Just in from the first practice of fall camp and I was pretty impressed with what I saw.
This morning I posted 5 Things I would be looking for today and I'll address those as best I can to open the notebook:
1) Where's Autry? Who's at LT and how is depth developing.
BGN Sources say that BJ Autry should be hitting the practice field in the next 2 days for Southern Miss. My source was not certain if he would be eligible now or will have to sit. I am going to continue to work on aspect.
Today, as expected, Jacob Fleming took the lion's share of 1st team snaps at LT. Wil Freeman and Jerry Harris flipped the line with both seeing snaps at LT and RT with the second team OL.
They finally have numbers on the OL again and I think the quality is pretty good.
Today's Depth Chart:
LT - Jacob Fleming, Wil Freeman, Drake Dorbek
LG - Brandon Farmer, Oliver Bates, Arvin Fletcher
OC - Cameron Tom, Tyler Stutzman, Wyatt Richthofen
RG - Devin Farrior, Hayden McMahan, Jacob Johnson
RT - Ty Pollard, Jerry Harris, Cru Birdyshaw
Invited Walk-on OL - Alex Martin (6-8, 310, Fr) Baker (Mobile, AL) HS, Nathan Back (6-5,276, Fr) Petal (MS) High.
Before anyone asks I don't know anything about the walk-ons but they sure are big.
2) Linebackers: Who is stepping up in the Middle? Is MLB CJ Perry's to lose at this point?
From what I am seeing from the spring to now, the MLB is CJ Perry's to lose, the staff seems to really like him. But, Elijah Parker is clearly the leader of the unit and seems to be making most of the calls. I am looking for him to have a breakout year, he picked off Mullens once and batted down at least one more pass on the day.
I really like the depth at LB right now, they have 10 guys right now that I would feel good about putting on the field at LB. We know there are no way to get all those guys on the defense but some of them will play key roles in Special Teams this year.
3) Corner Competition: With the transfers who's going to win the starting CB jobs?
To me things look set, I expect Cornell Armstrong and Trae Collins to be your starters at CB. Louisville transfer Devonte Parnell would really have to come out and show something special to bump either of those guys. There are enough good younger guys and back-ups to keep Collins and Armstrong honest and working hard but I don't see them getting bumped.
4) Running back Depth: Is Brooks healthy, what's the pecking order behind Ito?
Ito Smith is the clear No. 1 RB but he can't carry the whole load, that's where it is great to see a healthy George Payne back. Payne was running No. 2 most of the day and looks really good at this point. He's moving well, no longer wearing the knee brace and looks like he is just so happy to be back out there. Tez Parks is also healthy for the first time in forever, he's running with a brace but dosen't seem to be terribly bothered by it, (Payne hated his). Andre Hale got a few snaps and I think he will be a good one down the road. No sign of Patrick Brooks.
5) Intensity: Does this practice feel like one that could start a championship run?
There were certainly moments of intensity despite being only in helmets and shorts, but for the most part the feeling of the day was focus. There was a lot of teaching going on today as the staff pulled on the kids to remember what they learned in the spring. Hopson even commented after practice how happy he was as the recall level the team had.
Far from perfect, but this was not a sloppy first day like you sometimes see.
Other Observations:
In each of the past three years you can visible see the talent level increase year to year. This was most notable today watching the WR corp. Four years ago T-Man Holmes was the most talented WR on the roster. But today through additions of talented players and guys simply developing in the program he's not close to being the most talented WR on the team despite now being a rJr instead of a true freshman. I still think Holmes will have the opportunity to be a major contributor but if he is it will come from putting in the work, not being more talented than the others.
While we're on the WR corp, wish you guys could have seen an amazing one-handed catch by Reid Rials in passing drills today. Ball thrown behind him and over his head, in mid stride he leaps up twists his upper body back reaches over his head and snags the pass pulling it in, hits the ground still in stride headed for the endzone. It was a thing of beauty.
Nick Mullens looked good today, but we expect him to look good. Parker Adamson took a lot of the 2nd team snaps along with Keon Howard. Kwadra Griggs took 3rd team snaps along with walk-ons Andrew LaBruna and Tyler Russell.
I didn't spend any time with the DL today, will focus on them tomorrow. But, if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them.
