Observations from scrimmage (8/13/16)
Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2016 5:37 pmThe 2016 SMU football team held its first scrimmage Saturday. I wasn’t able to be there, but our friend JasonB was, and he took extensive notes, which he was nice enough to share. What follows are his thoughts and observations:
• There were 12 players in yellow (out) and two players in green (limited) jerseys. Among those in the yellow were LT Chad Pursley and DT Mason Gentry.
• With Pursley sidelined, Nick Natour took his place as the first-team left tackle, on a line that also included LG Daniel McCarty, C Evan Brown, RG Jerry Saena and RT Chauncey Briggs.
• First-team WRs were Shelby Walker, Xavier Castille and Courtland Sutton, with Jeremiah Gaines at TE.
• With Gentry watching, the starting defensive line was DE Justin Lawler, DT Zelt Minor, DT Deon Green and DE Nick Horton, who appears to have clear edge on competition at RDE at this point; DTs Chris Biggurs and Terry Ayeni also got some snaps with the first team. LBs running with the first team were Jackson Mitchell, Anthony Rhone and (someone else). CBs were Horace Richardson and Jordan Wyatt, safeties were Darrion Millines and Kevin Johnson.
• The defensive line got the better of the offensive line, especially when it came to knocking down passes.
• QBs Ben Hicks and Darrel Colbert each got some work with second-team offense. Of the three QBs (including Matt Davis), Colbert probably was the sharpest. Hicks sometimes held the ball too long and took several sacks.
• K Michael Armstrong got first reps, hitting short field goal (with distance to spare) and then missing from 47. He later tried a 49-yarder that fell short. Kickoffs reached about the 5-yard line. Josh Williams also made several, including a 47-yarder that had distance to spare. Williams hit a 47-yard field goal to “win” the scrimmage.
• S Kevin Johnson’s speed is evident, as a kick returner and on defense.
• Despite adding weight over the offseason, RB Xavier Jones looks really quick. He and Braeden West both looked really good. Ke’Mon Freeman and Jordan Carmouche both are big and powerful, far more adept at running through defenders than creating enough shake to make people miss.
• Defensive line had a good day, batting down numerous passes, including several by starting QB Matt Davis.
• S Darrion Millines had two huge hits on West — great plays. Millines looks fast and strong, like an all-conference player.
• Defense presented multiple looks, with three-man front and four-man front — more variety than in the spring.
• Freshman RBs Ke’Mon Freeman and Jordan Carmouche are both powerful runners. Fellow freshman RB Aphonso Thomas scored three touchdowns.
• WR Courtland Sutton looks stronger. At one point, he caught a pass from Davis (who was standing in his own end zone) — it took three defenders bring him down.
• Got our first look at Jamie Sackville, the left-footed (sometimes rugby-style) punter from Australia.
• Backup OTs Karadius Smith and Bryce Wilds still need to get stronger, but they already have two key tools needed to become effective blockers: size and mobility.
• Since the day Chad Morris was hired, we have heard about tempo, how he wants the offense to play fast. Apparently, that applies to the defense, as well. He yelled at the defense about not running on and off the field quickly enough, and eventually charged the defense a timeout because of it.
• Based on body language and talk between players, it looks like the defensive backs think freshman CB Christian Davis can play.
• One indication that Morris and his staff are improving the depth of the team: the willingness to use players counted on to play significant roles — Braeden West, Kevin Johnson, James Proché, Kevin Thomas, etc. — in the return game.
• LB Jackson Mitchell made several nice tackles in the open field. He is a physical player with good size. He might not chase down the fastest runners, but he seems to be around the ball a lot and makes plays.
• The secondary looks significantly better than a year ago. Darrion Millines is fast and confident. Kevin Johnson is extremely fast and looks comfortable against the run and the pass.
• Freshman LB Blake Carlisle is impressive. There are times when he looks like a freshman, a little lost. But he’s tall and lanky, runs well and makes plays. He has a chance to be really good.
