COCKYTALK SPRING PRACTICE REPORT 3/19/13 (practice #3)

[sc455]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

The argument isn't whether you would take Ryan Brewer and two busts in retrospect... the argument is whether you would take Ryan Brewer, a below average player, instead of the better players that we have now. It's not a real hard question to answer.

what is your definition of a bust..imo, summers was a bust. watson gave us 2 good years and made some amazing play? watson just didnt reach his potential.
.

[2000grad]

Ryan Brewer was no below average player. He was Mr. Football in Ohio. Plus he played in the NFL.

[pitchcock]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

The argument isn't whether you would take Ryan Brewer and two busts in retrospect... the argument is whether you would take Ryan Brewer, a below average player, instead of the better players that we have now. It's not a real hard question to answer.

I don't know if you can truthfully call Brewer a "below average player" or not.

If memory serves me right, he was hampered by a bad high ankle sprain for a big part of his last two years.

Was he an All American? Nope...but he was like DiMarco...he was a pure football player.

Lou picked up several guys like Brewer, guys that jumped out as being solid players. It was all part of slowly building the talent level here.

I'm not sure if he was a player on our current team if he'd even get any playing time...but that said, back then we would never have had a chance of having guys like Clowney or Lattimore on our team.

It's all relative. But I'll say this..if I had one schooly to give and it was down to a 5 star basket of trouble headcase or a 3 star solid football player, I'll take the solid guy every time.

[pitchcock]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

Buster is a little taller version of Jared Cook when Cook played here. He
has the same abilities as Cook with maybe better hands. I for one would
love to see Buster move to WR. He is a step faster than guys we've had
in the past (like Sid Rice and A Jeff). The big issue is that he may be our
best blocking TE. I've heard the coaches say that about him several times
even with guys on the roster like Justice Cunningham and Jarrell Adams.
Probably the reason you don't see him out in pass routes more than you
do now...the majority of his time is spent helping secure the edges in
Sure Passing Situations. If we could find another solid blocking TE that
move might would have been made by the Coaches

If we can't move Buster due to his blocking ability, what do you think about Adams playing WR? The few times he made catches this past season he looked like he had tremendous athletic ability, and his size would make him a definite mismatch.

It seems like it's a recurrent theme every year in practice reports that our receivers are dropping the ball or not staying focused.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

I don't know if you can truthfully call Brewer a "below average player" or not.

If memory serves me right, he was hampered by a bad high ankle sprain for a big part of his last two years.

Was he an All American? Nope...but he was like DiMarco...he was a pure football player.

Lou picked up several guys like Brewer, guys that jumped out as being solid players. It was all part of slowly building the talent level here.

I'm not sure if he was a player on our current team if he'd even get any playing time...but that said, back then we would never have had a chance of having guys like Clowney or Lattimore on our team.

It's all relative. But I'll say this..if I had one schooly to give and it was down to a 5 star basket of trouble headcase or a 3 star solid football player, I'll take the solid guy every time.

I don't know if he is truly "below average" or not. I just know that the players that we have now are better. I don't understand the mentality of some people on here that you have to choose between a dedicated/less talented player or a talented/undedicated player. The two are not mutually exclusive and our teams the last few years have shown that. I don't want either of those aforementioned options... I want players who are extremely talented and high character/dedicated... which is basically what we have now, so why would I want to go back to the times when we had to choose between those two types of players? Bottom line is that a physically gifted and dedicated player will dominate an unphysically gifted and dedicated player every time... and will beat an undedicated and physically gifted player most of time, except for cases of EXTREME freakish athleticism. Ryan Brewer is a good story and all, but he carries the mythos of a Greek God to some people, and I don't get it.

[Cock Kool-Aid]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

It seems like it's a recurrent theme every year in practice reports that our receivers are dropping the ball or not staying focused.

Have these perceived issues carried into the actual regular season? I don't feel like WR has been a significant problem area for us. I wouldn't worry about that unit.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

If we can't move Buster due to his blocking ability, what do you think about Adams playing WR? The few times he made catches this past season he looked like he had tremendous athletic ability, and his size would make him a definite mismatch.

It seems like it's a recurrent theme every year in practice reports that our receivers are dropping the ball or not staying focused.

Personally I see Adams as our answer to losing Justice Cunningham. I
haven't heard of any issues regarding Adams' blocking as a TE and I know
the guy is an excellent receiving TE. If he can block well, I'd like to see
him stay at the #1 TE spot (maybe put on a "little" more mass). Drew
Owens had a good day of Practice Tuesday so I think we'll have some
range for the TE in the passing game, and a good solid 1 guy in Adams
that can do both (block and catch). Maybe even move back to the H
position now and then like Justice did

[cockybusiness2]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

I don't know if he is truly "below average" or not. I just know that the players that we have now are better. I don't understand the mentality of some people on here that you have to choose between a dedicated/less talented player or a talented/undedicated player. The two are not mutually exclusive and our teams the last few years have shown that. I don't want either of those aforementioned options... I want players who are extremely talented and high character/dedicated... which is basically what we have now, so why would I want to go back to the times when we had to choose between those two types of players? Bottom line is that a physically gifted and dedicated player will dominate an unphysically gifted and dedicated player every time... and will beat an undedicated and physically gifted player most of time, except for cases of EXTREME freakish athleticism. Ryan Brewer is a good story and all, but he carries the mythos of a Greek God to some people, and I don't get it.

Ok, so let's come to current times. How about Garcia VS Shaw... Garcia was way more talented... Shaw is way more dedicated. Who would you want as your QB in 2013

[klempsux]

Originally Posted by cockybusiness2

Ok, so let's come to current times. How about Garcia VS Shaw... Garcia was way more talented... Shaw is way more dedicated. Who would you want as your QB in 2013

You completely glossed over the whole point of that post. Talent and dedication are not mutually exclusive things.

