Originally Posted by Spurticus
Spring Practice #4: 3/21/13
The coaches cut the practice short today and the team worked out in shoulder
pads, helmets and shorts. They ran the normal routine of Position Drills,
Skels and 11 on 11, only not as long during each station. I am happy to report
that Shaq Roland showed up today during game drills. He was clearly the best
of the receiver group this afternoon and looked really good running routes and
bringing in some pretty difficult catches at times. Also happy to report that Chaz
Elder was working out with the DBs today. He got very few reps during the Skels
and no reps during the full team drills but what time he was out there at both the
7 on 7 and running position drills, he seemed to be moving very well and did a
good job in coverage as a free safety.
Dylan Thompson looked sharp today. He got a limited number of reps as they
were working with Brendon Nosovitch and Connor Mitch more in the game drills
but Dylan’s few reps looked very good. His best pass of the day was during skels
when the team was lined up at the 20 running red zone plays. He had completed
his first two passes, but on his last rep from the 20 he was forced out of the pocket
to his left, and found KJ Brent in the opposite corner behind the defense running
a corner route. Thompson threw the ball across the field and laid it perfectly into
the back right corner and Brent brought it for the TD. Nosovitch had a horrible
workout this afternoon. Couldn’t seem to get his timing down as he threw several
passes behind open receivers, and when we ran the zone read during 11 on 11, he
was “off” through the majority of his reps. Fumbling the snap twice, letting the
ball slip out of his hands setting up to throw and just not all there today. Connor
Mitch had the majority of his reps during the Skels, and did a decent job there. He
and Drew Owens hooked up a couple of times on short post route and an nice lookin
out route that picked up a large chunk of yardage. He only got a couple of reps in the
full team drill, handing off to Brandon Wilds once and hitting Kendrick Salley on
a Checkdown another time.
As mentioned, Shaq Roland was hot today. He started off the afternoon working with
Nick Jones and Vic Hampton fielding punts during the punt coverage drills. He
dropped all three of the punt attempts he tried to field and had to do pushups each
time. It looked at that point as if Roland was just going through the motions and
wasn’t really wanting to be out there. But when the skels started, he caught the
first pass of the drill on a 12 yard come back / hitch from Dylan Thompson. He
had to drop down low to grab it with a DB on his back, but he made the catch and
held on. He and Connor Mitch hooked up on a curl route over the middle at one
point and was probably his best reception of the day. He was bumped hard by
Kelvin Rainey, but he made a nice juke to the inside that got Rainey moving to the
middle, and then Roland spun back to the outside and ran for about 20 yards before he
was touched. He ended his day with a reception on a slant from Austin Hails and
to my recollection, I don’t think he missed a ball all day.
Drew Owens and Buster Anderson had three receptions each early on, but didn’t see
Any reps in the 11 on 11 as it looked like the coaches were getting some work from
the second / third unit players. Buster made a hell of a grab on his first reception
when they were running the red zone reps. Mitch threw a bullet to him on a short
out route, and Buster had to lay out for it. He caught the ball fully extended and when
he came down with the ball, he rolle up funny ending up doing a summersault
with his neck tucked under. Scary looking moment but he popped up and got back
on the line of scrimmage for the next rep.
Shamier’s only grab of the day came at the end of a really bad string of plays during
Nosovitch’s reps in full team drills. After throwing behind two open receivers
consecutively, Brendon tried to throw a short slant patter to Nick Jones, but the
ball flew out of his hand as he cocked his arm back. The next play, they ran a straight
option play to the right and Brendon took two steps with the ball and threw a dart
from short distance into Brandon Wild’s facemask and it bounced off his head for
another fumble. After fumbling the snap from center on his next rep, the finally
took a snap, and set up in the pocket and launched a deep pass that hung up in the wind
and died. Vic Hampton and Brison Williams both camped under the pass as if they
had a bead on it, but the ball ended up sailing just over their heads, and into the arms
of Shamier Jeffery about a step behind them. Odd Looking play but with good results
for the offense.
I haven’t seen Jordan Diggs the last two practices. Not sure if he is injuried, or if he
is just quiet with no plays in his area. I don’t recall seeing him around any of the stops
on runs or around any of the pass plays. Kelvin Rainey continues to look good in the
middle at Linebacker and I’m also starting to like the way Kaiwan Lewis looks there
as well. He had a very good practice again today, and looks like a very quick and
active LB in the middle position.
Vic Hampton (other than the missed played pass from Noso to Jeffery) looked in game
form again. Right now he is definitely our best DB on the field. Also seems to be the
best / most consistent player at fielding punts at this point.
Next practice is tomorrow @ 4:15
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