Last season, the Skorpions Varese were a true surprise in the league. In their first year in the IFL, they reached the semifinals of the championship and demonstrated excellent team solidity. This year, after signing important American and Italian players, they are ready to raise their level. Let's hear from Head Coach Nick Holt, Wide Receiver Matteo Mozzanica, and Safety Nicolas Principi about their goals and changes for the new season.
HEAD COACH NICK HOLT
Let's begin with the questions for Head Coach Nick Holt, who’s heading into his fourth year with the Skorpions and has been able to improve his team mentally and tactically over the years.
Last season, as underdogs in your first year in the IFL, you reached the semifinals and were one of the surprises of the league. What are the most important mental and tactical aspects that led you to the semifinals? Which of these aspects still needs improvement? What do you expect from the team this season? How much has the team changed after four years with you in Varese?
In our first two years in IFL2, we had a really good system and really good Italian players. The IFL was a big transition for us; we were very thin on the offensive line and defense, especially with our linebackers. We played the entire season without a backup quarterback, and our best receivers were unavailable for most of the season due to injuries and other issues. However, because we had a good system, good leadership, and a strong organization, we were able to fight through some early games. We kept working hard and improved throughout the season. The way we do things and the way we practice paid off at the end of the season.
Jumping up to IFL1 is hard, and we faced a lot of adversity as a team. Now, I believe we're more experienced, and our players understand the competitiveness of IFL1. We've also added some new players who will help us significantly. On paper, we should be a little better than last year, and I hope so. So, we had growing pains; we had to grow up a little bit, and that’s what last year was all about.
Your offense last year consistently performed well, both in passing and rushing. This year, you've signed many Italian players, including former NFL quarterback Ryan Griffin and his brother, receiver MacClaine Griffin. How much will the level of your offense rise with the arrival of these players? How will the game plan change tactically? How have the new Italian players integrated into the team?
I’m really happy that we were able to sign Ryan and his brother Mac Griffin. Ryan has tons of experience at the highest level, and he was a great college player too. He’s very accurate throwing the ball and he’s smart. He’s a good leader and he’s going to help us tremendously with our offense, coaching up the other players. We had a really good quarterback last year, but he was a running dual-threat QB and he did a fantastic job. This year, I think we're going to be a little different. Ryan can throw the ball downfield maybe a little bit better, but what’s great about this year is that we have a lot of our receivers back, and we have some new players who will help us, including his brother MacClaine. Like I said, on paper, we helped ourselves out. Ryan is doing a great job installing new stuff for us that we can use to be a better offense, and I'm excited about the knowledge that he brings to our team. These aspects will enable me to focus more on defense and special teams.
Last year, your defense definitely lacked the presence of an American player, yet you remained solid throughout most of the season. This year, you've signed many experienced Italian players. Do you believe the defense will be even more solid this year with these signings? How will you manage the absence of an American player again this year?
I really like our new Italian players on defense. We have a couple of new players that will really help us this year, and together with our returning players, we have a better defense this year. Our defense, especially the linebacker core, was really young last year, but we really improved ourselves with Nicolò Fonti, who’s doing great as a Will linebacker, and Christian Sottura, our new safety. We’re in the process of recruiting another dual-passport guy, but it’s hard to find one. However, MacClaine Griffin can play defensive back as well, so he will play both ways for us, which will help. But we really need to find a good Mike linebacker, and if we can find one, I think we can be really good on defense. Because our secondary is good, our corners are good, and our Defensive Line is good, we just need to solidify our Linebacker core to be in good shape this year.
WIDE RECEIVER MATTEO MOZZANICA
After hearing the words of the head coach, let's continue the interview with Matteo Mozzanica, a young talented receiver who believes that the Skorpions' offense this year will be hard to stop.
Last season, you were one of the key players in your offense, and overall, your group of receivers performed very well. How’s the new QB Ryan Griffin doing ? On which tactical and mental aspects will your offense change with the arrival of a former NFL QB? Do you believe you'll be able to score many points this year?
