A Look Inside the Grind at Ignition

Ignition Announces 2012 NFL Rookie Class

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 02 May 2012 02:07:00 +0000

Ignition is proud to announce the 2012 NFL Rookie Class. These rookies will join 80 other NFL Veteran players from Team Ignition currently playing in the National Football League. We would like to congratulate each player, their families, agents, and coaches on a dream come true. 1. John Hughes – Cincinnati, Cleveland Browns (3rd) 2. Andrew Tiller – Syracuse, New Orleans Saints (6th) 3. Winston Guy – Kentucky, Seattle Seahawks (6th) 4. Chas Alecxih – PITT, Miami Dolphins (CFA) 5. Buddy Jackson – PITT, Indianapolis Colts (CFA) 6. Max Gruder – PITT, Atlanta Falcons (CFA) 7. Alfred McCullough – Alabama, Baltimore Ravens (CFA) 8. Justin Francis – Rutgers, New England Patriots (CFA) 9. *Gary Gray – Notre Dame, Detroit Lions 10. Aaron Henry – Rutgers, Oakland Raiders (CFA) 11. Ronnie Sneed – Kentucky, Detroit Lions (CFA) 12. Mike Shaw – Michigan, Washington Redskins (CFA) 13. Ben Bojicic – Bowling Green, Cincinnati Bengals (CFA) 14. Derrius Brooks – Western Kentucky, Cincinnati Bengals (CFA) 15. Chris Givens – Miami of Ohio, New Orleans Saints (CFA) 16. Zach Collaros – Cincinnati, Tampa Bay Bucs (CFA) *Rookie Mini Camp Tryout The following NFL Rookies are currently participating in the Ignition NFL Off-Season Program. These athletes began training in the facility after the NFL Combine. 1. Luke Kuechly – Boston College, Carolina Panthers (1st #9 overall pick) 2. Jerel Worthy – Michigan State, Green Bay Packers (2nd #51 overall pick) 3. Gregg Scruggs – Louisville, Seattle Seahawks (7th) 4. Ben Martin – Tennessee (UFA) 5. *Josh Chichester – Louisville, Cincinnati Bengals

Winston Guy, pick #181, 2012 NFL Draft

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Congratulations to Winston Guy, DB from the University of Kentucky,who is headed to the Seattle Seahawks. Guy was the Southeastern Conference’s third-leading tackler with 120 stops last season as a Safety. The Lexington native is the first player from any of the state’s schools to be drafted this year.

Andrew Tiller, Pick #179, 2012 NFL Draft

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Congratulations to Andrew Tiller,#TEAMIGNITION, was taken as pick #179 over the weekend at the NFL Draft. Tiller, Syracuse Guard, is headed to the New Orleans Saints. The 6-foot-4, 324-pound Tiller started every game the past two seasons for the Orange and was named first-team All-Big East last season.

Day 3, 2012 NFL DRAFT #TEAMIGNITION

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:22:00 +0000

The final day of the 2012 NFL Draft is today, April 28th. Best of luck to #TEAMIGNITION.

JOHN HUGHES, 87TH PICK IN THE 2012 NFL DRAFT #TEAMIGNITION

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 17:16:00 +0000

Browns select Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes in 3rd round of NFL draft. BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have selected Cincinnati defensive tackle John Hughes in the third round of the NFL draft. Instead of adding depth at wide receiver and passing on some possible targets for new quarterback Brandon Weeden earlier in the round, the Browns traded the No. 67 pick to Denver to drop 20 spots and get Hughes, a 6-foot-2, 309-pound run stopper. (Associated Press / washingtonpost.com)

