COCKYTALK PRACTICE REPORT (8/4/12) Practice #2

[Spurticus]

Fall Practice Report (8/4/12)

Today’s practice was much better than the opening day workout. Most all of the players looked a lot more energetic and the timing with the offense was on. It was a perfect evening for the practice as there were some small thunderstorms that moved through downtown about an hour before practice and cooled things down, and created a steady breeze through most of the evening.
There was one injury tonight to report, but I’m not sure of the cause or severity of it. It was an Odd injury that occurred at the end of a play during Skels, as Bruce Ellington laid out for an overthrown pass and hit the ground hard. He bounced up and as the team lined up for the next play, everyone started pointing down to the area that Bruce had fell, and a player was lying face down. A couple of coaches and the trainers went over to him, and after about 5 minutes the player stood up and was assisted off the field. I was able to see through the binoculars that it was Rico McWilliams. He got to the sidelines and sat down and did not return to action for the remainder of practice. The good thing was that he didn’t seem to be favoring a leg or ankle. Details are probably online somewhere but as of the printing of this report, I still don’t know anything other than that.

For the practice tonight, Several Wide Receivers upped their games for this workout. Ace Sanders and Damiere Byrd were the standouts of the group, Byrd having another Solid outing after impressing the crowd last night. The thing that personally excites me about Byrd is that he is not just being used as a deep threat in the offense so far this fall. He is actually running some nice routes and finding open areas in the defense and making the catches. This is a great improvement over his performance this spring and the thought of having him and Sanders on the field at the same time gives me reason to smile. Ace turned it up a notch tonight as well, catching EVERYTHING. He and Shaw hooked up for some really nice deep balls throughout the night. I also liked the fact that Ace ran some plays during the 11-on-11 tonight from the “X” position which leads me to believe the coaches are trying to get he and Bruce on the field at the same time some this year. Bruce had a so-so night overall. He did catch a couple of nice passes during the Skels and one-on-ones, but let a couple go through his arms during 11-on-11. Also having solid practices tonight as receivers were Shamir Jeffery, DeAngelo Smith, Buster Anderson and Kelvin Rainey.

Connor who as a little off target yesterday came out hot tonight. Connor turned in very good performances in one on ones, as well as the Game situation drills. Shaw did throw one interception during the one on ones though. He had gotten into a good rhythm throwing to his running backs and Tight Ends. One of his attempts to Rainey, Jordan Diggs anticipated the throw and jumped the route nicely for a clean pick. It was Conner’s only bad throw of the night however and looked sharp other than that one pick. Dylan Thompson also had a good showing in the #2 spot and he and Byrd seemed to develop a good working relationship. I’m of the impression that Dylan has put in some extra work this summer and his timing routes (Quick posts, Slants, short hooks etc…) are thrown with some authority. Thompson has had a slow but steady development over the last three season, but it appears to be paying off for him as he has now anchored the backup role and is looking good at this time.

Marcus Lattimore had another good workout tonight along with Kenny Miles and Shon Carson. It is now very apparent that the coaches are going to ramp up the effort to throw to the backs this season. All three of the guys mentioned here are being used as additional receivers and all three are showing excellent hands out of the backfield and good running ability after the catch. These three or sort of distancing themselves from the rest of the group as well both catching and carrying the football. Mike Davis had another strong practice but when you have guys like Marcus, Kenny, Shon and Brandon in your group, it’s fairly obvious to me that Mike’s best bet would be to learn from these guys for a season as a redshirt and up his chances to make the two deep next season after Kenny graduates and “MAYBE” Marcus heading for the Draft. There was one play tonight that is worth mentioning simply because it was so Out Of The Ordinary for Marcus. During the one on ones, he absolutely juked Holloman out of his jock strap with an inside fake on his route and turned and headed downfield with a 10 yard lead. Connor laid the ball up to him with some touch and instead of just catching the ball as normal, Marcus reached up and grabbed the pass with one hand in front of the crowd and it was followed by a large round of applause. That is about as close to showboating / hotdogging as you’re ever going to see Marcus do, but it was fun to see.

Before practice started tonight, Nick St Germain was warming up by kicking Field goals from the 30 yard mark (40 yarders). The guy drilled about 5-6 in a row and then moved back to the 40 (for some 50 yard kicks). He made about 3 in a row and had a good 5-10 yards clearance on each one made. It shows why Steve Spurrier decided to give a scholarship to a kicker which is rare for him and most coaches to do. This young man is already kicking with the leg you see from most Junior or Senior kickers. If he can kick with that kind of authority under pressure, we could be watching the guy who will erase some of the memories of Ryan Succop.

