Random thoughts from Sunday's practice
Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:56 pmBear with me -- I took notes, and left them at home. But here's what I can remember from yesterday:
► DeMyron Martin
Wow. The sophomore-to-be has put on maybe 15 or 20 pounds, and he's a little taller, and he looks faster. He ran over people all day (not just DBs -- he planted a few LBs and ran through some DLs' arm tackles) and exploded into the open field. Yes, it was the first practice in pads. Yes, it's early. Yes, it might have been against the 14th-string defense -- he looked extremely impressive. Maybe he had it last season, but I also was struck by his balance. On one play, he got hit by two guys from one side, and bounced off them, keeping his feet and turning up field. Both would-be tacklers ended up on the ground.
► Quarterbacks
Inconclusive. I confess I didn't spend a lot of time watching the QBs, because I was trying to take pictures (and I am not a great photographer, believe me). From what I did see, it's hard to get any early read on things. All four seemed to throw the ball OK, but a lot of what was run was in the rushing game. Willis clearly has added some muscle, and showed good zip on some out routes. Phillips practiced at QB and still throws pretty hard, although I don't know if he has quite the same velocity he used to (and since I'll never try to catch a pass from a real QB, it's hard to judge). He also looks very strong -- about Reggie Carrington's size. Corey Slater and Eric Johnson had a little more zip on the ball than I realized.
Again -- not a lot of throwing. Hard to form any real concrete opinions.
► Emmanuel Sanders
He's still light (as is Columbus Givens), but that's to be expected of WRs his (their) age. What was encouraging was that Sanders caught everything that was even near him. Looks like he has very good hands, and he's extremely quick.
► Adrian Haywood
Haywood looks like he's in much better shape than last season. I asked him if he had lost weight, and he said he'd actually gained a few pounds. Hard to say after one practice, but he might be a hair quicker with his new muscle. I don't suppose he'll ever look like me or Arnold Swarznegger (we get mistaken for each other all the time), but he's clearly shifted a little of the belly up to his chest and arms. Looks more athletic.
► Troy Therien
He said he's not significantly bigger than last season, but he sure looks stronger. At one point, he got the QB on three consecutive plays in line drills, including a spin move that left Darrin Johnson grabbing at air.
► Vincent Chase
Ran much better than I thought he could, and showed decent hands. Caught passes on a few deep out routes (and probably more, but those were the ones I saw), and his hands looked good (he snatched the ball and pulled it in to his body, rather than letting the ball hit him in the chest). Probably not as fast as Kennedy, but close, and faster than I thought.
► Paul Heimenz
Listed on last year's roster as a 6-2, 190-pound walk-on DB. He's no closer to 190 now than the Doak Walker statue outside Ford Stadium. He's listed now at 220, I think, and playing LB. Looks very strong, and runs well. Seemed very adept at shedding blocks, and kept getting up from the bottom of the pile.
► Rey Pellerin
Looks significantly stronger than last year. Bigger arms, still moves well, didn't see a drop in the drills I watched. He and Bobby Chase are a seriously impressive pair of wideouts.
► Paulius Ritter
The power forward-turned-offensive tackle prospect can sure as hell fill out a uniform, if nothing else. Is it possible to look skinny at 270 pounds? He does. He didn't take part in a lot of drills -- did some basic walk-through stuff and essentially observed the entire practice. Not much to report there.
► DeMyron Martin
Wow. The sophomore-to-be has put on maybe 15 or 20 pounds, and he's a little taller, and he looks faster. He ran over people all day (not just DBs -- he planted a few LBs and ran through some DLs' arm tackles) and exploded into the open field. Yes, it was the first practice in pads. Yes, it's early. Yes, it might have been against the 14th-string defense -- he looked extremely impressive. Maybe he had it last season, but I also was struck by his balance. On one play, he got hit by two guys from one side, and bounced off them, keeping his feet and turning up field. Both would-be tacklers ended up on the ground.
► Quarterbacks
Inconclusive. I confess I didn't spend a lot of time watching the QBs, because I was trying to take pictures (and I am not a great photographer, believe me). From what I did see, it's hard to get any early read on things. All four seemed to throw the ball OK, but a lot of what was run was in the rushing game. Willis clearly has added some muscle, and showed good zip on some out routes. Phillips practiced at QB and still throws pretty hard, although I don't know if he has quite the same velocity he used to (and since I'll never try to catch a pass from a real QB, it's hard to judge). He also looks very strong -- about Reggie Carrington's size. Corey Slater and Eric Johnson had a little more zip on the ball than I realized.
Again -- not a lot of throwing. Hard to form any real concrete opinions.
► Emmanuel Sanders
He's still light (as is Columbus Givens), but that's to be expected of WRs his (their) age. What was encouraging was that Sanders caught everything that was even near him. Looks like he has very good hands, and he's extremely quick.
► Adrian Haywood
Haywood looks like he's in much better shape than last season. I asked him if he had lost weight, and he said he'd actually gained a few pounds. Hard to say after one practice, but he might be a hair quicker with his new muscle. I don't suppose he'll ever look like me or Arnold Swarznegger (we get mistaken for each other all the time), but he's clearly shifted a little of the belly up to his chest and arms. Looks more athletic.
► Troy Therien
He said he's not significantly bigger than last season, but he sure looks stronger. At one point, he got the QB on three consecutive plays in line drills, including a spin move that left Darrin Johnson grabbing at air.
► Vincent Chase
Ran much better than I thought he could, and showed decent hands. Caught passes on a few deep out routes (and probably more, but those were the ones I saw), and his hands looked good (he snatched the ball and pulled it in to his body, rather than letting the ball hit him in the chest). Probably not as fast as Kennedy, but close, and faster than I thought.
► Paul Heimenz
Listed on last year's roster as a 6-2, 190-pound walk-on DB. He's no closer to 190 now than the Doak Walker statue outside Ford Stadium. He's listed now at 220, I think, and playing LB. Looks very strong, and runs well. Seemed very adept at shedding blocks, and kept getting up from the bottom of the pile.
► Rey Pellerin
Looks significantly stronger than last year. Bigger arms, still moves well, didn't see a drop in the drills I watched. He and Bobby Chase are a seriously impressive pair of wideouts.
► Paulius Ritter
The power forward-turned-offensive tackle prospect can sure as hell fill out a uniform, if nothing else. Is it possible to look skinny at 270 pounds? He does. He didn't take part in a lot of drills -- did some basic walk-through stuff and essentially observed the entire practice. Not much to report there.
.