NFL Draft 2012: Zach Collaros #TeamIgnition #UCBearcats

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:55:00 +0000

When the cart came for Zach Collaros on the Paul Brown Stadium field last November, Collaros was pretty sure of a couple things. That his ankle was broken. And that his football career was over. "I cried on the field," Collaros said. "I really thought it was my last time playing football, and it was emotional for me. I love the game. Later when I found out I'd have a chance to come back, I was going to make the most of it. I have to credit our training staff (at the University of Cincinnati) for helping me. "I'm just grateful I got one last chance in the bowl game. After that, I gave it some thought and decided to give this a shot. I didn't want to look back 20 years from now and regret not giving the NFL a go." He's beat the odds before, and his quicker than expected return to start at quarterback in Cincinnati's Liberty Bowl win over Vanderbilt provided a fitting end to a remarkable college career. A guy who had just one other football scholarship offer, from Kent State, and originally planned to play college baseball ended up helping Cincinnati to an unbeaten regular season and Big East title in 2009 and accounting for 57 total touchdowns over his final three seasons. This week marks the start of the next stage of Collaros' career in football, whatever it may be. He's a late-round prospect in the NFL Draft, probably a longshot to be drafted, and hopeful he'll be in some NFL team's rookie minicamp in early May. His future, eventually, is going to be in coaching, but he wants the first headset he wears to be that of an NFL quarterback talking to his offensive coordinator. "Being counted out or not being on top of anybody's draft list, my track record says that's not going to bother me," Collaros said. "I went through the same thing coming out of high school. I've always used it as motivation. Lots of people have doubted my abilities, but I've never been one of them." "I debated back (in December and January) about what was going to be next for me. I've talked to Coach (Butch) Jones about my future and I decided to go through this process. Coach Jones told me this would be a very helpful thing, meeting people and seeing the NFL up close. "This whole thing will be good for me, long term, no matter what happens. But I definitely want to keep playing. Wearing an NFL uniform has always been a dream." Collaros said he'll watch Thursday night's first round of the draft like he always has. By the time Saturday and the final four rounds come he plans to be home in Steubenville, surrounded by friends and family and awaiting whatever call might come his way. From January until Cincinnati's formal pro day in early March, Collaros trained at Ignition at Cincinnati with many of his former UC teammates. Since then, he's been working out on campus, throwing with former Bearcats and current Bengals receivers Armon Binns and Vidal Hazelton. Collaros knows he's a spread-offense, read-option quarterback who's now being evaluated and projected by NFL standards. Though he said he's "probably too slow" to attempt a position change, he's not afraid to put his helmet on and line up wherever he's asked -- just as long as some NFL team will provide the helmet and the chance. He played both quarterback and safety on two state championship teams at Steubenville High School, and he ran for 16 touchdowns in his college career, including 8 last season. He measured at 5-foot-11 and 3/4 at Cincinnati's pro day, and he's weighing anywhere between 216 and 220. He's been in contact with "six or seven teams" over the last month or so, swapping draft-day contact information and throwing to former UC tight end Adrien Robinson in pre-draft workouts when NFL teams have asked. "I don't want to say which teams I've talked to; I don't want to jinx it in case any of them actually like me," he joked. "I just try to stay optimistic and hope for an opportunity. "The scouts I've talked with have been pretty straightforward with me about things. I know I'm a little under 6-foot and that's too small for a lot of teams, but it only takes one. They all know how much I love the game of football. I'm just excited for whatever opportunities football still has for me." (foxsportsohio.com) *Good Luck Zach at the NFL Draft this weekend

