First off- HOW BOUT THE ELITE 8! Out here again early, Practice rundown:
-The energy is definitely still here. Easy to have it day 1, but good to see it still here. At the beginning and even toward the end of practice, everyone seems engaged
-Thinking Fred Jones should add some good depth this season. Feet are quick. Moving well through the drill Odell is running. Odell seems complimentary. Odell is working em again this morning. Marvin continuing to look beastly. Now that he’s having fun again, going to dominate! Odell is constantly working with him. Almost like his prodigy. Working with everyone but he loves him some Marvin.
-Hamsah and Woodbey continue to pop in the DB drills. Both of them doing the drill together and going at it. Both of them are built well and are working with each other hard.
-D. Jackson looks to be leading the LB group consistently. Doing a drill where they tackle something that looks like a tire almost. The way he gets a jump and hits looks to have some fire. Even looks bulked up a little more. Irele’s program definitely has these guys in great shape.
-President Thrasher out here supporting. Working through the crowd. Much more inclusive feel right now. The Nole family is real right now. You can tell how much he believes in Willie. This type of day would have never happened with Jimbo. Fans, President, team together.
-the music continues to be hilarious. It’ll go from the 80s to current rap in a second. Definitely makes the players more alive, especially this early. Dancing and moving around gets everyone pumped. Even the Fans too.
-Blackman continues to look good. Touch on the short ones, arm on the long ball. He’s going to make it really difficult for 12 to win his job back, but can’t count out DF when healthy. Still think Hockman ends up #3. Kid can play but just the other 2 with the experience are going to be tough to beat. Terry and DJ look to be Blackman go to. Terry has incredible hands
-snaps and holds on the kicking team look good. Ken burnham, #40 has zip on his snaps, and Tyler looks to get his holds down well. Aguayo Just gota make his kicks this year.
-Punt returns looks like DJ Matthews is the smoothest to me. Catches it well, and has a good jump when he does catch it. Anyone will be an improvement from McFadden obviously. Matthews is so shifty. Doing a drill where he’s against a few defenders and he is just tough to bring down.
-Burns still has that jump. Dude is going to live in people’s backfields. I would hate to see him as an opposing QB. Snyder working em. Robinson looks SO big. That could be a dangerous tandem. Marvin and Christmas in the middle. Oh my.
-josh Brown should definitely make an impact at LB. looks good in drills and we are short on LBs. bulked up. Know his dad is an avid supporter as well. Already called the 38-13 victory over VT. Wow that would be sweet.
-Laborn looks quick. Running some routes and he has hands too. Looks like he’ll be a weapon for sure.
-Kaindoh getting some extra work by himself. Just running conditioning sprints alone. Moves well, should add good DE depth.
-NNADI out here coaching up the DT’s. Good to see him here working with the younger guys. Guy always wreaked havoc in backfields. Met him in Tally- super nice guy. Hope he makes it and does well in the NFL. Bleeds garnet and gold.
-Upshur looking good in 7’s. Would be awesome if he can step up and contribute, especially with Izzo leaving early.
Francois continues to get extra work in on the side with Campbell. Was curious to see his body language since he can’t do a lot, and Blackman is taking most of the reps, but it looks good. When he’s not taking reps, he’s always working on the side. I see a new 12 from what I’ve seen in the past. Seems to be rejuvenated with Willie and Walt. Can’t teach leadership, but can definitely improve the qualities with mentoring, think we’ll continue to see that. If he doesn’t beat out Blackman, who knows because he’s going to want to start as we all know, but hopefully he’s a team player regardless.
-Rasul continues to pop out. Think he’s going to be big this year. Z White too. He has good hands and both will add good depth.
-Frey does not take his lineman getting beat lightly. He is on them hard whenever they miss a block or give up the rush to the D Lineman. Cursing up a storm, our OL has the experience, with coaching, we will improve. Ball looks to be one of the improved lineman already.
-L. Taylor looking good at DB. He has skills. Just make a nice play in 7’s.
