Practice Notes
Posted: Sat Apr 17, 2021 2:31 pm
I was able to make it out to the open practice today and took some notes...
First and foremost, I didn't keep track of who was in and out for injury. I didn't see Delano or Moore playing, although I did see 14 warm up. Kerley warmed up, but I didn't see him actually play.
Starting OL: Thomas, Ali, Howerton, Osborne, Morris. I didn't pay attention to the lines as much this practice, but I did notice Howerton played center, and I think Osborne spent time at RT.
2nd OL: Perdue, , Sparks, HIckman, Ike, Bryant. So, I think Bryant was held out.
3rd OL: Bailey, Jordan, Mossberg, Ervin, E Smith. I think it says a lot that Ervin, who started some last year, is now running 3rd team. Massive depth on the line.
Defense is running a 3-4. Offense mostly 3 WR with 1 TE, but they will split the TE out a lot.
The 3-4 defense, they have a DE/LB hybrid as one outside backer, and always line that player on the short side of the field. Still kind of the stang end concept, but more drops in coverage and playing in space. For the other LB they have them run. A lot. Very similar to the Fox, but mobility is going to be key and prioritized.
The defense is much more multiple, complex. It is going to really help the offense prepare, but it looks a lot more dynamic, a lot better. There weren't blown coverages or anything like that. A couple of misreads led to long plays where players bit on fakes, but players weren't out of position, they tackled physically. It looked better. I think the coaches have upgraded.
Starting LBs were actually Denbow and Hailey at MLB. Ndukwe started as the big OLB, and Burns started as the mobile OLB. Second string MLB was Palmer (52) and Phillips with Paul at the big end and link (25). Clearly a lot of LBs held out, but it gives an idea of how things will run.
CB: Crossley and McMorris started. Massey and Johnson both played a bit with the first team. Then Cam Jones and Westfall. They would rotate to a nickel quite a bit, with a down 4, two MLB, and when they went nickel, Crossley played the slot corner, with McMorris and Massey outside.
S: Calloway and Cromartie started, Clay and Roberson second team.
Third team I didn't track the players, but they did run three deep on both sides. I'll say that when they got to that level, the 3rd team OL still looked big, but the DL was really, really small at that point.
QB, Green was starter, Mordecai second and Stone third. Mordecai played with the 1s on the 3rd and 4th series, and Green went back to the twos. You get the impression that that is the area you expect to see some change and Stone is further back in 3rd. Stone has a really nice arm, and really good mobility. The talent is absolutely there. Green has less arm talent than the others, can't get he ball quickly o the outside, but throws a really nice deep ball, and just has a better feel for the offense, which you would expect. Mordecai has a nice blend of a good arm and good mobility.
Honestly, Green is exactly what you want in a backup QB. The question is how far Mordecai can come before the Fall. None of the QBs were clicking the way that we have come to expect from SB over the past two seasons.
The 1st, second and third teams all failed to move the ball on their first drive and then scored on the second.
Massey and Jones had back to back nice breakups on the first drive of the second team.
Crossley versus Gray was jus awesome to watch. We haven't had elite speed like that on both sides of the ball since the depth penalty.
The nickel with Crossley, Massey, and McMorris is really, really fast. It is going to be a great look.
Oh, and McMorris with the 1's. Super legit. Wow factor. He has it - speed, athleticism, fluid. We heard last year about Massey impressing as a frosh corner in practice with his speed. McMorris is Massey++. He had a phenomenal pick on Mordecai.
Gray by the way - buy the hype. Last year, you could see the speed and get glimpses. He is elite now. He shows up. If Gray and Reggie are both healthy, that is impossible for other teams. Wow.
Wiggins, Rice, and Gray were the starting WR. Rice looks good. Wiggins has taken a big, big step forward. He showed up in a scrimmage for once. His accelleration off the line is way improved over what it was. There is a good burst there. He had a long catch and run for a TD, and once he gets going, it doesn't look like he is running fast, but nobody can catch him. He has stepped up.
Perdue is going to be a beast at LT. Mark it down.
Goffney had a nice catch and run from Stone. He looks the part, but is running with the twos and threes right now.
JOnes is a bowling ball RB. He ran over a guy for a long TD run. But keep in mind he only plays with the 3s against the 3s. He also had an awesome layout block. SOmeone to keep your eye on, good physical runner who might provide depth for that role.
Mike Williams at nose looks MUCH better. The player we expected from Standford. Big improvement, dominated HOwerton at times.
Mordeci threw his pick to McMorris when he switched to play with the ones the first time. Great play by McMorris more than a bad throw.
Crossley bit on a pump fake the next time Mordeci was with the ones for a pass that went for a TD.
Way more physical overall.
Jones didn't look out of place at corener.
90 bit on a pump fake and gave a TD to Parker Stone.
