Been kind of crazy for me personally lately, but thankfully Defranco’s is still keeping me going!  Had a great experience the other day meeting Dave Diehl from the NY Giants who recently retired last month.  Great player for the Giants and got 2 Superbowls with them, but even greater guy I'd have to say.  I usually make it a point to introduce myself to everyone and talk a little with them.  Before I even had the chance he came right up to me and introduced himself with a big smile.  I think that speaks volumes about the guy, 2 time Superbowl champ, pro bowler, etc. and he makes the time to come up to the intern all smiles to have a conversation.  That’s the type of athlete that comes through the Defranco’s doors though, if your too high and mighty and not a humble, real person you probably won't last long.  Really great guy.

Getting excited, tomorrow is the first day of Coach CJ and mine coaching sessions with the high school football team.  We've been working a lot on the project (more CJ than me because it is his program and former team) trying to get the best program together for the kids as we can.  We've split them into the younger, less experienced group and the true varsity group.  Each one has essentially the same program, but the younger guys will have the easier variations of exercise, with lots of unloaded squats and deadlifts to help them really dial in the form before we start loading them up.  We are taking a whole picture approach in terms of what we will be implementing in their program (vertical integration).  We'll be having them perform speed and power work, jumps, med ball throws, sprints, and of course some traditional weight training.  We really don't have to get much more complicated than that since they are so young and inexperienced that we believe they are going to respond pretty well regardless.  We're hoping to set them up long term where down the line the kids who stay in the program for a few years will have more advanced programs for improved results down the line. 

The Combine guys have their first regional pro days coming up this and next weekend.  Regional combines aren't necessarily as popular as college pro days, but will still have scouts attending.  Our goal for the athletes is to possibly make enough noise that they may get invited to another bigger combine in the following weeks.  However, first we are using this next 2 weeks as a test to see where the guys are at.  Since there will not be as much big time scout presence Coach CJ wants the guys to go out and do their best with out the extra pressure.  Because of this he hasn't progressed the athletes too far to peak them for this weekend, but has put it off until their big college combines in March.  Regardless the guys are getting a good amount of work in.  

Guys getting some donkey starts to work on taking off of both legs nice and strong, not just the drive leg.

Jump back starts- starting to progress further than the starts, these mimic the 20-30 yds, when the athlete is more upright.

The NFL guys are still getting after it.  This time until March will be the longest stretch these guys have with us so they are getting the most work they can.  Added a few more guys so we have a pretty decent sized crew now.  Joe is still using a conjugate style system with these guys to keep them explosive and strong.  Not too much sprinting right now but I'd imagine once the summer and preseason comes around he'll want them getting some reps in before camp.

On top of everything going on at Defranco's, had my initial interview for a new athletic facility opening up in NY.  Don't have a lot of info on the place as it is opening in the next few months.  However I think the first interview went well, more of a "behavioral type interview" which I've never heard of before.  My younger brother of all people helped me out though and pointed me in the right direction to get prepared.  I'll be hearing Sunday if I got what it takes to make it to the second of three rounds of interviews.  Hopefully I'll have some more good news next time for you.