2013 Spring Practice Thread

[Irish8248]

The first thing I noticed is that not one defensive player had their hand on the ground. That will confuse the hell out of offensive lines

why? Passing plays is a zone protection and the guys are standing up. By the time the OL takes their kick step they should be able to diagnosis the lanes.... if they were to do this during a run situation then it will result in huge gains for the offense unless the D can split the crease, like a very effective timed blitz. Low man wins in a running battle

I think this would be more confusing for the QB because you cant tell whose dropping or whose coming, so if he wants to hit a crossing route over the middle but Grace decides to hit the B gap while Shembo hooks into the middle, it may make for an opportune pick

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Troy is gonna be a freak.

Not saying better than Tyler, but he's gonna be great in his own style.

 

[arrowryan]

If Redfield gets through the learning curve pretty quick, I think he will pass up Farley on the depth chart before August 31st. That would give us a very impressive and athletic pair of safeties

 

[ThePiombino]

If Redfield gets through the learning curve pretty quick, I think he will pass up Farley on the depth chart before August 31st. That would give us a very impressive and athletic pair of safeties

Plus Russell and Jackson at corner. Unbelievably athletic secondary! If we can solve ILB this defense will be the single most feared unit in the country for quite some time.

 

[arrowryan]

Plus Russell and Jackson at corner. Unbelievably athletic secondary! If we can solve ILB this defense will be the single most feared unit in the country for quite some time.

I think we have already solve the ILB spot. Jarrett Grace has been VERY impressive, and it looks like Fox and Carlo will rotate again. Grace is no Manti yet, but I think he could certainly make a name for himself. Diaco loves this kid

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'm not sure that the thing we saw was the "mill-around loose ruck" that DCs occasionally call, but that thing [when well run as a surprise] is effective --- some pro teams toss it in there as a confusion gimmick.

Despite appearances, this is not as disorganized as it appears, and when properly run has the D "fit the gaps" just before the snap, and too late for QB adjustment.

The DLine is expecting to do this and physically gathers itself so there is no "low man wins" issue necessarily. You can only do this with an experienced defense which already knows almost everything and is ready to be misdirecting actors pre-snap. We may have that experience and cocky confidence by now.

Diaco has wanted to do some of this since he started and ran the thing out there in one of the first two games two years ago. [Didn't work then-- we were too new in the system].

 

[STLDomer]

Don't think there's any chance Farley doesn't start and Redfield does. Redfield would not only have to mentally get everything down, talent wise surpass Farley but would also have to be able to make calls from the secondary and be a leader or hope Shumate can. Farley has been mentioned as one of the vocal leaders of this defense.

 

[ThePiombino]

I think we have already solve the ILB spot. Jarrett Grace has been VERY impressive, and it looks like Fox and Carlo will rotate again. Grace is no Manti yet, but I think he could certainly make a name for himself. Diaco loves this kid

Fox and especially Carlo are not solutions. Grace, time will tell, but all indications are that he is going to be a net positive.

 

[arrowryan]

Fox and especially Carlo are not solutions. Grace, time will tell, but all indications are that he is going to be a net positive.

They aren't "solutions" but they are definitely quality players. Kelly brought them back for a reason

 

[Old Man Mike]

Can't realistically expect All-Americans at every position. Shembo is AA Quality, and Spond darned close [add Councell and JSmith there and it's very high star quality.] Jarrett Grace shows the staff every indication of being a terrific Mike. That leaves Foxabreese. Foxabreese had almost as many tackles last season as a certain beloved Heisman candidate. Foxabreese is darned good.

Assuming Grace is the real deal, this 2013 linebacking crew will bow to no one next season. ... AND the nation's best DLine will be breaking balls right in front of them. What's not to like??

 

[ThePiombino]

They aren't "solutions" but they are definitely quality players. Kelly brought them back for a reason

Yes. They were both brought back because of a certain defection and attrition.

 

[Irish8248]

They aren't "solutions" but they are definitely quality players. Kelly brought them back for a reason

because we had open scholarships and they deserved it... One was always going to come back -- Fox -- Carlo was invited based on the numbers... If Kylie or Deon sign and no transfers before spring practice, Carlo may not be donning a blue Jersey

 

[ThePiombino]

because we had open scholarships and they deserved it... One was always going to come back -- Fox -- Carlo was invited based on the numbers... If Kylie or Deon sign and no transfers before spring practice, Carlo may not be donning a blue Jersey

This ^

 

[EuropeanDomer]

Farley looked bad in the last video, horrible hip flexibility against Niklas. Then beated again by Koyack. He will be the starter but he needs to show a better level, he was Ok last year but not great, he needs to be great.