Over on the defensive side, it was a solid very good night for a few guys there. Devonte Holloman turned in another good practice, as well as well as did Vic Hampton and up until the time of his injury, McWillams was having a good workout. The big play of the night from the defensive side came near the end of practice during 11-on-11 when Tanner McEvoy was getting some reps. His first pass attempt was a slant to Brandon Wilds, but DJ Swearinger stepped in front of the route and picked the ball off clean and he and Vic ran downfield together into the endzone chatting it up all the way… but they didn’t stop there as DJ ran with the ball over to the other practice field with Vic following and did a 50 yard sprint down that field with the ball! Both guys came back over to join the team and didn’t stop yacking it up the rest of the practice. Also at one point near the end of practice, Jadeveon Clowney forgot they were not going full contact during the 11-on-11 and blew by the tackle on the offensive line and hit Austin Hails around the shins for a nice sack. Much to the displeasure of Shawn Elliot and Coach Spurrier, even though it got a lot of support from his defensive team mates and the fans.

Overall it was a much better practice and a lot more fun to watch. Hopefully McWilliams injury was minor and he will be back with the team tomorrow.

[pantera17]

First. Haha.

Thanks,

[GamecockMastermind]

Nice Report Spurticus, I hope that McWilliams is going to be alright. A lot of the tweets put it out like he was in horrible pain. I hope that wasn't the case. Also glad to see that Marcus is doing so well, I hope he has pretty much erased any doubt of the fans by now that he is back to 100%. Glad to hear Shamier had a good practice, I am still high on that guy. A lot of people were talking in another thread about Clowney looking uninterested to be there. Is there any truth to this? Because I believe him sacking the QB against wished of everyone, proved that he was in beast mode lol.

[Kuhn]

Thanks for the excellent report. Love to hear about Byrd turning into a bona fide WR.

[DeltaCock]

Awesome, Spurt...... Whets my whistle for some Gamecock football!!!

[SClawman]

DJ running around the practice fields with the ball after the pick. And Vic running with him. You gotta love that.

[nicstockman]

Thanks as always Spurt! Enjoyed hanging out with you out there tonight.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by GamecockMastermind

Nice Report Spurticus, I hope that McWilliams is going to be alright. A lot of the tweets put it out like he was in horrible pain. I hope that wasn't the case. Also glad to see that Marcus is doing so well, I hope he has pretty much erased any doubt of the fans by now that he is back to 100%. Glad to hear Shamier had a good practice, I am still high on that guy. A lot of people were talking in another thread about Clowney looking uninterested to be there. Is there any truth to this? Because I believe him sacking the QB against wished of everyone, proved that he was in beast mode lol.

Clowney was the same way this spring. He sort of "half asses it" though
warmups and when they are running no contact or half speed early on
(with just shorts and shirts), he's not In his Element. .... Believe me,
when the pads go on and he can open it up a little bit, Clowney will
be fine.

[pantera17]

Originally Posted by Spurticus

Clowney was the same way this spring. He sort of "half asses it" though
warmups and when they are running no contact or half speed early on
(with just shorts and shirts), he's not In his Element. .... Believe me,
when the pads go on and he can open it up a little bit, Clowney will
be fine.

I hope so. Do you remember someone saying on here that clowney admitted last year that he took some plays off and saw others getting sacks so he wanted to get get one too? I'm pretty sure I read that here.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by Kuhn

Thanks for the excellent report. Love to hear about Byrd turning into a bona fide WR.

I was really staring to get concerned about Byrd this spring. The guy was
just used mainly on Go Routes and blowing by everybody, but dropping
ball after ball. .... Right now, he's looking really sharp. Running very nice
timing routes, and beating the press coverage, and what's more important
is that he is catching everything. Going to see a lot of DB on the field
this fall.

[OfficeLinebackerCock]

Sweet!! Thanks Spurt!

[Spurticus]

MAN !

Just read where they think Rico has a knee injury... He didn't seem to be
favoring in any while on the ground or when they aided him off the field.
At least not from where I was standing. I was hoping he just got the
wind knocked out of him. Hope the report comes back as nothing serious
but talk of a Knee injury is not a good thing. This guy looked really good
the first couple of days of practice and was making a run at some Freshman
PT.

[Factorynew]

ever seen a five star kicker?

[RockmartCock]

Thanks Spurt...Great report as usual!

[Factorynew]

Rico may be out for awhile.

[pantera17]

Crap. Redshirt.

[Spurticus]

Originally Posted by pantera17

First. Haha.

Thanks,

Originally Posted by Kuhn

Thanks for the excellent report. Love to hear about Byrd turning into a bona fide WR.

Originally Posted by DeltaCock

Awesome, Spurt...... Whets my whistle for some Gamecock football!!!

Originally Posted by nicstockman

Thanks as always Spurt! Enjoyed hanging out with you out there tonight.

Originally Posted by OfficeLinebackerCock

Sweet!! Thanks Spurt!

Originally Posted by RockmartCock

Thanks Spurt...Great report as usual!

'preaciate guys ..... you're welcome

[thebigspur33]

rico is damn good

[TStone]

Are they doing anything to stablize Marcus or Shon's knees? A neoprene sleeve or a brace or anything?

[thebigspur33]

i think marcus wears one i could be wrong. i hope rico is alright though