Ziggy
07-29-2017, 03:10 PM
The shoulder pads went on today, and the intensity went up a bit from yesterday. Tomorrow the pads come on in full. Should be fun to watch for whoever can make it there. Here is my observations for today:
1. Siemian was a clear winner in the QB race today. Paxton was horrible. Both had their issues at times, but Trevor was far better.
2. After watching Bolles and Sambrailo for a second straight day, I stand by my opinion that the competition isn't really a competition. Pads or not, Bolles is operating at a far higher level. He gets into his stance quicker, he pulls quicker, he anchors better, and he just plain moves better in general. I didn't get to see the one on one drills with the Oline vs. Dline. The lineman were blocking my view for the most part, so I shifted my focus to the WR's vs. CB's.
3. Speaking of which, Lorenzo Doss and Brendon Langley both stood out again today. The depth at CB is solid. I have no worries whatsoever at that position going into the season.
4. Isaiah McKenzie flashed over and over again today. He just has another gear. It really show in the live punt return drills. We finally have a punt returner who can catch the ball and fly. You guys will enjoy watching him this season.
5. Two players had a worse day than Paxton. Carlos Henderson and Hunter Sharp. In the last two days, I've seen at least 5 balls hit Sharp in the hands and then hit the ground. Henderson had a case of the dropsies today as well. He looked horrible. Hopefully it's just the rookies jitters.
6. Garcia got all of the first team reps at left guard, and Barbre was rotating in with the second and third team. I saw Max completely whiff on two pass blocks. He looked solid in the run game, but I expect Barbre to give him a run for his money.
7. Demarcus Walker rotated in with the first and second team nickel D, and the second and third team base D. He looks pretty quick and pretty small out there. Without any more injuries, I'm guessing he'll be purely a pass rush specialist this season.
8. One no=name that has caught my eye the last two days is Anthony Nash out of Duke. He looks sharp. Definite practice squad candidate.
9. DeAngelo Henderson is still mixing in with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team offense. He looks like a shorter, quicker, CJ Anderson. He's going to be fun to watch when the pads come on. On a side note, the new Orange and Blue radio station had an interview with Todd Davis. I guess Henderson caught him with a decent shot on the first day when Davis wasn't expecting it. Davis basically said that he'll "have something for him" when the pads come on. Watch for the rookie to get blown up once or twice in the next couple of days. The way he runs though, he'll be dishing it out as well.
10. These practices are a ton of fun to watch with the new regime. Shorter practices, with a lot more focus on move the ball drills. In the last two days, coach Joseph has also put more emphasis on special teams than any of the coaches I've seen before.
11. Wolfe is a monster. Absolute monster. He's been unblockable and he's much bigger this year. During the two on two drills, he and Von went up against Leary and Watson a couple of times. That was comical. Wolfe blew up the inside while Von flew around the outside. Neither came close to being blocked. The Dline worked quite a bit on stunts today.
12. Jamaal Charles looked far more comfortable in his knee brace today. He's running at 3/4 speed in the drills. I don't know if that's because he can't do full speed, or just doesn't want to yet. They don't allow him to have any participation in contact drills at all. Smart move by the coaching staff.
13. In the last two days, the offense has used a ton of spread formations. I haven't seen Janovich involved at all, outside of one carry with the third team yesterday.
14. McGovern is getting all of the first team reps at center. Dillon Day is in with second team. Both have looked good.
15. Peko, Kerr, and Jarrett are huge. This team is going to be much more solid up the middle. They may or may not get outplayed, but size will definitely not be the determining factor in getting pushed around this season.
16. Our stud players look to be back in form. Von, Talib, Harris, Roby, Sanders, DT, Wolfe, Stewart, and TJ all look like their normal studly selves...or better.
1. Siemian was a clear winner in the QB race today. Paxton was horrible. Both had their issues at times, but Trevor was far better.
2. After watching Bolles and Sambrailo for a second straight day, I stand by my opinion that the competition isn't really a competition. Pads or not, Bolles is operating at a far higher level. He gets into his stance quicker, he pulls quicker, he anchors better, and he just plain moves better in general. I didn't get to see the one on one drills with the Oline vs. Dline. The lineman were blocking my view for the most part, so I shifted my focus to the WR's vs. CB's.
3. Speaking of which, Lorenzo Doss and Brendon Langley both stood out again today. The depth at CB is solid. I have no worries whatsoever at that position going into the season.
4. Isaiah McKenzie flashed over and over again today. He just has another gear. It really show in the live punt return drills. We finally have a punt returner who can catch the ball and fly. You guys will enjoy watching him this season.
5. Two players had a worse day than Paxton. Carlos Henderson and Hunter Sharp. In the last two days, I've seen at least 5 balls hit Sharp in the hands and then hit the ground. Henderson had a case of the dropsies today as well. He looked horrible. Hopefully it's just the rookies jitters.
6. Garcia got all of the first team reps at left guard, and Barbre was rotating in with the second and third team. I saw Max completely whiff on two pass blocks. He looked solid in the run game, but I expect Barbre to give him a run for his money.
7. Demarcus Walker rotated in with the first and second team nickel D, and the second and third team base D. He looks pretty quick and pretty small out there. Without any more injuries, I'm guessing he'll be purely a pass rush specialist this season.
8. One no=name that has caught my eye the last two days is Anthony Nash out of Duke. He looks sharp. Definite practice squad candidate.
9. DeAngelo Henderson is still mixing in with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd team offense. He looks like a shorter, quicker, CJ Anderson. He's going to be fun to watch when the pads come on. On a side note, the new Orange and Blue radio station had an interview with Todd Davis. I guess Henderson caught him with a decent shot on the first day when Davis wasn't expecting it. Davis basically said that he'll "have something for him" when the pads come on. Watch for the rookie to get blown up once or twice in the next couple of days. The way he runs though, he'll be dishing it out as well.
10. These practices are a ton of fun to watch with the new regime. Shorter practices, with a lot more focus on move the ball drills. In the last two days, coach Joseph has also put more emphasis on special teams than any of the coaches I've seen before.
11. Wolfe is a monster. Absolute monster. He's been unblockable and he's much bigger this year. During the two on two drills, he and Von went up against Leary and Watson a couple of times. That was comical. Wolfe blew up the inside while Von flew around the outside. Neither came close to being blocked. The Dline worked quite a bit on stunts today.
12. Jamaal Charles looked far more comfortable in his knee brace today. He's running at 3/4 speed in the drills. I don't know if that's because he can't do full speed, or just doesn't want to yet. They don't allow him to have any participation in contact drills at all. Smart move by the coaching staff.
13. In the last two days, the offense has used a ton of spread formations. I haven't seen Janovich involved at all, outside of one carry with the third team yesterday.
14. McGovern is getting all of the first team reps at center. Dillon Day is in with second team. Both have looked good.
15. Peko, Kerr, and Jarrett are huge. This team is going to be much more solid up the middle. They may or may not get outplayed, but size will definitely not be the determining factor in getting pushed around this season.
16. Our stud players look to be back in form. Von, Talib, Harris, Roby, Sanders, DT, Wolfe, Stewart, and TJ all look like their normal studly selves...or better.