NFL Draft: Immokalee's Aaron Henry eager to begin next stage of his life

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 16:48:00 +0000

NAPLES — As a high school player, he shied away from the spotlight while teammates like Javarris James and Brian Rolle were recognized around the country as big-time recruits. On signing day his decision to attend Wisconsin was met with little fanfare locally. But this week, try as he might, 2007 Immokalee High School graduate Aaron Henry can’t hide from the attention. Henry is the only player with Collier County ties likely to be selected in this year’s NFL Draft. But whether he’s selected in the third round or not selected at all, Henry is handling the process with his typical brand of positivity. “No matter where I go I’m in a win-win situation,” Henry said. “How many guys that you know are on the brink of an NFL career? So I don’t worry about projecting about where I’m going to go or anything like that. ... For me it’s going to be like Christmas.” As the defensive back has gone through the draft process, he finds himself in a typical position: overlooked. Despite being projected by many to be a mid-range draft pick, Henry wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine in February. And while a number of teams attended Henry’s pro day in March, he didn’t take any visits to team facilities during the draft process. Henry’s close friend and former IHS teammate Brian Rolle — now of the Philadelphia Eagles — said teams are making the same mistake from their Immokalee days in underestimating Henry’s ability. “Aaron has that desire that every coach wants in a player,” Rolle said. “His skill set is second-to-none, he can go after the ball, play man-to-man, do anything. I see him as a guy that will come in and make the team he plays for better.” Henry spent the first three seasons of his career at Wisconsin playing cornerback before moving to safety for his senior season. ESPN draft guru Todd McShay said Henry’s versatility should help his chances of being selected this weekend. “I think he’s versatile and you when watch him on tape he makes some plays,” McShay said. “He can come up and support the run and when you look at his body of work, his experience playing, I think he can come in and contribute right away on special teams.” Henry’s high school coach at Immokalee, John Weber, said McShay is onto something he’s known since Henry’s sophomore year with the Indians. “Aaron has always been the type of kid that just goes out and does his job,” Weber said. “Whatever you ask him to do, he’s going to do it well and not say anything about it. When he played for us he did so many things, offense, defense, special teams and great attitude to go with it.” Henry credits his grandparents who raised him, Albert and Margaret Lee, for instilling a work ethic in him at a young age. When Henry left his mother’s home to move in with his grandparents at age 9, he was illiterate. In December, he graduated from Wisconsin with a business degree. “My grandfather made sure the lights were on and the bills were paid and kept everything running on the outside,” Henry said. “But inside the house, my grandmother was in charge, she was like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in one when it came to making sure I kept my focus on school and my education.” Rather than hold a draft party at their family home in Immokalee this weekend, Margaret Lee will instead hold a belated graduation party for Henry, who is back in Southwest Florida while he waits to learn his draft fate. “The thing that makes me the proudest is the fact the he finished his degree,” Lee said. “However the draft goes, it doesn’t matter. He has that degree and nobody can ever take that away from him.” Even if Henry isn’t picked, he’s likely to be scooped up as a free agent following the draft. But if for some reason teams don’t show interest, Henry isn’t putting all his eggs in one basket. Only when talking about his life away from football does Henry shed his textbook humbleness. “I think with my credentials and my work ethic I’m going to have success regardless,” Henry said. “A lot times guys are so focused on making the NFL, but when they don’t make it, is that the end? My mind-set has always been there’s more than one way to be millionaire, ... and even if it’s not on the football field, I plan on being a success.” Article posted on Naples Daily News by Woody Wommack *Good luck Aaron Henry on the NFL Draft this weekend

Draft updates. This is a test.

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 19:41:00 +0000

This is a test. We will be publishing updates throughout the draft.

Cincinnati Sports Academy Soccer Team completes IGNITION Training

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Over 200 athletes from the CSA Soccer Academy participated in a speed, agility and quickness program at Ignition this winter. The athletes worked out each Monday for 10 weeks with the Performance staff led by Ted Borgerding. We thank CSA for a great group of athletes and we look forward to a strong partnership in the coming years. Stronger, faster, better at Ignition.

Western Kentucky NFL Prospect Derrius Brooks Runs 4.29 at Pro Day

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:29:00 +0000

Derrius Brooks who has spent time in Cincinnati at Ignition training for his NFL Pro Day ran a verified 4.29 forty yard dash. His verified 4.29 40 yard dash would rank as the fastest player at the 2012 NFL Combine. Congrats to Derrius on his strong performance. Read the article from wkusports.com on Derrius’s strong performance below.

http://www.wkusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=28825&SPID=2242&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=205394271&DB_OEM_ID=5400

Jackson Shocks NFL Scouts at PITT Panthers Pro Day

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Buddy Jackson a Cornerback from Pittsburgh and a 2012 NFL Draft Prospect shocked NFL Scouts and Coaches on Monday March 12th at the annual Panthers Pro Day. Jackson who has spent the last six weeks in training at Ignition APG in Naples Florida made history and broke an all time NFL Combine Record by posting an amazing 11.8 inch broad jump. His forty time of a 4.26 ranks as one of the fastest verified forty times this year. Jackson timed between a 4.26 and a 4,33 on his two runs for scouts. We give thanks to God for the athletic ability that Buddy has been blessed with and we congratulate Buddy on his record breaking accomplishments. Take a look at the improvements Buddy made during his training at Ignition for his NFL Pro Day.

