2014 Spring Practice Thread

[koonja]

Here is him standing beside AllGator, who is listed as 6'3''. He looks 6'4'' to me.

Who's all gator?

 

[vinnymac2402]

Sounds like a glorified WR to me. Part of the beauty of the TE position is size mismatch downfield and play calling flexibility to keep a blocker in or send another receiver down field. His lack of size concerns me on these fronts.

I do agree we have been spoiled rotten with Carlson/Rudolph/Eifert/Niklas/etc.

Dont forget Anthony Fasino

 

[Wild Bill]

Nah. Saw him at Chipotle

I hope he was bulking.

 

[IrishLax]

Sounds like a glorified WR to me. Part of the beauty of the TE position is size mismatch downfield and play calling flexibility to keep a blocker in or send another receiver down field. His lack of size concerns me on these fronts.

I do agree we have been spoiled rotten with Carlson/Rudolph/Eifert/Niklas/etc.

The thing is, Chris Cooley was a very good NFL TE (multiple Pro Bowls, All-Pro, etc.) as a 6'3" 240ish guy. He was used in-line, split out wide, and as an H-back. The key to Cooley is that he was deceptively quick, while also being tenacious with a strong lower body.

The biggest hurdle to Heurman contributing has to be his lower body strength. I have no clue how strong his base is, but if he can showcase enough power it's easy to see where he'd fit in. I'm not sure if he's there yet though or will ever get there... and there's no doubt that he'll never road grade like Niklas did sometimes as a run blocker.

 

[woolybug25]

Dont forget Anthony Fasino

Who is Anthony Fasino?

 

[vinnymac2402]

I didnt look to see how to spell it, but he was TE before Rudolph. You can have Dhans beat me with the Spelling Stick.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Sounds like a glorified WR to me. Part of the beauty of the TE position is size mismatch downfield and play calling flexibility to keep a blocker in or send another receiver down field. His lack of size concerns me on these fronts.

I do agree we have been spoiled rotten with Carlson/Rudolph/Eifert/Niklas/etc.

Dude you are looking at this narrowed minded. you are thinking of the old school one TE sets. The inline TE complements the H-Back type TE perfectly.

New England Patriots used Gronk as the inline TE (still a mismatch down field) and Aaron Hernandez at the H-Back. I would say teams new how both TE's were going to be used, but yet they couldn't be stopped.

Now you have to look at Koyack, Smythe, Luatua as the in line TE and Huerman as the Aaron Hernandez like H-Back.

 

[Wild Bill]

Sounds like a glorified WR to me. Part of the beauty of the TE position is size mismatch downfield and play calling flexibility to keep a blocker in or send another receiver down field. His lack of size concerns me on these fronts.

I do agree we have been spoiled rotten with Carlson/Rudolph/Eifert/Niklas/etc.

His lack of size will definitively prevent him from being a great point of attack blocker. No chance he's going to trap a DT like Niklas but he can be utilized in the run game, especially in the pistol. Arc release him all day - use his range and athleticism to pick off linebackers and safeties. He may get out-muscled against some linebackers but great technique always trumps size in college ball.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

No knock on Heurman, but if he's 6'4", I'm Miles Davis. I'd guess 6'2" at best.

My bad. Hes 6.3 1/2.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

We really don't need to get into an argument about this. You guys think he's around 6'4" and I'm totally fine with that. From seeing him on film and pictures, gun to my head, he's closer to 6'1" than 6'4".

I hope that's OK with everyone. This isn't a big deal.

Everytime I have seen him in person he is 6'4. But Im not sure what pictures or film you are looking at.


Onwualu is 6'1 so he must really be about 5'10



Jeff Heuerman is listed as 6'5, so he must really be about 6'2

 

[Wild Bill]

Doesn't look five inches shorter than niklas

 

[NDinL.A.]

Lol. I don't see that, but no biggie.

We really don't need to get into an argument about this. You guys think he's around 6'4" and I'm totally fine with that. From seeing him on film and pictures, gun to my head, he's closer to 6'1" than 6'4".

I hope that's OK with everyone. This isn't a big deal.

And I'd say the same if you think he's 6'3.5"-6'4". It's all good.

I'm calling it like I see it.

This really isn't a big deal.

No need for drama here.

Dude, if you don't want to make it a big deal, my suggestion would have been to just say your opinion once and NOT respond to everyone. By responding that it wasn't a big deal so many times while continuing to argue about it, you made it a big deal lol.

Do what I do and just let it go...

 

[Ironman8]

 

[anarin]

Doesn't look five inches shorter than niklas

Niklas =

 

[OCIrish]

Spring game? Did someone say "woosh?"

Why is Vernaglia not getting any love?

Junior Jabbie comes to mind, as well.

Ummm.....Nate Shicatano says hello!!!!

 

[Fbolt]

hey mods, take this crap to PM's. this is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[#1rish]

What in the balls happened in here

 

[STLDomer]

I have not really read a single post of this but all I see is the Koon arguing with a bunch of posters about not spring football.

 

[Luckylucci]

In an attempt to get this back on track. IrishBluehen posted this from ISD's Intel today about spring practice.