Massey had a great read and almost picked preston stone when Stone tried to throw across the field and didn't step into the ball. Rookie mistake.
First and foremost, I didn't keep track of who was in and out for injury. I didn't see Delano or Moore playing, although I did see 14 warm up. Kerley warmed up, but I didn't see him actually play.
Starting OL: Thomas, Ali, Howerton, Osborne, Morris. I didn't pay attention to the lines as much this practice, but I did notice Howerton played center, and I think Osborne spent time at RT.
2nd OL: Perdue, , Sparks, HIckman, Ike, Bryant. So, I think Bryant was held out.
3rd OL: Bailey, Jordan, Mossberg, Ervin, E Smith. I think it says a lot that Ervin, who started some last year, is now running 3rd team. Massive depth on the line.
Defense is running a 3-4. Offense mostly 3 WR with 1 TE, but they will split the TE out a lot.
The 3-4 defense, they have a DE/LB hybrid as one outside backer, and always line that player on the short side of the field. Still kind of the stang end concept, but more drops in coverage and playing in space. For the other LB they have them run. A lot. Very similar to the Fox, but mobility is going to be key and prioritized.
The defense is much more multiple, complex. It is going to really help the offense prepare, but it looks a lot more dynamic, a lot better. There weren't blown coverages or anything like that. A couple of misreads led to long plays where players bit on fakes, but players weren't out of position, they tackled physically. It looked better. I think the coaches have upgraded.
Starting LBs were actually Denbow and Hailey at MLB. Ndukwe started as the big OLB, and Burns started as the mobile OLB. Second string MLB was Palmer (52) and Phillips with Paul at the big end and link (25). Clearly a lot of LBs held out, but it gives an idea of how things will run.
CB: Crossley and McMorris started. Massey and Johnson both played a bit with the first team. Then Cam Jones and Westfall. They would rotate to a nickel quite a bit, with a down 4, two MLB, and when they went nickel, Crossley played the slot corner, with McMorris and Massey outside.
S: Calloway and Cromartie started, Clay and Roberson second team.
Third team I didn't track the players, but they did run three deep on both sides. I'll say that when they got to that level, the 3rd team OL still looked big, but the DL was really, really small at that point.
QB, Green was starter, Mordecai second and Stone third. Mordecai played with the 1s on the 3rd and 4th series, and Green went back to the twos. You get the impression that that is the area you expect to see some change and Stone is further back in 3rd. Stone has a really nice arm, and really good mobility. The talent is absolutely there. Green has less arm talent than the others, can't get he ball quickly o the outside, but throws a really nice deep ball, and just has a better feel for the offense, which you would expect. Mordecai has a nice blend of a good arm and good mobility.
Honestly, Green is exactly what you want in a backup QB. The question is how far Mordecai can come before the Fall. None of the QBs were clicking the way that we have come to expect from SB over the past two seasons.
The 1st, second and third teams all failed to move the ball on their first drive and then scored on the second.
Massey and Jones had back to back nice breakups on the first drive of the second team.
Crossley versus Gray was jus awesome to watch. We haven't had elite speed like that on both sides of the ball since the depth penalty.
The nickel with Crossley, Massey, and McMorris is really, really fast. It is going to be a great look.
Oh, and McMorris with the 1's. Super legit. Wow factor. He has it - speed, athleticism, fluid. We heard last year about Massey impressing as a frosh corner in practice with his speed. McMorris is Massey++. He had a phenomenal pick on Mordecai.
Gray by the way - buy the hype. Last year, you could see the speed and get glimpses. He is elite now. He shows up. If Gray and Reggie are both healthy, that is impossible for other teams. Wow.
Wiggins, Rice, and Gray were the starting WR. Rice looks good. Wiggins has taken a big, big step forward. He showed up in a scrimmage for once. His accelleration off the line is way improved over what it was. There is a good burst there. He had a long catch and run for a TD, and once he gets going, it doesn't look like he is running fast, but nobody can catch him. He has stepped up.
Perdue is going to be a beast at LT. Mark it down.
Goffney had a nice catch and run from Stone. He looks the part, but is running with the twos and threes right now.
JOnes is a bowling ball RB. He ran over a guy for a long TD run. But keep in mind he only plays with the 3s against the 3s. He also had an awesome layout block. SOmeone to keep your eye on, good physical runner who might provide depth for that role.
Mike Williams at nose looks MUCH better. The player we expected from Standford. Big improvement, dominated HOwerton at times.
Mordeci threw his pick to McMorris when he switched to play with the ones the first time. Great play by McMorris more than a bad throw.
Crossley bit on a pump fake the next time Mordeci was with the ones for a pass that went for a TD.
Way more physical overall.
Jones didn't look out of place at corener.
90 bit on a pump fake and gave a TD to Parker Stone.
Massey had a great read and almost picked preston stone when Stone tried to throw across the field and didn't step into the ball. Rookie mistake.