Bodyweight added 11 pounds of lean muscle mass.
Pre Test > 176
Pro Day > 187

Bench Press increased by 11 repetitions.
Pre Test > 6
Pro Day > 15

Vertical Jump increased by three inches.
Pre Test > 37
Post Test > 40

Broad Jump increased by 9 inches.
Pre Test >10.11
Post Test > 11.8 (All Time NFL Combine Record)

40 Yard Dash decreased by nearly two tenths of a second.
Pre Test > 4.45
Post Test > 4.26 (Fastest 40 yard dash of 2012)

Pro Agility decreased by 3.6 tenths of a second.
Pre Test > 4.36
Post Test > 4.00

Road to Pro Football takes a path through SWFL

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:58:00 +0000

WINK NEWS TV, Mike Walcher

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- The road to the National Football League is cutting through Southwest Florida. Some top college football players are gathering in Collier County for an intensive training camp. The goal: a better chance at making the NFL.

"Oh man, to come from Immokalee and to have this dream your entire life, and now to have a chance to make it reality, it is utterly amazing," said Aaron Henry, an Immokalee High graduate who played football at the Univ. of Wisconsin. "I want to work on my times and skills and show the NFL coaches what I can do. I am really excited."

Henry and other players are working out six days at week in Collier, under the guidance of Ignition Athletic Performance Group of Ohio.

"I came here to be humble, hard-working and coachable. I am just trying to be the best that I can be," said Buddy Jackson, who played at the Univ. of Pittsburgh.

Agents for the players pay an average of 10-thousand dollars for each young man to participate in the training. The players stay in a hotel in the Naples area and use Jason's deli and a catering service for meals.

"It does help the local economy. We also have the players use local spa's and doctors," said Clif Marshall, who runs the training operation for Ignition. The company pays Collier County for the use of a field at North Collier Regional Park and for weight-lifting access at a building on the park grounds. Players also have access to swimming pools at Barron-Collier High School.

"I am so happy to help these players. If we can cut hundredths of a second off their drill times or their dash times, we can help the young man make a lot of money," said Marshall.

"We train the body, mind and spirit, and it takes determination and discipline to do all those things. But it seems to help the players, who may be anxious about what is going to happen next in their lives," added Marshall.

Many of the players will head to Indianopolis next week for the NFL Combine. That's an event where coaches and scouts interview players and then time their drills and check their strength in lifting weights. The NFL draft occurs in April.

Copy and Paste link for full video: LEE COUNTY, Fla.- The road to the National Football League is cutting through Southwest Florida. Some top college football players are gathering in Collier County for an intensive training camp. The goal: a better chance at making the NFL.

"Oh man, to come from Immokalee and to have this dream your entire life, and now to have a chance to make it reality, it is utterly amazing," said Aaron Henry, an Immokalee High graduate who played football at the Univ. of Wisconsin. "I want to work on my times and skills and show the NFL coaches what I can do. I am really excited."

Henry and other players are working out six days at week in Collier, under the guidance of Ignition Athletic Performance Group of Ohio.

"I came here to be humble, hard-working and coachable. I am just trying to be the best that I can be," said Buddy Jackson, who played at the Univ. of Pittsburgh.

Agents for the players pay an average of 10-thousand dollars for each young man to participate in the training. The players stay in a hotel in the Naples area and use Jason's deli and a catering service for meals.

"It does help the local economy. We also have the players use local spa's and doctors," said Clif Marshall, who runs the training operation for Ignition. The company pays Collier County for the use of a field at North Collier Regional Park and for weight-lifting access at a building on the park grounds. Players also have access to swimming pools at Barron-Collier High School.

"I am so happy to help these players. If we can cut hundredths of a second off their drill times or their dash times, we can help the young man make a lot of money," said Marshall.

"We train the body, mind and spirit, and it takes determination and discipline to do all those things. But it seems to help the players, who may be anxious about what is going to happen next in their lives," added Marshall.

Many of the players will head to Indianopolis next week for the NFL Combine. That's an event where coaches and scouts interview players and then time their drills and check their strength in lifting weights. The NFL draft occurs in April.