--EG has really impressed so far.
--Skill players that have impressed: CBrown, CRobinson, WFuler, ACarlisle, TFolston, GBryant, CMcDaniel
--Oline has the chance to be very impressive and the lineup os very fluid at this time.
--Zaire and Smythe really starting to come on.
--To reiterate about GBryant, he is fully healthy and has been very impressive.

 

[rtrn2glory]

going off of the statement that we should maybe be worried about the lack of defensive highlights...i would say right now no due to the fact that the defense is learning a different system and the offense finally has some skill at the QB position throwing AND running the ball coupled with knowledge of the playbook.

let's face it with tommy all we had in those three categories was knowledge of the playbook.

 

[connor_in]

going off of the statement that we should maybe be worried about the lack of defensive highlights...i would say right now no due to the fact that the defense is learning a different system and the offense finally has some skill at the QB position throwing AND running the ball coupled with knowledge of the playbook.

let's face it with tommy all we had in those three categories was knowledge of the playbook.

^ This

But, to be fair SB Trib beat writer the other day said BVG was not happy with anyone after practice day 1...also he noted how BVG drifted from group to group and did not just stay with one or two as diaco used to

 

[NDBoiler]

^ This

But, to be fair SB Trib beat writer the other day said BVG was not happy with anyone after practice day 1...also he noted how BVG drifted from group to group and did not just stay with one or two as diaco used to

To me that's completely understandable at this point though. Now if that's the case at spring practice #13, 14 or 15, then I can definitely understand cause for some concern.

 

[connor_in]

To me that's completely understandable at this point though. Now if that's the case at spring practice #13, 14 or 15, then I can definitely understand cause for some concern.

Exactly

 

[Cackalacky]

Since we have no real defensive videos, I can only hope that BvG has hired some freshmen or walk-ons and put them and Farley in a corner of the Loftus Center practicing 1-on-1 tackling. Also how does he fit in at CB as it sounds like he is making a switch from safety to there. Nickle? 3rd Down?

 

[ulukinatme]

That was the most absurd statement I've ever heard. If I'm able to recover my old game progress from Steam, I'll show you how powerful the bow truly is. I never get in hand to hand fights, unless I'm bored with how easy it is to kill with the bow.

Bows are boring, and it takes awhile before they truly become overpowered...unless you just let Faendal train you for free at the start of the game. Melee provides more of a challenge, and yet Melee is also powerful in it's own right. Let the man hack and slash.

Besides, everyone knows Illusion magic is the real powerhouse and the most fun to play with. You never have to take on more than 1 enemy at a time with Illusion, you just let them fight each other to the death and cast Invis. Paralyze in the Alteration school is also pretty fun.

 

[connor_in]

Since we have no real defensive videos, I can only hope that BvG has hired some freshmen or walk-ons and put them and Farley in a corner of the Loftus Center practicing 1-on-1 tackling. Also how does he fit in at CB as it sounds like he is making a switch from safety to there. Nickle? 3rd Down?

Our defensive tinkering is a secret until fall!

 

[kmoose]

Since we have no real defensive videos, I can only hope that BvG has hired some freshmen or walk-ons and put them and Farley in a corner of the Loftus Center practicing 1-on-1 tackling. Also how does he fit in at CB as it sounds like he is making a switch from safety to there. Nickle? 3rd Down?

I would assume that he will play to the strong side, on running downs. When Kelly said that Farley was much better at coming outside-in, instead of inside-out, I assumed that to mean the angles that he takes to the ball. He's not going to have the typical one-on-one coverage skills that you want in a CB, so I have to (again) assume that he is in there as a tackler who can cover a little, as opposed to a coverage guy who can tackle a little.

 

[TheSunIsRising]

Since we have no real defensive videos, I can only hope that BvG has hired some freshmen or walk-ons and put them and Farley in a corner of the Loftus Center practicing 1-on-1 tackling. Also how does he fit in at CB as it sounds like he is making a switch from safety to there. Nickle? 3rd Down?

The good thing is that they hired a Grad Assistant who, as a safety, excelled at tackling. Hopefully Kyle McCarthy can transfer this skillset to the current players.

 

[IrishLion]

I would assume that he will play to the strong side, on running downs. When Kelly said that Farley was much better at coming outside-in, instead of inside-out, I assumed that to mean the angles that he takes to the ball. He's not going to have the typical one-on-one coverage skills that you want in a CB, so I have to (again) assume that he is in there as a tackler who can cover a little, as opposed to a coverage guy who can tackle a little.

This makes perfect sense. Farley has always been pretty good when playing closer to the LOS and then going in pursuit of the ball carrier. It's when he's trying to come up from the deep part of the field that he really struggles.

 

[GoIrish41]

I would assume that he will play to the strong side, on running downs. When Kelly said that Farley was much better at coming outside-in, instead of inside-out, I assumed that to mean the angles that he takes to the ball. He's not going to have the typical one-on-one coverage skills that you want in a CB, so I have to (again) assume that he is in there as a tackler who can cover a little, as opposed to a coverage guy who can tackle a little.

I have serios doubts that Farley will see the field much this year. He has never struck me as a guy with great or even good cover skills, and we saw him whiff on ballcarriers with some regularity last year. I thought he showed great promise and played well for a freshman in his first year, but without the dominating front 7 last year, he was exposed. This move just opens the safety position for someone who is competent. I don't think it says much about corner, as he will be lucky to crack the two deep there either.