile will eat him last"
by Esteban d' Amur on Jan 21, 2012 11:29 AM EST up reply actions
That's why I kind of agree with STL
Use a mix of different workouts. HIT is great for endurance, use that for the guys on the team that need to be able to run forever. For the trenches, you need to have explosive power for about 3-5 seconds on most plays. In that case, Olympic style would be the best.
I, for one, plan to continue my life long contempt for the powers that be and I fully expect to be disappointed with whatever choice is made. ~PSUgirl
I have a short burst of movement for 45-120 seconds...wife loves it.
That is normal right?
May no act.................
by SweepTheLeg on Jan 21, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions
He said seconds, not minutes
Sorry guys
That which we are, WE ARE...PENN STATE.
Forever.
by Nittany_Ryan on Jan 21, 2012 1:09 PM EST up reply actions
if it were minutes there'd better be a tv or something to watch.
by smh244 on Jan 21, 2012 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
"Please see a doctor if
your erection last more than four hours." — Cialis advice.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!? I am putting that thing to good use if it lasts that long!!
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
At my age, four minutes is a "winner".
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 3:11 PM EST up reply actions
I have a feeling I'm gonna get flagged for this
But whatever, it’s a Saturday
That which we are, WE ARE...PENN STATE.
Forever.
by Nittany_Ryan on Jan 21, 2012 3:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
wait a minute....
I thought Johnny Utah was from Ohio State… and blew out his knee in the rose bowl…
All of our comments are irrelevant - LetsGoPSU
Kevin Jones was worthless
Not a team guy. He said he preferred the ACC because it was easier. No NFL career to speak of.
We had Larry Johnson. Anger management problems, yes, but he never backed down from the challenge. Then Austin Scott and Tony Hunt then Royster then Silas Redd. We don’t need head case backs. We can always seem to find a good one.
It stands to reason that they’d use machines in the season because they’re safer, but using them all the time would seem to be limiting
My trainer has got me into free weights and dead lifts, even as a beginner, because you can work more muscles together. I find it more satisfying than machines.
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 1:34 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Austin Scott
Was a head case and a bad example. Could have been so much better and didn’t end well
by SpecialAgentJohnnyUtah on Jan 21, 2012 1:40 AM EST reply actions
I went to high school with Ethan Kilmer
I beg to differ that we don’t have room for dickheads at Penn State.
To be fair, almost everyone is a dickhead in high school...
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 10:41 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I should have qualified that.
He was more of a dickhead than most.
But he made that catch against FSU
SO he’s got that going for him…
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 1:42 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
most of these kids have ego problems.
meeting a humble football star is rare these days.
keep winning ugly
I find it interesting that you'd say that
Two of Ethan Kilmer’s best friends live in my town (I think you probably went to high school with one of them… think that’s how he knows Kilmer), and they are really really nice people. They’re PSU proud even though neither attended PSU.
- BSD Bunnymaster (Thanks Paige)
- The only Adam on this blog who doesn't actually write for it.
I knew Ethan in school
Thought he was a pretty good dude.
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
everybody's gotta grow up i spose.
There’s plenty of people (myself included) that’d say i’m a better person now than i was then.
HIT vs. Olympic aside,
there’s nothing wrong with new blood in the weight room. JT is a quality guy. Fitzgerald seems to be one too.
Fitz was at South Carolina?
Will we soon have SSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEECCCCCCCC speed?
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 10:14 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Seems like a guy who knows what he's doing and got results.
He nails one important criterion for a strength coach, which is to sound like his vocal cords are about to crumble into dust at any moment. I’d be interested to hear his views on bleeding:
On a more serious not: I think all the talk about this or that workout “style” being the best is misplaced. Don’t you get the best results by varying your regimen?
I liked the sound of the dude's general strategy
Cael Sanderson always says that the best workouts for improving fitness for wrestling is actually wrestling. Getting Olineman to workout from their feet and not from their back sounds similar.
/heads to Lowest to buy a sledgehammer & a tire.
jtothetweet
They don't even bind feet in China anymore, mostly.
JtotheP, grab me a pitchfork
while you are there, will ya? Still pissed at the BoT and their sniveling.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I like the one on the right.
Just right for skewering some of the stouter Board members.
“I bet you can squeal like a pig.”
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 2:08 PM EST up reply actions
Is this going to be our new o-line meme picture?
"Every player we have, someone-maybe a parent, a grandparent, someone-poured their soul into that young man. They are handing that young man off to us. They are giving us their treasure, and it's our job to make sure we give them back that young man intact and ready to face the world."
-J.V.Pa.
I want a big tire!
But the only place I could put it is my back yard and I’m afraid it would roll down the hill into the park and run over a child.
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 1:44 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Stand at the bottom of the hill with a child right behind you,
and have someone roll the tire down to you. Save the child and push the tire back up the hill = 1 rep.
by Salt on Jan 21, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Better, line up ten kids in a bowling pattern.
Your workout is over when you bowl a 300 game.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
OMG PENN STATE DOESN"T CARE ABOUT CHILDREN!!!!!
That which we are, WE ARE...PENN STATE.
Forever.
by Nittany_Ryan on Jan 21, 2012 3:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
If they pay full tuition,
we do.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 3:57 PM EST up reply actions
You gotta get a tractor tire.
One with the calcium chloride still in it.
Where does one acquire such a tire?
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 4:31 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Lots of folks here in North Carolina
have tractor-trailer tires, painted white, in the front yards of their single-wides. I can grab one of those for ya.
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 4:52 PM EST up reply actions
Important Q, J Breezy:
John Deere, Massey-Ferguson, or . . . . ??
"Make haste to reassure us, I beg you, and tell us that our fellow citizens understand us, support us, and protect us as we ourselves are protecting the glory of the Empire.
"If it should be otherwise, if we should have to leave our bleached bones on these desert sands in vain, then beware the fury of the Legions."
by PSU_Lions_84 on Jan 21, 2012 6:07 PM EST up reply actions
Allis-Chalmers FTW.
What the hell just happened?
by Pete the Streak on Jan 21, 2012 9:23 PM EST up reply actions
Hearing that Joe Paterno is VERY ill
And his family is being summoned to the hospital, any news up there?
It looks bad, very bad
If you are so inclined, please pray for the Paternos. If you’re not so inclined, now might be a good time to make an exception.
Adam Talliferro tweeted simply “Praying.” and MRob tweeted “I am sad today.” He usually tweets uplifting Bible verses or analysis of NFL games.
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 6:25 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Sad day
in the PSU family if he indeed dies. Twitter guys I follow say he was given last rites and family called to hospital by Sue. Thoughts and prayers to the Paterno family during this sad time.
I know his health is the issue here but a small part of me will say the BOT did this to him.
I’ll be crying again for sure, just like that horrible night back in November.
Not sure how to say this
But a lot of these reports aren’t reliable.
I’m praying for best but fearing the worst.
by reedjohnmiller on Jan 21, 2012 7:03 PM EST via mobile reply actions
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