August 17 Scrimmage

Generic Scrimmage Notes:

§  It felt a little like a Fall day as the scrimmage commenced a little after 9:00AM, although many fans were confused by published reports and showed up late. The team basically rotated 3 offensive and defensive squads, usually ones vs. ones, twos vs. twos.   The offense was almost exclusively no huddle, but the defense was able to make some plays.  

§  They got in about 100 plays in a little over and hour and a half before players showered to come back out for Healthy Kids Day, which was sponsored by the combo of Country Buffet and Jewish Medical (go to one and then the other).

§  After a couple of series for the first stringers, they rested numerous sure fire starters like P-Rich (dominant-no one on this team can stop him), Derrick Webb, Greg Henderson, Chidera, Jack Harris, and let various younger players get some time with “higher” units. The team has its first day off since practices began, but will come back to two-a-days on Monday.

§  There supposedly has been an emphasis on tackling (this week players had to run a tackling drill three time until they got it right), but to my eye it seems this is still an area to work on and I am sure will show up for a few players on film.

§  There were no new injuries reported (unlike the poor Broncos), but numerous guys were still out with injury: TE Slavin, RB Ford, WR Thomas, OG Munyer, LB Reed, DE Coleman, both Irwins.

§  QBs: I don’t think there is any doubt that Connor Wood is the starter, but they are not announcing anything officially yet, but could possibly do so Monday (and should just get it over with).  Wood took every third series with the first team offense, only three total series, while they rotated the other three QBs thru so all got reps with all three units.  Dorman followed Wood, then Gehrke (nice TD to Goodson), then Sefo was 4^th but that meant he played with the full ones his first series and capitalized with a 64-yarder to P-Rich.

§  Sefo later had a fabulous scramble and throw where fellow frosh RB Michael Adkins adjusted, went downfield and caught the pass for a big gain to set up a score, but he also was responsible for two of the worst throws of the day.  I do not think the coaching staff is resigned to redshirt him just yet.

§  O-line: Stefane Nembot was back at RT, with Kawai Crabb and Alex Kelley at the guards.  Marc Mustoe got some time with the ones when Harris sat.  On the third team it was Vincent Arvia at center with Brad Cotner (can’t do medium pistol snap) at guard.

§  Secondary: CB Chidobe Awuzie all but guaranteed himself a spot on the two-deep and playing time as a true frosh. I wrote that last sentence before the scrimmage when I was setting up the template so I could easily and quickly get it posted Sunday, and it appeared to me that Chido was actually running first team ahead of Crawley, opposite Henderson, with Orms and Bell at safety and Marques Mosley first nickel. Awuzie did get beat bad by DD Goodson for his score (that guy has some moves!). Crawley and Jeff Hall were second team corners with Smith and Mosley.  Harrison Hunter and Brandon Brisco, both walk-ons, were the 3^rd team corners.  I didn’t notice Yuri Wright or John Walker out there anywhere.

§  Linebackers: I think Brady Daigh has regained his starting spot alongside Webb for now. Greer and Vigo split the first and second team reps outside. Addison Gilliam was the anchor of the second team defense.

§  D-line: I think Juda Parker might have climbed back up the depth chart now that he is healthy and could provide some help to Chidera on the outside.  Tupou and Bonsu were the clogs inside but there will be numerous tackles rotating, including Solis, Henington and Samson “Kool-Aid” Kafovalu who played in and out. De’Jon Wilson had a nice tackle for loss with 3^rd string.

§  Other Freshmen: Besides Chido and Gilliam, DE Jimmie Gilbert got a lot of reps, including some with first team; I did not see #28 LB George Frazier on defense, but there was a #28 on white not listed on the roster who lined up at fullback with the third team offense and I am pretty sure it was him. S Tedric Thompson was running with the threes.

§  RB Michael Adkins had a great game and showed some speed, soft hands and running ability and may push for some time.  Philip Lindsay seems fully recovered from his knee injury and also made some nice plays. Donta Abron had a nice TD around the end.  All the RBs got some reps but it is unclear who will get any regular season playing time after Jones and Powell, but Adkins is the hot fan choice right now.

§  A few of the freshmen offensive lineman who have not been reported with injuries stood on sidelines without pads, possibly already slated to redshirt?

§  TE Connor Center got a lot of third team reps. Nobody appeared to do much at this position but the TE will be a surprise weapon at a few key junctures this season.

§  WRs: All three of the frosh wideouts got a lot of 2^nd and 3^rd teams reps but did not do a whole lot.  Devin Ross was the only one in the returner mix, and the only player who lined up for both punt and kickoff returns (had a nice kickoff return), which makes me think he is the one who doesn’t redshirt.

§  Special Teams: They ran some sets of numerous almost live field goals, punts and kickoffs, rather than fully live when an offense got to 4^th down.  Darragh’s punts looked good and five guys were back to return: P-Rich, Ross, Canty, Spruce and walk-on freshman WR Cheldon West.  Mosley (long kickoff return) and true frosh LB Ryan Severson were first back for kickoffs, followed by Ross and Rifle’s walk-on Ryan Moeller.

§  Moeller, who seems to have an nose for the ball and makes plays happen when he is in on defense (had the only interception), and could earn a scholarship on just special teams play while Severson could end up playing multiple special teams units to earn his freshman letter.

§  2014 Recruiting: It looked like there might have been a few recruits hanging around the scrimmage but no one I recognized (not that I would recognize many).