Copy and Paste link to see video coverage:
http://www.winknews.com/Local-Florida/2012-02-14/Road-to-Pro-Football-Takes-a-Path-through-SW-Florida

IGNITION athletes are being represented in the 2012 SUPER BOWL!

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Congrats to these guys who are on their way to the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Devin McCourty and Dorin Dickerson, Ignition Draft Class 2010. Glory to GOD!

Ignition athlete and Bengal standout is headed to the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Bengals Defensive Tackle Geno Atkins is going to the 2012 NFL Pro Bowl. We are glad he is enjoying the fruits of his labor from his hard work in the off season. Praise GOD!

Ignition® Launches 2012 NFL® Combine Training in Naples, FL

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

NAPLES, January 19, 2012 — Ignition® Athletic Performance Group announced today that its NFL® combine training program in Naples, FL is officially underway. The nationally recognized combine prep program has produced 21 players on active NFL Rosters over the last two years including Florida Teams Miami Dolphins®, Tampa Bay Buccaneers® and Jacksonville Jaguars®.

Athletes from the Nation’s top collegiate football programs have enlisted in Ignition Combine Training to prepare for the most important job interview of their lives: the NFL Combine. The 10-week program is designed to improve the athlete’s speed, strength and skills specific to the testing at the scouting combine. Now in its seventh year of combine prep, Ignition APG operates out of two locations and serves as an ongoing training partner to more than 130 athletes who have played in the NFL. Ignition APG Performance Director Clif Marshall heads up NFL Combine training in Naples, Fl.

“We feel incredibly blessed to work with the nation’s top professional and collegiate talent year after year,” said coach Marshall. “It is exceptionally gratifying to see guys from our previous training classes as stand out performers in their NFL seasons and playoffs,” Marshall stated. “These guys become like family to us.”

As in previous years, the Ignition Florida recruits will be utilizing North Collier Regional Park, Barron Collier High School and Real Fitness – A CrossFit Gym for portions of their training. Ignition’s chosen hotel, Staybridge Suites – Naples, along with Jason's Deli, Matthews and Gardner Catering, Spa 41, Dr. Kevin Myrmo Chiropractic, Performance Physical Therapy and Bala Vin Yasa Yoga Studio are local sponsors to our program.

About Ignition
Ignition Athletic Performance Group is an elite training partner offering programs and services for professional, amateur, collegiate and scholastic athletes. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio with satellite locations including Naples, Florida, Ignition has produced 15 NFL® Draft Picks, including Devin McCourty: 1st round in the 2010 NFL Draft and 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Recipient. Ignition also produced the Fastest Offensive Player at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine, Edmond Gates, Miami Dolphins. More information can be found at www.ignitionapg.com and www.ignitionapg.com/combine.

IGNITION NFL standout, Corey Peters, uses the platform that GOD has blessed him with!

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 18:02:00 +0000

Corey Peters in action here earlier
this season against the Detroit Lions. AP

Atlanta Falcons,Corey Peters,named Falcons’ NFL man of the year.

Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters was selected as the team’s nominee for the 2011Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award on Monday during a banquet at the Commerce Club.

“This award means a great deal to me,” said Peters. “There were plenty of my teammates that were so deserving of this award and for the Falcons to select me is very humbling.”

Peters has spent almost every week during the season participating and engaging in different community initiatives.

He’s worked with the Atlanta Fire Department, breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, AirTran, Make-A-Wish Foundation and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Since 1970, the NFL has awarded the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award to recognize a player’s off-the-field community service as well as his playing excellence. Each club is responsible for selecting their own nominee while the 2011 national Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year winner will be selected by a blue ribbon panel and recognized on field before kickoff of the Super Bowl.

