Apr 21 | Blue-Gold Game

[NDhoosier]

I was surprisingly pleased with the CB play (other than the early TD pass to Eifert). They are not BCS caliber talent, but they sure as hell can compete on a nightly basis. Most people, including myself went in thinking our CBs would get torn up, but they made quite a few plays and looked decent. With our strong front 7, I think our secondary will be just fine... Slaughter didnt play much either if I remember correctly. In fact, I think the secondary had a lot of non-starters it in. Bennet Jackson didnt play, didnt hear Slaughter or Motta's name all that much. Mostly heard Collingsworth and Salvi at the safety position.

 

[Old Man Mike]

One of several good things that I took away from the spring game was that we looked more athletic, faster, and more energetic than I thought Michigan looked in their game [which looked surprisingly bad]. If our team can keep its head up and exhibit that enthusiasm throughout games, we are going to win a lot of games just on that.

 

[Black Irish]

I really liked Hendrix's play, besides the INT. I think he had 3 scoring drives, wether they scored or not.
He had the TD to big #80. The pass to Danny in the endzone where Mr. Smith was being held through the entire play and should have had pass interfernce called. Then when GA3 dropped the ball inside the 20.
Thats 3 times in the fewest amount of reps of all the QBs, that the O should have (if not did) scored.
The INT well honestly every time I watch it I keep see'ing GA3 just drop and sit down in the open hole (wich is probably the right route - honestly I don't know). Where I saw the pass go I think AH thought he was going to continue across the field. I just keep seeing that, but thats just me.

I agree with your asessment of the INT. It looked like Hendrix was throwing where the receiver should have been, passing in front of the LB.

 

[PANDFAN]

George has more speed than Grant, but it was fun thinking about Grant and Lee Becton while #4 was running.

def agree on the speed, but i was more thinking along the lines of how he ran and his style..

 

[irishpat183]

My Thoughts on the Spring Game

My Thoughts on the Spring Game

I had to tape it on Saturday, so I didn't get time to sit down and watch it until yesterday and I wanted to avoid IE until then! I actually made recordings of what I watched in real time.

1. GAIII is a gamebreaker. Very shifty, very patient runner with some strength. Love the kid. However....needs to hold on to the ball. For all the gamebreaking ablity he has, it only takes one turnover to swing the game in the other teams favor. Work on that. We look to be in great shape at RB.

2. Golston is the most complete QB on our roster. There is no argument. He throws a great ball, has good vision and can move.

3. .....as for the rest....Rees looked awful. It's as if he didn't progress any in the offseason. I know it's spring, but come on. This is a guy with 2 years under his belt. Hendrix throws one of the sloppiest balls I've ever seen. I don't think I saw one tight sprial come outta his hands all day. Wasn't bad, but wasn't that great. Kiel, I believe, won't be a factor this year. As Kelly said, he is far behind on learning the offense, so I doubt we see him this year.

4. Ishaq looks like someone light a fire under his ***. Absolutely blew up Golston on the sideline. I like that. Agressive and made some plays. Still looks a little rigid, but he can work on that.

5. Josh Atkinson was solid at CB. Made some nice plays breaking up passes. He and Salvi both were stellar in the secondary. Cam McDaniel is a fiesty guy with some toughness and he runs down plays....but I don't think he's a Division 1 starting CB.

6. Wasn't real impressed with Davaris Daniels. Very sloppy routes and didn't look all that agressive going for the ball. Yeah, I know some of you will point to that sideline grab...but I need more than that from our de facto #1 WR. Can't show up every 5th play. Eifert on the other hand, was fantastic. But we need another WR to step up. Eifert can't do it alone, teams are going to adjust for him.

7. Riddick....or should I say, Incredible Hulk. Dude looks like he put on about 15lbs of muscle in the offseason (has some serious guns). Looks fantastic and I'm very impressed with the way we were using him all over the field. Was running hard and looks like a man poised for a big year. Will this finally be the year he does what we've all been expecting?!?!?!!?

8. Ball control. One of the negatives. We didn't look like we made any improvements. It was sad. And I attribute that to coaching. We have GOT TO PROTECT THE DAMN BALL. We will be lucky to go 8-5 with the schedule we have this year if we turn the ball over like we did last year.

9. Nix looked good. Was in the backfield on most of the downs he was in the game. Also, love the way he gets his hands up.

10. Line looked really good. Really good. And that's without Cave.


Just some thoughts.....

 

[Ironman8]

It's Golson lol, and I moved your post just because we don't need a bunch of threads cluttering the front page on each poster's individual thoughts. Let's post all spring game thoughts and discussion here.

 

[woolybug25]

I had to tape it on Saturday, so I didn't get time to sit down and watch it until yesterday and I wanted to avoid IE until then! I actually made recordings of what I watched in real time.

1. GAIII is a gamebreaker. Very shifty, very patient runner with some strength. Love the kid. However....needs to hold on to the ball. For all the gamebreaking ablity he has, it only takes one turnover to swing the game in the other teams favor. Work on that. We look to be in great shape at RB.

