Spring Report

[Covercorner2]

Not to mention we have in the recent past gone to a huge front 7 on defense and emphasized size and length over speed. On the flip side, teams like OM have smaller front 7s and more DBs and emphasize speed. Guys that are 6'2+ and 230+ (BMac, Green, Harris, Wright, etc) in our defense play LB, whereas in other defenses they might would play DE (OM's CJ, Haynes, Shackleford).

We seem to prefer huge run-stopping DEs with length (Smith, Autry, Brown) over pure pass rushers. Whether that is the best theory is debatable.

[sandwolf]

I heard you can't find Nick James without a jump rope in his hands. He's been working out non-stop. I think the light may have finally flipped all the way on for him.

That is fantastic news. He has the potential to be elite.......it's just a matter of getting his talent to translate to the field.

[Coach34]

[QUOTE=smootness;356503]Or the fact that he gained a good bit of weight and was learning a new position in a short period of time?[/QUOTE

he didn't gain that much weight and was already doing a lot of the same blocking drills before moving full time to OT. TE's work with the OL on blocking drills every day at practice.

[sandwolf]

The 2nd team DL has a significant drop off across the board... DT and DEs.

Easily my biggest concern headed into next year. It's not the starting DL that concerns me.....it's the depth on the DL.

[smootness]

he didn't gain that much weight and was already doing a lot of the same blocking drills before moving full time to OT. TE's work with the OL on blocking drills every day at practice.

Still a totally different position with different responsibilities. Not a shocker that he didn't move to OT and immediately start.

[Coach34]

Not talking about starting- talking about his overall play as a whole. People are saying he has totally amped up his performance- regardless of position. Light turned on, realizes this is it...whatever description fits- his level of play has raised

[chef dixon]

I expect JT Gray to be an absolute beast in Manny's system. The guy was a stud in limited action getting in the backfield even in Collin's system.

[maroonmania]

Easily my biggest concern headed into next year. It's not the starting DL that concerns me.....it's the depth on the DL.

Yea, we could have really used a JUCO DT. Seemed like we missed on about 4 of them. Gotta hope that the quartet of Chris Jones, Nelson Adams, Nick James and likely Corey Thomas can be a sufficient foursome at DT.

[Coach34]

Corey Thomas has until Sept 12th for his nuts to drop...we need him to play to his potential on that night and every Saturday thereafter

[bulldawg28]

I'm not worried at all. Spring practice is more learning and technique. If the guys learn the systems and improve technique wise we're athletic enough with plenty of playmakers to dominate. Guys don't like to pulverize teammates consistently unless someone crosses a line. What I'm anxious to see is a leader draw a line in the sand on defense and dare a crossing. That's what needs to emerge this Spring.

[MabenMaroon]

This thread reads about the same as it did this time last year, many folks worried about depth on the D-line, O-line cohesiveness, etc. etc.
Relax folks, it is gonna be alright, we will be as good ... no! we will be better on both sides of the ball this coming year.

[Coach34]

I don't worry about the offense at all. I worry about defensive depth. Fortunately, we have this Spring and August to find it

[MabenMaroon]

It is there and it will be found, just like last year. Might be a not very highly regarded player or two that blow up over the spring and summer, might be some of the new ones coming in, but do strongly believe that the depth is there and it will come out before kickoff next season.

[Coach34]

Oh I'm not worried- we're an 8-4 team at worst. I'm just hoping the depth can get there on D and we can run at the West again

[War Machine Dawg]

Oh I'm not worried- we're an 8-4 team at worst. I'm just hoping the depth can get there on D and we can run at the West again

If we can find some DL depth and our young Safeties step up, there's no reason for us not to take another run at the West. And I still think Kivon Coman is going to surprise a whole lot of people this year. The kid can flat play. I expect Evans to "start" but be quickly overtaken by Bryant or Peters. Assuming Dan stays out of Manny's way and we don't see more of the upperclassmen loyalty bullshit.

[Political Hack]

I'm nervous that we might not win the west.

[Maroons]

I was at the scrimmage Friday, and my thoughts are below. For the most part, I watched the offensive skill positions, especially the young guys.

- Not sure if they always practice this way, but the speed at which they ran plays was faster than I've ever seen us run.
- Both Dak and Fitz were in complete control. Fitz was really poised before the play and in the pocket. He was also very accurate. I'm more impressed every time I see him. Not sure that Staley eventually beats him out, but if he does, we are loaded at QB for the near future.
- Didn't run the QB's, so we threw the ball a lot. WR's are obviously deep and talented. I love Ross in the slot.
- Shump is the clear #1 RB. He looked a little quicker than last year. Aeris is thinner but quicker than I imagined. He got better as he got more carries. Could get decent PT later in the year.
- Dear is very good - nobody else like him on our roster. He's built like a tank, but he can move laterally and is explosive up the field. They were creative getting him the ball. He should play this year, even with our WR depth.

Like most others, my primary concerns are (1) defensive depth (except LB); (2) field goal kicking; and (3) Dan getting too cute at times. That said, our offense should be very, very good.

[Todd4State]

I think Fletcher Adams is a wildcard on the defensive line. I have no idea what he will look like in August or what he will play though- DE, DT, or maybe even both and be a hybrid d-lineman?

I know Dan won't do it, but I would bulk up Gerri Green a little bit and make him a 250-260 pound DE and make him a DE. That way we could get the Brown brothers, JT Gray, and Green all on the field at the same time.

And I hope that Peters and McLaurin are starting by the end of the year at safety.

[chef dixon]

I was at the scrimmage Friday, and my thoughts are below. For the most part, I watched the offensive skill positions, especially the young guys.

- Not sure if they always practice this way, but the speed at which they ran plays was faster than I've ever seen us run.
- Both Dak and Fitz were in complete control. Fitz was really poised before the play and in the pocket. He was also very accurate. I'm more impressed every time I see him. Not sure that Staley eventually beats him out, but if he does, we are loaded at QB for the near future.
- Didn't run the QB's, so we threw the ball a lot. WR's are obviously deep and talented. I love Ross in the slot.
- Shump is the clear #1 RB. He looked a little quicker than last year. Aeris is thinner but quicker than I imagined. He got better as he got more carries. Could get decent PT later in the year.
- Dear is very good - nobody else like him on our roster. He's built like a tank, but he can move laterally and is explosive up the field. They were creative getting him the ball. He should play this year, even with our WR depth.

Like most others, my primary concerns are (1) defensive depth (except LB); (2) field goal kicking; and (3) Dan getting too cute at times. That said, our offense should be very, very good.

I really got nauseous watching us try to run a 2 minute drill last season. Dak was painfully slow at it and it made a difference in both the Bama and Ole Miss game when we were down 2 scores in the 4th quarter.

[War Machine Dawg]

I think Fletcher Adams is a wildcard on the defensive line. I have no idea what he will look like in August or what he will play though- DE, DT, or maybe even both and be a hybrid d-lineman?

I know Dan won't do it, but I would bulk up Gerri Green a little bit and make him a 250-260 pound DE and make him a DE. That way we could get the Brown brothers, JT Gray, and Green all on the field at the same time.

And I hope that Peters and McLaurin are starting by the end of the year at safety.

Please keep underestimating Coman and Bryant. Those two are going to be damn good. If we start 2 true freshmen at safety, we can kiss our season goodbye. One may start, and both may play, but they haven't done shit at the college level yet. It's a BIG jump from HS to the SEC, regardless of how talented you are. I know it's a different position, but look at Fournette: it took him half a season to adjust and he was the consensus #1 HS player in the nation. Peters and McLaurin are highly thought of, but not as highly as Fournette coming out of HS.