The Atlanta Falcons Blog / December 6, 2011, by D. Orlando Ledbetter

IGNITION CINCINNATI UPDATES FACILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:49:00 +0000

Thanks be to GOD, for the expansion at Ignition APG in Cincinnati that is currently under progress. With this expansion comes new locker rooms, showers, hot & cold tubs, massage, chiro & physical therapy area, meeting rooms, players lounge, and a nutritional lab. Your one stop shop for improving athletic performance. Stop by and see us today or continue to follow the expansion progress on IGNITION APG facebook or blogger.
CUSTOMER LOBBY

ATHLETE / PLAYERS LOUNGE

HEALTH SERVICES AREA

PHYSICAL THERAPY AREA (PT will be on site full time)

EXPANDED WEIGHT ROOM

MLB Standout begins workouts at Ignition

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Coming off a strong rookie season in the MLB, Josh Harrison is back at Ignition getting ready for his 2012 season. Stronger, Faster, Better #PIRATES #UCBEARCATS

Team Ignition athlete, former Cincinnati Bearcat and Houston Texan Connor Barwin named AFC Defensive Player of the Month

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:46:00 +0000

Houston Texans OLB Connor Barwin Named AFC Defensive Player Of The Month
www.battleredblog.com

Interns begin work at Ignition

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Ted Borgerding with coaching interns from China, who are learning about the Ignition Training System. Praise God for enlarging our territory. #TeamIgnitionChina

Weight Room Safety; Never Sacrifice Form for Heavy Weight

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 16:56:00 +0000

Never sacrificing form for heavy weight is like saying “quality over quantity.” As a society, we tend to recognize our success with numbers. This is also true in the weight room. Big numbers mean that you must be a good lifter. However, big numbers in the weight room only measure one thing. In an unsupervised training session, there usually isn’t as much attention to how well you complete the lift. For a lot of people, deadlifting 400 lbs looks great on a strength card or piece of paper, but what if the form of the deadlift consisted of a rounded back and the knees locked before the shoulders came up? Then this person most likely shouldn’t be deadlifting 400 lbs. Making sure that the quality of the movement is mastered before actually training the movement can be the difference between performance enhancement and injury. Jumping weight too quickly and letting form break down will do way more damage than good.

It starts with the assessment of the athlete and how they move before the onset of activity. We use the FMS (Functional Movement Screen) with some of our athletes to get to know what their movement patterns are like right off the bat. You can get to know a lot about your athlete by just learning how they move. There are even things to learn about an athlete’s warm up and their quality of movement and/or stability. Assessing athletes at the beginning of their first session will not only give you valuable information about their developmental level and movement patterns, but it also gives you a chance to get to know your athlete. After assessing that the athlete has the mobility and stability to perform the exercise, it comes down to discipline and accountability that the athlete is maintaining proper form and technique. For example, we stay with relatively light weight for Olympic lifts so that the emphasis is not on the weight itself, but on the speed and quality of the movement.

Numerical goals are still very important to set in the weight room. Along with feeling stronger, it is important and motivating for athletes to see their numbers going up. However, there is a time and place for that. Once the movement is learned and there are no limitations that increase the risk of injury - train it and set goals. Never sacrifice form for heavy weight. Train hard, train smart.

By: Ben Creamer CSCS, USAW

12 SIMPLE KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL STRENGTH PROGRAM

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:05:00 +0000

1.Never sacrifice form for heavy weight.
2. Start at the hip and workout everyday in the weight room.
3. Train in the weight room to be fast on the field. (Ground based movements)
4. Train fast twitch muscle fibers using triple extension of the ankle, knee and hip. (Olympic movements)
5. Work opposite muscle groups equally. For every push (bench press) do a pull (pull-ups). For every set of a quad exercise (front squats), do a hamstring exercise (RDL)
6. Have a strategic plan that will allow athletes to get stronger and to add lean muscle mass. (A periodization that implements progressive overload)
7. Train movement patterns, not just muscles (push, pull, rotate, lunge, and squat)
8. Explain your theory, mission and philosophy to your athletes so they will “buy in” to the program.
9. Train muscles with the “Time Under Tension” theory. Try a 3 second negative (down) and a 1 second concentric (up) and work it through the full range of motion.
10. Train unilateral exercises (single arm, single leg movements)
11. Use a pre and post test evaluation for your athletes to show marked improvements in strength and power gains.
12. Set Performance Goals for each athlete and help them to reach those goals by breaking down barriers.
By: Clif Marshall MA, CSCS,

BOBBIE WILLIAMS EAGER FOR HIS RETURN

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 13:01:00 +0000

With his hearty laugh and engaging smile, Bobbie Williams looked like a man ready to make up for lost time on Wednesday.