2. Golston is the most complete QB on our roster. There is no argument. He throws a great ball, has good vision and can move.

3. .....as for the rest....Rees looked awful. It's as if he didn't progress any in the offseason. I know it's spring, but come on. This is a guy with 2 years under his belt. Hendrix throws one of the sloppiest balls I've ever seen. I don't think I saw one tight sprial come outta his hands all day. Wasn't bad, but wasn't that great. Kiel, I believe, won't be a factor this year. As Kelly said, he is far behind on learning the offense, so I doubt we see him this year.

4. Ishaq looks like someone light a fire under his ***. Absolutely blew up Golston on the sideline. I like that. Agressive and made some plays. Still looks a little rigid, but he can work on that.
.

Whom is the Golston character in which you speak?.... he sounds like a player.

 

[irishpat183]

Whom is the Golston character in which you speak?.... he sounds like a player.

Golson.....Good lord. I didn't even pick that up.

 

[irishpat183]

I agree with your asessment of the INT. It looked like Hendrix was throwing where the receiver should have been, passing in front of the LB.

Hendrix, in my opinion, needs to work on his ball. He throws a HORRID ball. Looks like a Wakefield Knuckler.

Overall he wasn't terrible, but didn't really impress me

 

[Praytorian]

2 quick comments.
1. about the cb's being impressive except for the Eifert TD catch - the cb was blitzing and that was the safety who had coverage.
2. Honestly I still see AH as the MOST ready to go into a game and win for us. I see him above EG in knowing the playbook. He also has the skills that TR does not (strong arm/ability to run). He just doesn't have the experience that TR does. He didn't play his first year (redshirted) so he does have 3 years to go.

 

[RDU Irish]

Give Golson the ball. Someone else mentioned "scrambling" ability versus running ability. Golson can keep plays alive and throw accurately on the run. Hendrix is more downhill running threat in my book. Extending plays counts for a lot and Golson is the only one I see really doing that.

I'll take Golson fumbling a snap now and again over Rees or Hendrix throwing bad picks. Rees will also give you the strip from behind fumble every other game that is often forgotten in his turnover discussion. Golson can feel and get away from that pressure while Hendrix tucks and runs up field.

Generalizing I know but that is my feel of the QB situation after seeing the game. Oh, and Gunner will only see the field this year if the other three get hurt. He seems more than fine with that.

 

[anarin]

1- Golson should start the Navy game. I've been calling the next coming of Donovan Mcnabb forever now, and watching the spring game only supported my theory! Rees is Rees, he is a starting MAC QB. Hendrix is the diet coke version of Tebow, he'll be a 50% thrower that is more dangerous as a red zone QB.
2- I like our options at RB. Cierre will have a blow up year and Riddick will give us the 1st glimpse at how the offense will use Davonte Neal IMO. GAIII shouldn't see the field until he learns how to hold the ball, a 30 yard run won't mean much if the safety rips the ball out from behind.
3- Beyond Eifert, I'm a little concerned about the game-breakers at wide receiver. I really think you'll see a New England Patriot approach to the offense this year. Alot of underneath routes and Tight End utilization. Losing Tee's cousin hurts more than anyone realizes, I hope the freshman coming in can make an immediate impact (which will probably not be the case).
4- Defense looks good. BUT! If we see an accurate QB this year, the DB's are in trouble. Ishaq is closer, but not quite there yet. Kona looked the part and Kendall Moore was my defensive MVP, that dude is hungry!!
5- Tausch should be our new kicker.

Alot of things to look forward to I think. Go Irish!

 

[Ironman8]

1- Golson should start the Navy game. I've been calling the next coming of Donovan Mcnabb forever now, and watching the spring game only supported my theory! Rees is Rees, he is a starting MAC QB. Hendrix is the diet coke version of Tebow, he'll be a 50% thrower that is more dangerous as a red zone QB.
2- I like our options at RB. Cierre will have a blow up year and Riddick will give us the 1st glimpse at how the offense will use Davonte Neal IMO. GAIII shouldn't see the field until he learns how to hold the ball, a 30 yard run won't mean much if the safety rips the ball out from behind.
3- Beyond Eifert, I'm a little concerned about the game-breakers at wide receiver. I really think you'll see a New England Patriot approach to the offense this year. Alot of underneath routes and Tight End utilization. Losing Tee's cousin hurts more than anyone realizes, I hope the freshman coming in can make an immediate impact (which will probably not be the case).
4- Defense looks good. BUT! If we see an accurate QB this year, the DB's are in trouble. Ishaq is closer, but not quite there yet. Kona looked the part and Kendall Moore was my defensive MVP, that dude is hungry!!
5- Tausch should be our new kicker.

Alot of things to look forward to I think. Go Irish!

I agree with most of what you said except the bold. McNabb is huge - Golson is half his size lol. I wish Golson was that big. Personally, I think Golson is most reminiscent of Charlie Ward.

