Since practices are closed here is something from orangebloods called tidbits. It is normally for insiders only but this one was released to the public board. They are reports taken from a conversation between the poster and someone inside the program. I'm sure you'll enjoy the parts about our special teams.
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Got an update via the telephone from my friend,we are trying to get a dove hunt coordinated around Labor Day-- We talked about several differant thngs so this is somewhat random.
Things that have stood out in a positive way- Quote- This defense has a lot of sure tacklers, everybody swarms to the ball. It is somthing that we really focused on last year with coach Robison and it has really carried over. No one wants to get tagged with a NOS.
(end quote)(not our standard)they have to run extra sprints for each one and as you can as you can guess,the players themselves will tend to motivate anyone who isnt up to standard.
Quote- One thing that has stood out to me is how players like Orakpo and Brown have made our OTs better, both of these guys are so fast that you had better have your footwork perfect or they will blow by you. We havent had players with that kind of ability to work against in practice, for the most part our DEs were big and strong but not near this quick. Most OTs had rather face a bigger guy rather than a faster guy . They have challenged eveyone,including the starters.
Quote-The intensity level of the position battles this year have been a pleasure to watch,specifically at LB, RB and WR. I suppose that this may be because the postions are clearly open to all, it's not like last year when DJ and CB were here. They were pretty much a lock at their position as was Roy and BJ the year before. There are three or four guys that have a legitimate shot and they know it.
Question-Which players have stood out and why ?-
Well, I think you have to start with VY, he worked himself and all the WRs and TEs so hard over the summer that we are at mid season form as far as timing in the passing game. He has that winning look about him, the swagger that you can't teach. He believes in himself and his teamates and he is just a winner.
Justin Blalock is just mashing people so far.
David Thomas is just money every play, catching or blocking. He even busted a nice run from the FB position. We should be able to force some nice matchups for him this year.
Limas Sweed seems to have really improved from the spring in terms of catching the ball, just his focus and concentration. It seems that VY had got Shipley to work with him on his hands, whatever they did worked well.
Rod Wright- having by far his best practices of his career, he has been simply dominating. In fact you could say the same thing for Dibbles and Okam. Dibbs has been working his ass off and he didnt allways do that.
In practice, Okam split a double team, tossed the FB(Houston)aside and would have probally decapitated McCoy if he hadnt had that black shirt on. McCoy is a tough kid but his eyes were a little big when big Frank busted through.
Brian Robison and Tim Crowder are both much improved with their pass rushing technique, Coach Giles has put in a lot of time with them, plus they were both first year players at that position last year.
Casey Studdard reminds me of Conrad Dobler, even down to the shaved head and the Fu Manchu moustache. Conrad was one nasty man.
If you look at the full two deep,this years LBs will be better overall than last year. Harris, Bobino and Killabrew will knock you out.
Some of these freshmen can play, Chris Brown is a football player, we originally had him pegged as a possible redshirt while he learned a new position but it looks like he may be a pass rush specialist.
Jamaal Charles is a tough runner,he has some serious jets and that Wilkerson is special, he will cause you to break an ankle. Big Melton got lit up yesterday by Rod Wright, he has lowered his shoulder and run over a couple of guys but Rod planted him good, he is a tough guy though.
Shipley and JerMicheal Finley both have those great hands you look for, neither one of those guys miss many balls.That Finley can jump like a kangaroo. I will tell you someone else that can jump is Ramonce Taylor, you wouldnt think somone his size could be a threat on a fade but he could do it, he can really get up.
Dallas Griffin is back and we are really glad, he will play a lot this year.
Tony Hills and Mike Garcia are as good as the starters.
Things that need some work- The Kicking game has stunk up the joint and the punting has been worse.
Other than Hills and Garcia,the second team OL has been getting their ass handed to them.
The punt coverage has been atrocious, Tarel Brown and Jerrel Wilkerson both broke off big returns.
Marco Martin is making an effort to get his weight under control, he is still at 340lbs but he is putting in the work now after wasteing two years.
We are following the recruits real close in their conditoning and have told them that they damn well better be in shape when they show up and most of them are his year. Muckelroy is not in very good shape but he will knock your head off, he will most likley redshirt.
Last year Dockery and Thornton both put on 30 lbs off lard after we had recruited them and we are trying to see that that doesnt happen anymore, Dibbles did the same thing and just wasted a year and a half.
That freshman punter is a hell of an athlete.