The veteran right guard missed the first four games after violating the league's policy on performance enhancing substances, which ended up being an over-the-counter diuretic.

Williams, though, said there was one person to blame for the situation - himself. The positive test came before the lockout, but Williams did not know his appeal was denied until after the final preseason game.

"We're responsible for what goes in our body. The whole thing could have easily been avoided," Williams said. "You live and you learn and it cost me four games with my teammates. The good thing about it is I was given this opportunity to come back and make good."

He was also determined not to let it wreck his season.

Working out for the past four weeks with Clif Marshall at Ignition, Williams went through three-hour conditioning sessions five days a week. Williams is down to 329 pounds, the lightest he has been since entering the league in 2000 with Philadelphia.

Williams also followed a new nutrition plan that also helped him lose weight.

"The first thing I said when this happened was I was going to turn this from a negative into a positive and I have," Williams said.

Working out with Marshall and the crew at Ignition had an added advantage because Marshall had worked with the Bengals training staff as an assistant and considers strength and conditioning coach Chip Morton a mentor. He also worked with many of the current players, including Williams, during the lockout.

Said Williams: "It was a huge advantage because he had the contact I didn't have with Chip and coach (Marvin) Lewis getting feedback on what to ... address."

Marshall said that the first couple of weeks of the program with Williams focused on conditioning, but the last two weeks were more football specific drills, like sled work. Former Colts linebacker Tyjuan Hagler and former Bengals linebacker Rashad Jeanty also trained with Williams and helped out on pass protection sets.

"The biggest thing was reviving his mental and spiritual health, especially after the way the suspension happened. What I respect is that he used this as motivation," Marshall said.

With his reinstatement, Williams is on a one-week roster exemption. If he is to play on Sunday at Jacksonville, the Bengals will have to release a player later this week. Lewis said they would evaluate how Williams does in practice this week before making a decision.

Before the suspension, the Bengals were having success running it to the right side during the preseason with Williams and tackle Andre Smith.

During the first quarter of the regular season, the running plays were more to the left as they led the league in number of running plays behind left tackle with 33. Of the 105 running plays, only six have been up the middle, a league low.

Cedric Benson is tied for second in the league in carries and has two 100-yard games, but there has been a twinge of disappointment from him this week over the direction of the running game since the opener at Cleveland.

Said Benson on Wednesday: "It's kind of tough for any player who takes pride in what he does. Communication is always important, but at times we sometimes struggle with communicating. That being said, you never know what is around the corner."

While the opener against the Browns was in the ground-and-pound style that some expected (33 runs, 31 passes), the last three games have had more passes than runs.

A big part of that, though, has been an inability to convert on third down, and trailing most of the time.

But as left tackle Andrew Whitworth noted, there are going to be opportunities for everyone.

"Some games we may need to throw it more and some games we're going to need to pound it," he said.

Many are hoping that the second half against Buffalo, where the Bengals rallied from 14 points down for a 23-20 victory, is more of a template for future games.

In that half, they scored on four of five drives but were equally adept at both running and passing.

On the ground, they ran it 16 times and averaged 6.9 yards per carry.

Even though offensive coordinator Jay Gruden understands Benson's concerns, he also realizes that there is a tough balancing act.

Said Gruden of Benson: "When Bernard Scott comes in for him he feels like we don't love him anymore. When we pass a couple times on first down and we have to punt he gets a little upset. Most great competitors are like that.

"He just has to channel his emotions and understand we're all trying to do the best and win the game. Whether he gets the ball 10 or 50 times, I don't care as long as he wins the game."

Fullback Chris Pressley is also one who thinks that more consistency with the running game is ahead.

"We haven't put a full game together. It just comes with working together and playing as a team," he said.

