Ohio City - While there is obviously work to be done, there were impressive plays turned in by the offense and the defense during the opening of two-a-day practices on Wasmer Field.

As always, the corner will report on many of the highlights from Monday's sessions.

We start this post, however, by saying how great it was to have the opportunity to visit with Saint Ignatius' legendary quarterback Joe Pickens '90, the field general who helped start what is one of the greatest runs in the history of high school football, both in Ohio and nationally. Now a successful attorney for the firm of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Columbus, Joe was at Wasmer Field on Monday taking in the late afternoon/early evening practice.

A true man for others, Joe's powerful and accurate arm showed the way to the first two in what are now an Ohio-best 11 state championships for Coach Chuck Kyle's program. Joe was part of a class that went undefeated on the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels. With Joe at the full-time varsity helm as a junior and senior, the Wildcats went 14-0 in 1988 (their first appearance in the OHSAA playoffs) and 13-0 in 1989. The 1989 season also included the first of three national championships on Coach Kyle's resume, with the other two coming in 1993 and 1995.

It was a pleasure for this old-timer to sit in the stands at Wasmer Field with a young man I had the PRIVILEGE to report on and reminisce about the falls of 1988 and 1989, seasons that saw Joe garner All-American, All-Ohio, All-District and Plain Dealer All-Scholastic honors. We also talked about Coach Tom Banc's outstanding teams at Euclid and the Panthers' gifted two-time Mr. Football Robert Smith, the player Joe and I believe should be ranked No. 1 on The Plain Dealer's upcoming list of the Top 50 area high school football players since 1963.

Joe would go on to talk about his outstanding teammates at Saint Ignatius, among them his lifelong friend and grade school partner at St. Thomas More, Mark Ruddy, and other All-Ohio selections such as Pete Fitzpatrick and Trent Zenkewicz. A dominant force as a three-year, two-way starting lineman for the Wildcats, Trent is another player Joe and I look upon as an obvious choice for The PD Top 50.

Before Joe said goodbye, he shared with this corner a story that stemmed from one of his college recruiting visits while he was attending Saint Ignatius.

On a trip to the campus of the University of Miami, Joe's host player was none other than The Cleveland Browns' new Head Coach Rob Chudzinski. Chudzinski attended St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo and went on to play college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes from 1986–1990, winning a national championship with the Hurricanes in 1987, and again in 1989. Rob was a three-year starter at tight end for the Hurricanes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JT!: Saint Ignatius senior quarterback John "The Gunslinger" Thomas celebrated his 18th Birthday on Monday by firing the ball around Wasmer Field.

John hooked up with talented junior wide receiver David Shibley on two crowd-pleasing plays, including a deep route down the seam that saw David go high in the air and make an impressive two-handed grab at the Lorain Avenue end zone. Shibley, who drew Thomas' praise after the double sessions, also combined with JT on a picture-perfect sideline route.

A CASE FOR THE DEFENSE: Seniors Dan Jamieson (two interceptions) and Ryan Cooper (breakup off a deep pass) were roaming nicely during the first session, multi-skilled senior safety Dameon Willis Jr. and senior linebackers Patrick Hopkins and John Gibbons were pursuing to the ball and penetrating into the backfield, and All-Ohio senior linebacker Kyle Berger also had a pick. The versatile Berger saw some time at tight end.

SOPHOMORES STEP UP: Sophomore quarterback Dennis Grosel, while working against players from the varsity defense, clicked with sophomore receiver Tyler Musbach on a deep scoring route and was on target to Musbach off a nice timing pattern across the middle.

Promising sophomore wide receiver Cal Grbac continues to impress. Cal went high in the air along the home sideline of Wasmer Field, made a smooth two-handed catch and, in an exceptional display of balance, came down with the ball, eluded the defender and went into the end zone.

AND THE JUNIORS DON'T GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT: Quarterback Jake Kucia was firing some crisp passes across the middle to tight end Dre'Mont Jones during the evening's final session.

MATT HOYER LENDING A HAND: Helping with Monday's receiving drills was former Wildcats quarterback and pitching ace Matt Hoyer '12. Matt, who also took part in team sprints, will be attending the University of Akron this fall.

TWO-A-DAYS RESUME ON TUESDAY AT 2:15 PM ON WASMER FIELD. SO YOU THERE.