• CB Jordan Wyatt was my MVP of the scrimmage. His highlights included nice open-field tackles and an interception of a Davis pass during the final drive.
• There were 12 players in yellow (out) and two players in green (limited) jerseys. Among those in the yellow were LT Chad Pursley and DT Mason Gentry.
• With Pursley sidelined, Nick Natour took his place as the first-team left tackle, on a line that also included LG Daniel McCarty, C Evan Brown, RG Jerry Saena and RT Chauncey Briggs.
• First-team WRs were Shelby Walker, Xavier Castille and Courtland Sutton, with Jeremiah Gaines at TE.
• With Gentry watching, the starting defensive line was DE Justin Lawler, DT Zelt Minor, DT Deon Green and DE Nick Horton, who appears to have clear edge on competition at RDE at this point; DTs Chris Biggurs and Terry Ayeni also got some snaps with the first team. LBs running with the first team were Jackson Mitchell, Anthony Rhone and (someone else). CBs were Horace Richardson and Jordan Wyatt, safeties were Darrion Millines and Kevin Johnson.
• The defensive line got the better of the offensive line, especially when it came to knocking down passes.
• QBs Ben Hicks and Darrel Colbert each got some work with second-team offense. Of the three QBs (including Matt Davis), Colbert probably was the sharpest. Hicks sometimes held the ball too long and took several sacks.
• K Michael Armstrong got first reps, hitting short field goal (with distance to spare) and then missing from 47. He later tried a 49-yarder that fell short. Kickoffs reached about the 5-yard line. Josh Williams also made several, including a 47-yarder that had distance to spare. Williams hit a 47-yard field goal to “win” the scrimmage.
• S Kevin Johnson’s speed is evident, as a kick returner and on defense.
• Despite adding weight over the offseason, RB Xavier Jones looks really quick. He and Braeden West both looked really good. Ke’Mon Freeman and Jordan Carmouche both are big and powerful, far more adept at running through defenders than creating enough shake to make people miss.
• Defensive line had a good day, batting down numerous passes, including several by starting QB Matt Davis.
• S Darrion Millines had two huge hits on West — great plays. Millines looks fast and strong, like an all-conference player.
• Defense presented multiple looks, with three-man front and four-man front — more variety than in the spring.
• Freshman RBs Ke’Mon Freeman and Jordan Carmouche are both powerful runners. Fellow freshman RB Aphonso Thomas scored three touchdowns.
• WR Courtland Sutton looks stronger. At one point, he caught a pass from Davis (who was standing in his own end zone) — it took three defenders bring him down.
• Got our first look at Jamie Sackville, the left-footed (sometimes rugby-style) punter from Australia.
• Backup OTs Karadius Smith and Bryce Wilds still need to get stronger, but they already have two key tools needed to become effective blockers: size and mobility.
• Since the day Chad Morris was hired, we have heard about tempo, how he wants the offense to play fast. Apparently, that applies to the defense, as well. He yelled at the defense about not running on and off the field quickly enough, and eventually charged the defense a timeout because of it.
• Based on body language and talk between players, it looks like the defensive backs think freshman CB Christian Davis can play.
• One indication that Morris and his staff are improving the depth of the team: the willingness to use players counted on to play significant roles — Braeden West, Kevin Johnson, James Proché, Kevin Thomas, etc. — in the return game.
• LB Jackson Mitchell made several nice tackles in the open field. He is a physical player with good size. He might not chase down the fastest runners, but he seems to be around the ball a lot and makes plays.
• The secondary looks significantly better than a year ago. Darrion Millines is fast and confident. Kevin Johnson is extremely fast and looks comfortable against the run and the pass.
• Freshman LB Blake Carlisle is impressive. There are times when he looks like a freshman, a little lost. But he’s tall and lanky, runs well and makes plays. He has a chance to be really good.
• CB Jordan Wyatt was my MVP of the scrimmage. His highlights included nice open-field tackles and an interception of a Davis pass during the final drive.