- Even with some confusion during the hurry up, it’s fun to watch is move at that pace. We have the skill to run people off the field
-The energy is definitely still here. Easy to have it day 1, but good to see it still here. At the beginning and even toward the end of practice, everyone seems engaged
-Thinking Fred Jones should add some good depth this season. Feet are quick. Moving well through the drill Odell is running. Odell seems complimentary. Odell is working em again this morning. Marvin continuing to look beastly. Now that he’s having fun again, going to dominate! Odell is constantly working with him. Almost like his prodigy. Working with everyone but he loves him some Marvin.
-Hamsah and Woodbey continue to pop in the DB drills. Both of them doing the drill together and going at it. Both of them are built well and are working with each other hard.
-D. Jackson looks to be leading the LB group consistently. Doing a drill where they tackle something that looks like a tire almost. The way he gets a jump and hits looks to have some fire. Even looks bulked up a little more. Irele’s program definitely has these guys in great shape.
-President Thrasher out here supporting. Working through the crowd. Much more inclusive feel right now. The Nole family is real right now. You can tell how much he believes in Willie. This type of day would have never happened with Jimbo. Fans, President, team together.
-the music continues to be hilarious. It’ll go from the 80s to current rap in a second. Definitely makes the players more alive, especially this early. Dancing and moving around gets everyone pumped. Even the Fans too.
-Blackman continues to look good. Touch on the short ones, arm on the long ball. He’s going to make it really difficult for 12 to win his job back, but can’t count out DF when healthy. Still think Hockman ends up #3. Kid can play but just the other 2 with the experience are going to be tough to beat. Terry and DJ look to be Blackman go to. Terry has incredible hands
-snaps and holds on the kicking team look good. Ken burnham, #40 has zip on his snaps, and Tyler looks to get his holds down well. Aguayo Just gota make his kicks this year.
-Punt returns looks like DJ Matthews is the smoothest to me. Catches it well, and has a good jump when he does catch it. Anyone will be an improvement from McFadden obviously. Matthews is so shifty. Doing a drill where he’s against a few defenders and he is just tough to bring down.
-Burns still has that jump. Dude is going to live in people’s backfields. I would hate to see him as an opposing QB. Snyder working em. Robinson looks SO big. That could be a dangerous tandem. Marvin and Christmas in the middle. Oh my.
-josh Brown should definitely make an impact at LB. looks good in drills and we are short on LBs. bulked up. Know his dad is an avid supporter as well. Already called the 38-13 victory over VT. Wow that would be sweet.
-Laborn looks quick. Running some routes and he has hands too. Looks like he’ll be a weapon for sure.
-Kaindoh getting some extra work by himself. Just running conditioning sprints alone. Moves well, should add good DE depth.
-NNADI out here coaching up the DT’s. Good to see him here working with the younger guys. Guy always wreaked havoc in backfields. Met him in Tally- super nice guy. Hope he makes it and does well in the NFL. Bleeds garnet and gold.
-Upshur looking good in 7’s. Would be awesome if he can step up and contribute, especially with Izzo leaving early.
Francois continues to get extra work in on the side with Campbell. Was curious to see his body language since he can’t do a lot, and Blackman is taking most of the reps, but it looks good. When he’s not taking reps, he’s always working on the side. I see a new 12 from what I’ve seen in the past. Seems to be rejuvenated with Willie and Walt. Can’t teach leadership, but can definitely improve the qualities with mentoring, think we’ll continue to see that. If he doesn’t beat out Blackman, who knows because he’s going to want to start as we all know, but hopefully he’s a team player regardless.
-Rasul continues to pop out. Think he’s going to be big this year. Z White too. He has good hands and both will add good depth.
-Frey does not take his lineman getting beat lightly. He is on them hard whenever they miss a block or give up the rush to the D Lineman. Cursing up a storm, our OL has the experience, with coaching, we will improve. Ball looks to be one of the improved lineman already.
-L. Taylor looking good at DB. He has skills. Just make a nice play in 7’s.
- Even with some confusion during the hurry up, it’s fun to watch is move at that pace. We have the skill to run people off the field
