AMHERST — Jaret Pallotta turned to his fellow tight ends with a smile as wide as his face.
UMass’ offense was about to run plays out of a three tight end formation during 11-on-11 drills at practice Monday.
“We’re playing football, guys,” the grad student from Massillon, Ohio said.
That sort of exuberance has defined the first four days of UMass football practices at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. The Minutemen have established a culture of competition and exuberance. Defensive backs chest bump when they break up passes, and corners waiting in the wings will talk trash with receivers that just made catches. Linemen encourage each other to finish blocks and help each other through drills and positioning. Each sideline — offense or defense — explodes when their side of the ball makes a big play in a full-team drill.
“Competition typically brings out the best in anybody. When you throw enthusiasm on top of that we’ve got a pretty good mix,” UMass coach Walt Bell said. “We’re right where went to be, but we’re still in the honeymoon phase. As we go, the challenge will be to maintain that.”
It’s become ingrained with the Minutemen. They understand how cultivating that mentality on the practice field can benefit them once another institution is on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
“Everything in practice translates to the games. We’ve got to win our one on ones inside with the d-line, o-line and outside as well,” sophomore cornerback Josh Wallace said. “We get back on the field, we’re really locked in. Chemistry off the field, really. It’s like a brotherhood and we’re all together 24/7 really.”
QUARTERBACK COMPETITION – Bell remained mum on his starting quarterback leanings, as he has since the spring. The Minutemen have five quarterbacks on the roster currently. Four took high level reps Monday: redshirt freshman Garrett Dzuro, Colorado transfer Tyler Lytle, true freshman Brady Olson and former converted receiver turned quarterback Zamar Wise.
“Trying to get them all reps. Whether (as quarterback) I’m with the ones, twos, or threes really doesn’t matter. It’s about how many reps of each concept I’m getting,” Bell said. “As we get to practice seven, practice eight, into that first scrimmage then it becomes a little more continuity-based.”
Bell has kept any inklings of who will lead UMass when it opens the season Sept. 4 at Pittsburgh close to his chest. His favorite phrase to respond to quarterback questions is “the No. 1 rule of decision making is use all time allotted.”
But what is the third-year head coach looking for from his quarterback?
“Number one, first and foremost the guy that’s going to take care of the football. Ultimately knowing the entire organization’s hands are in that guy’s decision making,” Bell said. “A guy that’ll take care of the football, a guy that can manage the line of scrimmage, and a guy that can drive his eyes where he’s supposed to drive him and react accordingly.”
Monday was the first day that the Minutemen installed deep shots into the offense, and multiple quarterbacks generated explosive plays down the sidelines.
“I thought situationally we ran the ball and protected well with the ones and twos, with that group you kind of expect that,” Bell said.
INJURY REPORT – Two UMass players missed parts of practice with injuries Monday.
Redshirt junior running back Romeo Holden spent time on the sidelines with his left arm in a sling and ice on his left shoulder.
Lytle left 11-on-11 drills and doubled over on the sideline. Trainers took him over the table, where he was examined and held an ice pack on his right groin muscle.
“He’s fine, he’s great,” Bell said. “We’re great right now (health wise). Our kids are doing a really great job of practicing the right way, being a mature group. Hopefully we can keep it that way.”
DRESS CODE – Per NCAA rules, UMass has one more practice in helmets and shoulder pads before it can fully suit up and tackle to the ground.
“The more football changes, especially Xs and Os wise, you can get almost all the same things done in helmets and shoulder pads you have in full pads with the exception of tackling to the ground,” Bell said. “We’ve had a lot of great technique and fundamental work. That’s where your focus is in camp anyway, teaching the fundamentals and techniques in schemes.”
Since camp opened Friday, UMass has been at it every day at McGuirk.
“We don’t stop. This all runs together,” Bell said. “Seven days a week. We’re like Waffle House around here. Early in the morning, late at night.”
OH, SNAP – Evan Deckers was named to the Patrick Mannelly Award Watch List on Monday. The award is presented annually to the top senior long snapper in FBS football. He was also named a Phil Steele Preseason All-Independent First Team.
The initial watch list featured 31 teams. Those named will be narrowed to 10 finalists Nov. 15 and down to three finalists two weeks later. The winner will be announced Dec. 11.
The Mannelly Award benefits Bernie’s Book Bank, a non-profit organization in Illinois.
Kyle Grabowski can be reached at kgrabowski@gazettenet.com. Follow him on Twitter @kylegrbwsk.