This morning I posted 5 Things I would be looking for today and I'll address those as best I can to open the notebook:
1) Where's Autry? Who's at LT and how is depth developing.
BGN Sources say that BJ Autry should be hitting the practice field in the next 2 days for Southern Miss. My source was not certain if he would be eligible now or will have to sit. I am going to continue to work on aspect.
Today, as expected, Jacob Fleming took the lion's share of 1st team snaps at LT. Wil Freeman and Jerry Harris flipped the line with both seeing snaps at LT and RT with the second team OL.
They finally have numbers on the OL again and I think the quality is pretty good.
Today's Depth Chart:
LT - Jacob Fleming, Wil Freeman, Drake Dorbek
LG - Brandon Farmer, Oliver Bates, Arvin Fletcher
OC - Cameron Tom, Tyler Stutzman, Wyatt Richthofen
RG - Devin Farrior, Hayden McMahan, Jacob Johnson
RT - Ty Pollard, Jerry Harris, Cru Birdyshaw
Invited Walk-on OL - Alex Martin (6-8, 310, Fr) Baker (Mobile, AL) HS, Nathan Back (6-5,276, Fr) Petal (MS) High.
Before anyone asks I don't know anything about the walk-ons but they sure are big.
2) Linebackers: Who is stepping up in the Middle? Is MLB CJ Perry's to lose at this point?
From what I am seeing from the spring to now, the MLB is CJ Perry's to lose, the staff seems to really like him. But, Elijah Parker is clearly the leader of the unit and seems to be making most of the calls. I am looking for him to have a breakout year, he picked off Mullens once and batted down at least one more pass on the day.
I really like the depth at LB right now, they have 10 guys right now that I would feel good about putting on the field at LB. We know there are no way to get all those guys on the defense but some of them will play key roles in Special Teams this year.
3) Corner Competition: With the transfers who's going to win the starting CB jobs?
To me things look set, I expect Cornell Armstrong and Trae Collins to be your starters at CB. Louisville transfer Devonte Parnell would really have to come out and show something special to bump either of those guys. There are enough good younger guys and back-ups to keep Collins and Armstrong honest and working hard but I don't see them getting bumped.
4) Running back Depth: Is Brooks healthy, what's the pecking order behind Ito?
Ito Smith is the clear No. 1 RB but he can't carry the whole load, that's where it is great to see a healthy George Payne back. Payne was running No. 2 most of the day and looks really good at this point. He's moving well, no longer wearing the knee brace and looks like he is just so happy to be back out there. Tez Parks is also healthy for the first time in forever, he's running with a brace but dosen't seem to be terribly bothered by it, (Payne hated his). Andre Hale got a few snaps and I think he will be a good one down the road. No sign of Patrick Brooks.
5) Intensity: Does this practice feel like one that could start a championship run?
There were certainly moments of intensity despite being only in helmets and shorts, but for the most part the feeling of the day was focus. There was a lot of teaching going on today as the staff pulled on the kids to remember what they learned in the spring. Hopson even commented after practice how happy he was as the recall level the team had.
Far from perfect, but this was not a sloppy first day like you sometimes see.
Other Observations:
In each of the past three years you can visible see the talent level increase year to year. This was most notable today watching the WR corp. Four years ago T-Man Holmes was the most talented WR on the roster. But today through additions of talented players and guys simply developing in the program he's not close to being the most talented WR on the team despite now being a rJr instead of a true freshman. I still think Holmes will have the opportunity to be a major contributor but if he is it will come from putting in the work, not being more talented than the others.
While we're on the WR corp, wish you guys could have seen an amazing one-handed catch by Reid Rials in passing drills today. Ball thrown behind him and over his head, in mid stride he leaps up twists his upper body back reaches over his head and snags the pass pulling it in, hits the ground still in stride headed for the endzone. It was a thing of beauty.
Nick Mullens looked good today, but we expect him to look good. Parker Adamson took a lot of the 2nd team snaps along with Keon Howard. Kwadra Griggs took 3rd team snaps along with walk-ons Andrew LaBruna and Tyler Russell.
I didn't spend any time with the DL today, will focus on them tomorrow. But, if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them.