Article Written By: Joe Reedy / cincinnati.com

Terminator II: Jets Fullback John Conner Looks to Build on His Rookie Season

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:43:00 +0000

Article posted by: Zac Clark / stack.com

To read the following articles on John Conner, copy and paste the following links into your URL!

http://blog.stack.com/2011/08/12/terminator-ii-jets-fullback-john-conner-looks-to-build-on-his-rookie-season-part-ii/

http://blog.stack.com/2011/08/04/terminator-ii-nfl-fullback-john-conner-looks-to-build-on-his-rookie-season/

Gym Rat Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Clif Marshall) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:38:00 +0000

By GEOFF HOBSON / Bengals.com

In Sunday's preseason game (7 p.m.-Cincinnati's Channel 12), the Bengals want to flex their muscles against the big bad Jets, the most physical of the physical offer the trenches' most interesting matchup.

Off what his coaches say is a solid debut at middle linebacker, the Bengals' Rey Maualuga hopes to literally take it to the second level. That's where he'll be pounding heads with one of his workout partners from this offseason, second-year Jets fullback John Conner, the Cincinnati prep product out of Lakota West High School the Jets hope keeps their running game one of the more bruising in the league.

"He brings it," Maualuga says. "We knew eventually we'd meet in some game along the way. There was no trash talking, or 'You better watch out.' We're just going to line up and work. He's going to try and block me and I'm going to try and get away from him and get the ball."

These two blue-collar guys won't put on a very glitzy show off Broadway Sunday night. It's going to be a lot like the no-nonsense workouts at Ignition Sports in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio, which turned out to be a haven for about 30 NFL players locked out during the spring. But there were many days Ignition director Clif Marshall remembers Conner being the only guy in there with 13 and 14 other Bengals.

"They're two grinders. They bring the same approach. Hard working. Very humble," Marshall says. "It's going to be something to watch them meet in the hole on that first series."

The 5-11, 240-pound Conner often found himself paired with the 6-2, 263-pound Maualuga in their lifting sessions, and Conner had the best seat in the house for Maualuga's monster spring in which he strapped on about an extra eight pounds while setting personal bests in the bench press and dead lift.

"He's a real physical guy, great linebacker. We grew pretty close," Conner says. "It wasn't really that weird. We all got along up there. They're all great guys and we're all competitors. We competed and made everybody better."

Maualuga thinks the extra time in the weight room derived from the lockout yielded some benefits. His goal was to get a little bigger while not losing his lateral quickness.

"I never took into consideration how much work it took to actually get there," he says. "I figured this is my one chance to get better in certain areas and those are the areas I got better, so it sort of helped me."

Maualuga knows all about Conner's story. When no offers came out of high school, how he walked on at the University of Kentucky and earned a scholarship before the Jets took him in the fifth round.

"Cinderella story, but none of that came easy for him," Maualuga says. "Nothing is ever handed to you and he's living proof of it."

But even though Maualuga has taken two years to get to this point after his star-studded college career, he's not looking for any glass slippers. He's simply trying to build off last week's outing in which he got everyone lined with virtually no mental mistakes on a night the Bengals allowed just two yards per rush.

"Everyone doubts where we're at and where we're going so all we can control is what we can control and prove them wrong," Maualuga says. "I feel comfortable. Very comfortable. We're looking to play fundamentally sound football and go from there."

Conner drew close to his personal bests at Ignition, but he believes no matter the numbers, he got faster and stronger. Now he's on his own after being mentored that rookie season.

"Tony Richardson was a big help to me. I learned so much from him and now I'm just trying to get better," Conner says of the long-time NFL fullback.

Maualuga also lost his mentor, but he has been keeping in touch with Dhani Jones via the cell phone. And Jones does a dead-on imitation of Maualuga's unique chatter.

"Ooh-aay, I'm watching you on film so I can be in the right spot."

There's no question that Jones is the biggest fan of Maualuga and linebackers coach Jeff FitzGerald. While he works out waiting for a call from another team, Jones says he understands why the Bengals have turned to Maualuga.

"I hear Rey's huge. Two-sixty. That's big and fast. That's dangerous," Jones says. "Rey will do a great job. The MIKE (middle linebacker) is where he should be playing. He just has to stay focused on playing middle linebacker and being able to stay healthy and keep working in the classroom. ... Fitzy is one of the best ... when Rey is on, nobody can stop him."

Maualuga's workout partner is going to give it a shot.

"I know we'll be grinding out there," Conner says.