Any word on how it went?
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Any word on how it went?
Have not heard but I've watched a bunch of player interviews and other preview videos from people and here are a few observations.
This team is a tight team - brotherhood. I heard it over and over. I heard about the improved culture and how year 2 everyone is on the same page. Good signs.
I heard over and over bout how much better depth we have compared to last year.
We may have the best RB room in SEC - Booth, Bothwell, Daniels, Davis, Gayton. We are loaded.
DL is an SEC DL and big improvement. I heard it over and over. I heard Dinkins name multiple times. I didn't even realize he was back.
LB people have said strength of D.
I know not much proven in secondary but I think Kelly Jones could take a big step this year to be a really top SEC corner.
Jacoby Jackson handled the press interview as good as you'll see. Very well spoken. Heard Albert Reese may be the 6th swing linemen (best OL in Miss last year). That might be a really good sign too.
Not gonna lie, like dumb and dumber, there is a chance. Its football time at Mississippi State.
Its going to come down to the O Line and can we find more than one playable corner
Read all the same interviews as you from coaches ("Coachspeak") and players ("Playerspeak"). They can definately "talk the talk" as all teams do this time of year. Now can they "walk the walk"? Time will tell very quickly. I lost my maroon colored glasses two years ago. Show me something.Quote:
Originally Posted by R2Dawg
Two free articles on the scrimmage today on genespage (24/7 Mississippi State). One a Q&A with Coach Lebby and the other about the scrimmage.
Defense Dominated!
DL this year is a definite improvement. Because honestly there is no way it could be worse than last year. Last year we had no talent, no experience, and no depth. It was a catastrophe. If we have a below average DL this year we will be much better than last year.
Anyone know the first 5 out there at Oline?Quote:
Originally Posted by BuckyIsAB****
The one thing that really stood out to me reading the articles and reports was Stonka working out with the cornerbacks. I'm good with that.
Not sure about the starting five but the names that seem to appear the most areQuote:
Originally Posted by HoopsDawg
Steen and Lewis at tackle
Reese and Work at guard
Center seems to be up for grabs between Boone, Keenum, and the UTEP transfer Barrett.
At this point in time, I agree with this. But things could certainly change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Todd4State
This is correct. That's been the starting working group and they're rotating Boone and Keenum in there at C. Zachariah Owens is pushing hard for one of those guard spots though and I wouldn't be surprised to see him beat out Work or Reese by the end of camp. But make no mistake, he'll play. He's probably a natural tackle but the easier path to the starting line is Guard for now because Steen and Lewis are VERY GOOD. We probably have two NFL tackles at those positions this year. Our OL will be MUCH IMPROVEDQuote:
Originally Posted by Todd4State
As far as what I've heard about the scrimmage/camp in general:
Shapen looked good, ball is coming out with a lot more zip and he's able to drive the ball further down field. He had some good throws yesterday but also threw a pretty bad pick. Kromenhoek is the backup and will be the guy if Shapen goes down. Kromenhoek has started to look better as camp has went on and the staff is really excited about him. Kamario is an athletic freak, no one denies that. But the speed of the college game is getting to him. He's hurrying throws and it's causing him to be inaccurate. He didn't chart well at all last week, but the staff didn't go in blind in that fact. They knew he needed to develop. We do have a package for both he and Kromenhoek in the gameplan to take some of the hits off Shapen.
Booth is the unquestioned starter at RB, but Bothwell is pushing hard and is going to be a featured part of the offense. We're working sets with Booth at WR and Bothwell in the backfield to get them on the field at the same time. The logjam behind those two has not really distanced itself and Seth Davis being more ready has complicated that even further. All 3 of the backs between Daniels, Gayten, and Davis had fumbles yesterday.
As of now, the WR group is Thompson, Evans, and Williams. Moseley, Glover, and Rickey Johnson are working in the second grouping. WR group had some drops yesterday and had trouble holding on to the ball. The Kelley Jones scoop and score was off a WR fumble. Brenen Thompson and Evans both had long receptions yesterday and Ayden Williams had a nice toe tap on the sidelines.
Traore is the TE but Sam West and Max Reese have been nice surprises.
The OL group is the one I described in my previous post.
The DL group is going to be MUCH IMPROVED. Burroughs, Whitson, Williams, Dinkins, and EVEN BINGLEY-JONES have all stepped their games up tremendously. They got home a couple of times in the scrimmage yesterday and have looked good all camp. If I had to pencil in Game 1 starters it would probably be Burroughs and Whitson but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Bingley-Jones or Trevion in that Burroughs spot.
The DE group is a lot like the DL group. MUCH IMPROVED. Red Hibbler is probably going to be the every down DL along with Deonte Anderson but Malick Sylla has turned heads at camp due to his pass rush. He will be our 3rd down DE. There's a reason A&M didn't want to lose him. Raishein Thomas and Neveah Sanders are all going to be pass rush specialists.
The LB group is probably our best group on D. Jalen Smith will be the Mike. Zakari Tillman and Branden Jennings will man the other two spots with Derion Gullette and Nic Mitchell also coming in. Issac Smith will also come down in the box at times and play LB. He will probably take over for Smith when he's down in that position.
The CB room........well it's there and they had a good scrimmage yesterday. Kelley Jones got the scoop and score and Jett Jefferson had a pick too. If I had to pencil in the other starter opposite Kelley Jones at this point, it's probably Jett Jefferson. I could also see Brumfield or Jayven Williams starting there as well. If this room can up their game, our D will be salty.
The S room is probably the second best, or best depending on who you ask, room on that side. When Issac Smith isn't playing LB, he'll be at safety along with either Jahron Manning or Tony Mitchell. You could also see Mitchell at the Star position too depending on the front we go with. We'll be playing a little more 4 man front this year. Manning had a couple of good PBUs in the scrimmage and Mitchell continues to really look good coming downhill. He and Bothwell met on the corner yesterday and it was what pads popping is supposed to sound like.
Overall, the scrimmage was what you'd expect a first scrimmage to be like. Moments of elation and moments of frustration. The Defense definitely won the scrimmage yesterday but the offense will be just fine.
Appreciate you sharing what you?ve heard.Quote:
Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve
If we have a much improved defense and a legit ground game we can win 6 games.
With those 3 starting WR, that is Evans in the slot and Thompson and Williams outside?Quote:
Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve
Everything hinges on Arizona St. You win that one and I think you get Tennessee to get to 5-0. After that, I think we could find 1 maybe even 2 more.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapGame
If you lose, you're scrambling because then need 3 conference wins to get to 6 and we've won 2 CONFERENCE GAMES in 2 YEARS. So it's a lot more daunting of a task at that point.
Yes. Thompson will play outside and he will play in the slot. We're going to move him around everywhere. Also wouldn't be surprised to see him in the backfield as well. He's going to be used everywhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by confucius say
ASU would be a program building win, imo. Get to 4-0 and DWS will be buck ass wild for the Tennessee game. Probably the biggest crowd in a decade. Win that one and the program is off life support. HS/Portal recruiting really picks up a few notches.Quote:
Originally Posted by StarkVegasSteve
I said I wouldnt do it but after this thread Im throwing my maroon blinders back on. Why not 8 or 9 wins this year?Quote:
Originally Posted by TrapGame