This year, the wide receiver group, with the addition of new guys, has become very solid and even richer in talent. The arrival of a former NFL quarterback gives everyone the opportunity to get involved and improve tactically. Ryan explains the coverages and how we should run routes depending on the defense we're facing. He's also helping us a lot with our footwork. His throws are very accurate , his game reading is incredible, and his experience helps us a lot.
What we need to grow mentally is the fact that despite last season being good for us, we still have a lot to prove, and we can never be satisfied. We need to stay united because this year we'll have the chance to compete on equal terms with the contenders. This year, I believe our offense will be the key to our success.
What are the strengths and areas you need to work on in your offense? How have the new Italian players and the American MacClaine Griffin integrated into the team? Do you think you're ready to step up to the next level?
The strength of our offense will be the variety of our playbook. With the arrival of new players, we will have the opportunity to show many different formations, so I believe the tactical aspect of our offense will be crucial. The new guys have integrated very well and give us good alternatives that we often didn't have last year. MacClaine is a very versatile player and can play in many positions, so I believe we will have the chance to compete on equal terms with the contenders . Like I said, our new playbook is way better than last year . On paper, we have an experienced offensive line, an experienced quarterback, and all our skill players are strong and ready to prove their talent .
However, I believe it will be important how we approach the games mentally. When we face stronger teams, we will discover our true value. We have many strong and young players, so if we all execute perfectly what our coaches ask us , we will be a very difficult offense to stop.
SAFETY NICOLAS PRINCIPI
Let’s conclude the interview with the questions for Nicolas Principi , one of the most experienced guys in Skorpions’s defense and captain of the team. He's ready and motivated for the new season.
You are one of the veterans of the defense. How much and on which mental and tactical aspects has the Skorpions' defense changed in recent years? How much will the new players you've signed be able to change your defense? How much will the temporary absence of an American import weigh on the defense?
The absence of an American player on defense has accelerated the improvement process for the guys in their first year in the IFL, so it hasn't been just a negative aspect. With the arrival of Nick Holt, our defense has made excellent progress over the years, as he coached defense in his college career. We're still looking for a dual passport player, but we don’t really care about it now ; we're just focused on doing our job well. Thanks to the new players who have arrived, we have a defense characterized by a mix of young and veteran players. We're a good group, very united, and very versatile, which allows us to play many different types of defense. We've signed very experienced players who have integrated very well into our team. Since we started training, we've immediately felt comfortable playing together.
One of your strengths is definitely the unity of the group. How much has Nick Holt's presence influenced this aspect? Besides this, what do you think you still need to work on to improve as a team?
The unity of the group has always been our strength and the motor of our team. Nick's arrival has brought us a new method and a different approach in the way we practice. He pushes you to always give your best, he's a leader who always manages to be listened to, and he has managed to improve our team starting from small things like our routine and pre-game warm-ups.
The aspect we need to work on as a group is to be better at understanding situations and become smarter players on the field. This aspect, thanks to our head coach's philosophy, has been improving a lot lately. We need to pay attention to details and be better at communicating with each other. Last year, at the beginning of the season, everyone defined us as underdogs. Despite that, we showed that we were able to win many important games, and at the end of the year, many of them complimented us. We're here to win, and this year we're not afraid of anyone.
2024 Varese Skorpions Perspective
The Varese Skorpions surprised many in their debut IFL season, reaching the semifinals. With strategic signings like former NFL quarterback Ryan Griffin and a strengthened defense, they aim to elevate their game. Head Coach Nick Holt emphasizes a balanced offense under Griffin's leadership, while defensive improvements focus on linebacker depth. Wide Receiver Matteo Mozzanica anticipates a more versatile playbook, aided by newcomers like MacClaine Griffin. Safety Nicolas Principi highlights the team's unity and enhanced defense. Despite challenges, the Skorpions are poised for a competitive season, aiming to prove their worth against top contenders.
Looks like a “Winner” to us!