Thursday practice observations and nuggets:
With thunder and lightning around, the team was moved into the IPF.
First thing we saw was a lot of work focused on protecting the football. The RBs and TEs were working in drill where two players attempted to strip the ball away from the player with the football. Right next to this group were the QBs working falling on loose balls instead of attempting to pick it up.
Interestingly saw George Henshaw out there helping out. He was mostly standing in the middle of practice taking notes.
QBs - Both Aslan and myself had similar observations here. Blackman and Hornibrook were on about level. We both saw one misfire but everything was pretty much on target. They seem to be leading the pack.
WRs - With Ron Dugans dealing with the passing of his mother, David Kelly was back out in his old role working with the wide receivers. The receivers that stood out in the short session we saw were D.J. Matthews, T. Terry, K. Gavin (no drops), and Warren Thompson. Interesting seeing OC Kendal Briles out there doing coverage on some of the WRs. He really seemed to enjoy doing it with Matthews and Terry. Noticed one play where D.J. made a really quick cut that spun Briles around, and that play put a huge simile on Briles' face. You can tell he's really excited about No. 7.
OL - Only thing of interest here is that Mike Arnold was still with the first team unit while Dontae Lucas was on the second team. Good news is that Brady Scott was with the first team and was moving around without any issues. Didn't even see any kind of wrap on his ankle so he sure looks good to go. Saw Goss again at second team tackle because Bello is still banged up.
Defense:
- Harlon Barnett was really enjoying playing mock Quarterback, and was talking some smack to the defense. Funny moment when he even lined up at running back and ran a screen pass route down the field at one point.
LBs - Our intern Austin noticed Amari Gainer running with first team defense for a majority of the reps. He also saw Josh Brown, Jaleel McRae, and Leonard Warner with the 2nd team, while Adonis Thomas was lining up at 2nd team at the buck position, not Janarius Robinson or the other few guys we’ve seen backing up Kaindoh at that spot so far in fall practice. Don’t think we’ve seen Thomas line up at buck very much if at all so far, so they could be trying something there. Kevon Glenn was hobbled a little bit during a drill and was removed from practice. He left under his own power and it didn’t look too serious.
DBs - Kyle Meyers was running with the first team as well. Not much of a surprise there, but that shows he must be still holding off the freshman DB and staying above them on the depth chart. Isiah Bolden was getting some run with the first and second teams, and made a few plays.
DL - looked like Cedric Wood is still the primary backup to Marvin Wilson at one of the DL spots in the 3-4. As we've been saying for days now, Marvin Wilson looks completely healthy.
At 3:54 p.m. - A dark thundercloud is inching close to us with some rumbling thunder. Wouldn't be surprised if practice gets moved into the IPF soon. Not sure what that will do to our viewing window.
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Aslan here...
No decision on a QB; Saturday will feature a game-like scrimmage and will be factored into the process of naming a starter. Did say there's two that seem to be further ahead of the pack but that was about all he would say. Did joke that in his time as a QB he won the job and never let it go, so perhaps the urgency to name a starter isn't as pressing in his mind.
On Ron Dugans, expressed his condolences to the difficulties he is enduring after his mother's passing; 'he's burying his mom, he's an only child'. Expects him to be back sooner than later but clearly not pressuring Dugans to return.
No specifics given when asked about injuries other than guys are progressing and able to get in the work they're able to.
Didn't want to talk about who will returning kicks, did say they'll have someone who can catch the ball and run well with it.
Defense continues to get better, didn't agree with the assertion that the DL and DBs are set and the LBs are up in the air -- 'too many dudes' out there to not continue the competition.
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Thursday's practice was originally scheduled for this evening but was moved up to this afternoon. The heat index for practice is slated to be a cool 105. What might change is there's a 40-50% of rain around this time so hopefully Mother Nature won't hold things up.
We are scheduled to talk to Willie Taggart around 3:30 pm. so we should have the video up before 4 p.m.
The media viewing period is scheduled to start around 4 p.m.. We will of course have observations and video from today's practice up a little later.