 

[Crimson streak]

Can't realistically expect All-Americans at every position. Shembo is AA Quality, and Spond darned close [add Councell and JSmith there and it's very high star quality.] Jarrett Grace shows the staff every indication of being a terrific Mike. That leaves Foxabreese. Foxabreese had almost as many tackles last season as a certain beloved Heisman candidate. Foxabreese is darned good.

Assuming Grace is the real deal, this 2013 linebacking crew will bow to no one next season. ... AND the nation's best DLine will be breaking balls right in front of them. What's not to like??

Spond all American quality? I love the kid but he isn't even close to AA quality

 

[ThePiombino]

Spond all American quality? I love the kid but he isn't even close to AA quality

Some folks around here are what you might consider "romantics".

You think the Spond thing is bad? Go check the McDaniel thread...

 

[LoveThee]

I trust the coaching staff to put the best players out there and am excited to see who wins what position battles!

 

[ThePiombino]

I trust the coaching staff to put the best players out there and am excited to see who wins what position battles!

This should about sum it up.

 

[Ironman8]

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[STLDomer]

Ishaq and Big Lou absolutely blew up Mahone and GAIII

Prosise = Explosivness. That's what his teammates have been saying and u could see it there

 

[NDokie13]

Holy crap, Corey Robinson, holy crap. Hope he gets a lot of looks in the red zone this year. By the end of his career, he ought to be another Maurice Stovall. Hopefully better.

 

[rocket66]

How fast is Procise? He looks really good on tape. It's going to be tough to keep Robinson off the field - the dude catches everything!

 

[irishroo]

Some folks around here are what you might consider "romantics".

You think the Spond thing is bad? Go check the McDaniel thread...

Haha so true. Spond is a rock solid, quality starter on a good team, but he's certainly not All-American caliber. Certainly not trying to knock Spond though - show me 22 Danny Sponds and I'll show you a team capable of winning a national championship.

 

[arrowryan]

So pumped and happy for Corey with what he has showed everyone so far. I remember a lot of people, including me, thought he would a project. He is the opposite of a project so far, he is a strong contender for a lot of playing time this year

 

[STLDomer]

Farley looked bad in the last video, horrible hip flexibility against Niklas. Then beated again by Koyack. He will be the starter but he needs to show a better level, he was Ok last year but not great, he needs to be great.

Dan Murphy of 247 said Mathias got back at Troy jamming the much bigger Niklas at the line the next play

 

[Kak7304]

Corey Robinson is tall yet his arms are still long for his frame. The kid catches everything he can touch and he can touch a hell of a lot more than most WRs. I can't wait to watch him develop over his time here.

 

[Kak7304]

Farley looked bad in the last video, horrible hip flexibility against Niklas. Then beated again by Koyack. He will be the starter but he needs to show a better level, he was Ok last year but not great, he needs to be great.

1 on 1 passing drills generally favor the offensive player because the entire field is open and it's all about reacting to the offensive player rather than trying to dictate what happens. Also, Farley spends a lot of his time 10-12 yds off the ball and in zone coverage, so this type of a drill is different than what he does on most snaps.

 

[tadman95]

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I don't know about you guys but DAMN, there's some good stuff on here. When's the last time we saw that kind of athleticism. I'm just sitting here with one of these dumbass Mayberry grins on my face.

 

[arrowryan]

I don't know about you guys but DAMN, there's some good stuff on here. When's the last time we saw that kind of athleticism. I'm just sitting here with one of these dumbass Mayberry grins on my face.

Especially towards the end of the video when Golson had scrambled out of the pocket and hit Prosise in stride as he was running across the middle of the field. That was absolutely beautiful

 

[NOLAIrish]

Especially towards the end of the video when Golson had scrambled out of the pocket and hit Prosise in stride as he was running across the middle of the field. That was absolutely beautiful

Check out the play right before it, too (~1:49). Hanratty whiffs on a chip and Nix eats Nick Martin alive on his way to dropping GAIII in the backfield.

Also, und.com has posted the spring roster now. Makes it easier to keep the new numbers straight: Link