 

[Chamellion]

^ And I don't ever want to see another Donny Mac on one of my teams. I've seen to many balls thrown at the dirt in front of the receiver. Hall of Fame QB my ***

 

[peoriairish]

^Someone's a salty Iggles fan.

 

[ChiRish]

The worst thing to come out of the Spring Game is the fact that we now have to wait months until we see football again. Lord, do I miss football.

 

[ClausentoTate]

I agree with most of what you said except the bold. McNabb is huge - Golson is half his size lol. I wish Golson was that big. Personally, I think Golson is most reminiscent of Charlie Ward.

I honestly think of him as being the next Tyrod Taylor out of VT. Similar size/build/skillset.

 

[returnofthemack]

I was surprisingly pleased with the CB play (other than the early TD pass to Eifert). They are not BCS caliber talent, but they sure as hell can compete on a nightly basis. Most people, including myself went in thinking our CBs would get torn up, but they made quite a few plays and looked decent. With our strong front 7, I think our secondary will be just fine... Slaughter didnt play much either if I remember correctly. In fact, I think the secondary had a lot of non-starters it in. Bennet Jackson didnt play, didnt hear Slaughter or Motta's name all that much. Mostly heard Collingsworth and Salvi at the safety position.

I thought Josh Atkinson did a really nice job, especially when he was covering Eifert. There aren't many corners that can take on a 6'6 TE, but he succeeded in making sure Tyler didn't come down with the ball. Collinsworth has great instincts but he missed on a few tackles and had his ankles broken by GAIII. Denard will do much worse to him, so let's hope he doesn't get past our front 7 lol

 

[returnofthemack]

Also, Lo Wood seemed to be a pretty sure tackler. The one thing you could never knock about Gary Gray was how good he was in run support. If Lo can be that good, but with better cover instincts, he could be a huge asset to our secondary.

 

[NDhoosier]

2 quick comments.
1. about the cb's being impressive except for the Eifert TD catch - the cb was blitzing and that was the safety who had coverage.

True, but 2 things I believe happened:
1) CB showed blitz too early
2) miscommunication between CB and S.

However, I am not a pessimistic person, I honestly thought the CBs did fine and Salvi is a freakin fighter, he will give 100% on every play. Looks like a less talented version of Bob Sanders...

 

[dublinirish]

I was surprisingly pleased with the CB play (other than the early TD pass to Eifert)

cant fault the CB's there it was a Corner Blitz and Salvi didnt get over quick enough to snuff out the pass or even get in position to make a tackle

 

[irishpat183]

True, but 2 things I believe happened:
1) CB showed blitz too early
2) miscommunication between CB and S.

However, I am not a pessimistic person, I honestly thought the CBs did fine and Salvi is a freakin fighter, he will give 100% on every play. Looks like a less talented version of Bob Sanders...

And I saw the same thing, guy was all over the place....But when it comes to guys like that, they're usually exposed when facing the likes of the USC's and OU's of the world. I love the "fighter" types, but we need athletes back there. Not fan favorites.

 

[dublinirish]

Salvi dosent strike me as a celebral type safety. Hes like a poor man's Zibby, a LB trapped in a SS's body

 

[BGIF]

I agree with most of what you said except the bold. McNabb is huge - Golson is half his size lol. I wish Golson was that big. Personally, I think Golson is most reminiscent of Charlie Ward.

He closer to Fran Tarkenton 6-0 or Flutie 5-10 than the 6-2, McNabb and Ward. All were mobile and could throw but body size, no.

 

[FLDomer]

Ward is 6'2 (listed but I've met him and 6'2 at best) and was around the 180 mark so not real far off from EG on body size but he mostly reminds me of CW because how smooth he is on his feet and his ability to throw a pretty/accurate ball.

 

[irishbird]

Replay on NBCS right now, can somebody start thread let everybody know?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Also, Lo Wood seemed to be a pretty sure tackler. The one thing you could never knock about Gary Gray was how good he was in run support. If Lo can be that good, but with better cover instincts, he could be a huge asset to our secondary.

I think Lo Wood played the best of all corners on saturday.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

And I saw the same thing, guy was all over the place....But when it comes to guys like that, they're usually exposed when facing the likes of the USC's and OU's of the world. I love the "fighter" types, but we need athletes back there. Not fan favorites.

BTW FYI Salvi is a walk-on special teamer. He isn't a two deep safety bro.

 

[clashmore_mike]

BTW FYI Salvi is a walk-on special teamer. He isn't a two deep safety bro.

FYI he's on scholarship breaux

 

[BGIF]

BTW FYI Salvi is a walk-on special teamer. He isn't a two deep safety bro.

FYI he's on scholarship breaux

He WAS a walk-on Special Teamer who was rewarded with a scholarship for his Special Teams play. He is still a Special Teams player and NOT a two deep safety.

Sherm was responding to the peanut gallery critique about Salvi's Safety play in a Blue & Gold game. Kudos to Diaco and Kelly for letting the 5 and 8 deep guys get a little PT in front of the fans in a practice game.