With thunder and lightning around, the team was moved into the IPF.
First thing we saw was a lot of work focused on protecting the football. The RBs and TEs were working in drill where two players attempted to strip the ball away from the player with the football. Right next to this group were the QBs working falling on loose balls instead of attempting to pick it up.
Interestingly saw George Henshaw out there helping out. He was mostly standing in the middle of practice taking notes.
QBs - Both Aslan and myself had similar observations here. Blackman and Hornibrook were on about level. We both saw one misfire but everything was pretty much on target. They seem to be leading the pack.
WRs - With Ron Dugans dealing with the passing of his mother, David Kelly was back out in his old role working with the wide receivers. The receivers that stood out in the short session we saw were D.J. Matthews, T. Terry, K. Gavin (no drops), and Warren Thompson. Interesting seeing OC Kendal Briles out there doing coverage on some of the WRs. He really seemed to enjoy doing it with Matthews and Terry. Noticed one play where D.J. made a really quick cut that spun Briles around, and that play put a huge simile on Briles' face. You can tell he's really excited about No. 7.
OL - Only thing of interest here is that Mike Arnold was still with the first team unit while Dontae Lucas was on the second team. Good news is that Brady Scott was with the first team and was moving around without any issues. Didn't even see any kind of wrap on his ankle so he sure looks good to go. Saw Goss again at second team tackle because Bello is still banged up.
Defense:
- Harlon Barnett was really enjoying playing mock Quarterback, and was talking some smack to the defense. Funny moment when he even lined up at running back and ran a screen pass route down the field at one point.
LBs - Our intern Austin noticed Amari Gainer running with first team defense for a majority of the reps. He also saw Josh Brown, Jaleel McRae, and Leonard Warner with the 2nd team, while Adonis Thomas was lining up at 2nd team at the buck position, not Janarius Robinson or the other few guys we’ve seen backing up Kaindoh at that spot so far in fall practice. Don’t think we’ve seen Thomas line up at buck very much if at all so far, so they could be trying something there. Kevon Glenn was hobbled a little bit during a drill and was removed from practice. He left under his own power and it didn’t look too serious.
DBs - Kyle Meyers was running with the first team as well. Not much of a surprise there, but that shows he must be still holding off the freshman DB and staying above them on the depth chart. Isiah Bolden was getting some run with the first and second teams, and made a few plays.
DL - looked like Cedric Wood is still the primary backup to Marvin Wilson at one of the DL spots in the 3-4. As we've been saying for days now, Marvin Wilson looks completely healthy.
At 3:54 p.m. - A dark thundercloud is inching close to us with some rumbling thunder. Wouldn't be surprised if practice gets moved into the IPF soon. Not sure what that will do to our viewing window.
-----
Aslan here...
No decision on a QB; Saturday will feature a game-like scrimmage and will be factored into the process of naming a starter. Did say there's two that seem to be further ahead of the pack but that was about all he would say. Did joke that in his time as a QB he won the job and never let it go, so perhaps the urgency to name a starter isn't as pressing in his mind.
On Ron Dugans, expressed his condolences to the difficulties he is enduring after his mother's passing; 'he's burying his mom, he's an only child'. Expects him to be back sooner than later but clearly not pressuring Dugans to return.
No specifics given when asked about injuries other than guys are progressing and able to get in the work they're able to.
Didn't want to talk about who will returning kicks, did say they'll have someone who can catch the ball and run well with it.
Defense continues to get better, didn't agree with the assertion that the DL and DBs are set and the LBs are up in the air -- 'too many dudes' out there to not continue the competition.
-------
Thursday's practice was originally scheduled for this evening but was moved up to this afternoon. The heat index for practice is slated to be a cool 105. What might change is there's a 40-50% of rain around this time so hopefully Mother Nature won't hold things up.
We are scheduled to talk to Willie Taggart around 3:30 pm. so we should have the video up before 4 p.m.
The media viewing period is scheduled to start around 4 p.m.. We will of course have observations and video from today's practice up a little later.
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