[cockybusiness2]

How many times have we been out recruited by Clemson and UGA... only to quote "Coach them up" and win. That is what happens when you get the dedicated player

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by pitchcock

If we can't move Buster due to his blocking ability, what do you think about Adams playing WR? The few times he made catches this past season he looked like he had tremendous athletic ability, and his size would make him a definite mismatch.

It seems like it's a recurrent theme every year in practice reports that our receivers are dropping the ball or not staying focused.

And what happens when the season starts and the QBs are getting the ball off? They make plays. I didn't hear any complaints when Bruce and Ace were making plays last year or when Nick Jones came on after the QB switch. Our WR play has been directly linked to the play of the offensive line and quarterback. When those two positions are doing their jobs, our receivers flourish. I don't see why some fans don't understand that.

Its the same song and dance every preseason because some folks just don't like Spurrier Jr and think we can do better. Its funny because other sites that are out there watching the same practices have had nothing but great things to say about Shamier Jeffery. He has been far from inconsistent.

[FloydTheBarber]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

Its funny because other sites that are out there watching the same practices have had nothing but great things to say about Shamier Jeffery. He has been far from inconsistent.

I've noticed that, too. The different opinions from watching practices are comical.

[JT21]

I also like how TBS and GCC have both remarked that so far the punting has been significantly better, an opinion that Spurticus does not appear to share. Granted, it's probaby an indictment of the punters that 'significantly better' is still pretty poor.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

... Its funny because other sites that are out there watching the same practices have had nothing but great things to say about Shamier Jeffery. He has been far from inconsistent.

I know the people from "The Other Sites" you speak of...They're the same
people who charge for their info most of the times, and the same people
who said for two years running the DeAngelo Smith was the best looking
WR we had on the team, and said for two years running that they fully
expected him to be one of the Starting WRs when the season started
for two years running. ...These were the same people from the same
sites that told everyone that Tanner McEvoy was blowing the other
QBs away and they expected to see him getting a lot of snaps last
season in a Gamecock Uni, and looked for him to push Connor Shaw
for the starting position.....These were the same people from those same
sites who have said since the middle of last season that they are 100%
confident that Vic Hampton would not be with this program come spring.
Those guys are the "ones from the Other sites"

Originally Posted by FloydTheBarber

I've noticed that, too. The different opinions from watching practices are comical.

100% agreement. The Different opinions are comical at times. Side
Splitting, tears in your eyes LOL funny, when you consider they charge
for those different opinions at times.

[MillerTime843]

Gotta get readers attentions somehow.

[CockyinCharge]

Originally Posted by Cock Kool-Aid

Have these perceived issues carried into the actual regular season? I don't feel like WR has been a significant problem area for us. I wouldn't worry about that unit.

Either this is a joke or you haven't been watching the same team...


Drops CERTAINLY have been an issue and WR is a problem area since AJ left!! Ace was a solid WR last year, but how many have been busts? Byrd has had hands issues since he walked on campus, everyone knows that.

i miss having a go to bonafide consistent #1 WR, who can compete for All SEC honors (ace did so as an all purpose or ST's more so).

Go Cocks!

[LegalCock]

I think Bruce can be that guy. Bruce was statistically more productive than ace last season, I believe. Just saying.

[crowcutta]

its early, its hard to call anyone consistent or inconsistent after one practice in pads. if i can say that in an attempt to placate both sides. i definitely wouldnt move any of the te's to wr full time. i'd consider a package near the goaline with one of them at wr, but i havent seen any of them show the kind of body positioning and leaping ability to make throwing fades to them a no brainer.

beyond the question marks on who is going to win starting jobs on defense, the growth of the safeties and how we use them is what i'll be paying attention to in the spring and going forward. are any of the safeties going to be capable of playing man? will we use our nickel defense more this year? and who will be the nickel corner?

[CoverTwo]

Originally Posted by CockyinCharge

Either this is a joke or you haven't been watching the same team...


Drops CERTAINLY have been an issue and WR is a problem area since AJ left!! Ace was a solid WR last year, but how many have been busts? Byrd has had hands issues since he walked on campus, everyone knows that.

i miss having a go to bonafide consistent #1 WR, who can compete for All SEC honors (ace did so as an all purpose or ST's more so).

Go Cocks!

The receivers haven't been the issue and drops haven't been an issue either. Damiere Byrd made big plays last year and had one very bad drop which was against UT down the sideline. Nevermind that he caught a 50 yard bomb and a 90 yard TD in back to back games, made a great play against UGA that led to the first td to set the tone for the night, a momentum turning TD in the 3rd quarter against UK when USC was down big at half, and set the tone for the day against Nebraska by catching what could be the best pass play of the Spurrier era. Get off the dude's back.

Look what happened when the QBs and offensive line played well. Byrd, Jones, Sanders, Ellington .. all of those guys contributed in big ways. It starts and ends with the QB and O-Line. When those guys are doing their jobs, the receivers have big outings.

You miss having a bonafide #1 receiver? Here is a stat. South Carolina improved 30+ spots in passing yardage last year without Alshon. They had two 40 catch receivers.

[CoverTwo]

I'm not even referring to just pay sites. There are posters here and that don't get paid that have completely different recollections of what they see during practices. I've yet to see a nonpaid reporter say that our wide receivers, Shamier Jeffery for instance, were inconsistent. The only one that seems to get mentioned in the same sentence as inconsistent is Jody Fuller who still has hands problems.

Its just interesting that so many people have different views of what happened during the 2 hour practices. Thats all.