Hornet Homer said:
Any news on the scrimmage? We're due for a camp report. Let your fingers do the talking. Go Hornets!
Sorry, but time didn't permit me to write anything until this morning.
Here are some observations:
QBs: Jason Smith was out due to a neck injury. Duncan White looked improved and has a decent arm but doesn't have the accuracy that McLeod Bethel Thompson showed me. MBT is the real deal, with tremendous size, strong arm and excellent accuracy, both long and short. He will be a tough guy to beat out for # 1 in my opinion. The good news is we should have the best depth we've had at this position in years.
The First team Offense : (yes, there are more than 11 because they were out there with the first team going in and out.)
Tackles: Ray Navar and Clint Lessard
Guards: Adam Stokes and Peter Lenz
Center: Had on Jersey #59 - no name on roster for 59.
Receivers: Tony Washington, Dylane Lane, Ronald Richardson (also PR), Elon Paige was injured.
Tight ends: Ryan Martin
Running backs: Bryan Hilliard & Travon Jones
QBs: Duncan and MBT both worked with the first and second units.
The First team Defense:
Defensive Ends: Ryan Shinar, Christian Clark (Derek Kosub looks to be in contention also)
Defensive Tackles: Bill Sherman and whoever had on #30 - again not on roster.
Linebackers: You get three guesses for all three: Absolutely are Mulitalo, Hickman and Brennan. Fantastic trio of backers. They will eat some people up this year.
Cornerbacks: Kevin Davis and Ryan Battle
Safeties: Peter Buck and Bilal Muhammad, also Dorian Brown, Matt Evans was injured.
Special Teams:
Punter: Oscar Dealba looked very, very good. High punts, over 40 yards every time. His last one was probably over 50 yards in the air. Duncan White also did a decent job, good high punts with spirals, but doesn't have the distance Dealba consistently showed.
Kicker: Juan Gamboa actually looked very good. He's kicking the ball higher rather than his sometimes low line drives. He had 9 attempts and made 8 of them. He kicked them at 25, 30, 35 and 40 yards. He had two from 40 yards with very brisk winds and missed one which the wind blew to the right but had the distance and made the second one. He looks improved.
Kick Returner: Ron Richardson - caught at least two and muffed one (not good)
Other observations:
LB David Coleman lit up a wide receiver on one pass play in the flat. Great tackle.
Receiver Tony Washinton dropped a long ball from MBT that he should have caught for a TD.
Receiver Dylan Lane looked really sharp. Great routes, seemed to be able to separate and made some nice catches.
I'm sure I missed a number of players I should have mentioned and probably got some of this stuff wrong. Just trying to do the best I could based on some notes I took. I did have some people talk to me so I missed some things.
Good stuff: Defense looks quick as I've ever seen them and are very aggressive. DL needs a little work and we aren't deep there, but should be OK. LBs are incredible. MBT looks like a great QB, especially at 6'4" and 235 lbs. Hilliard never goes backwards...he always seems to get forward progress even when hit in the lower legs. Powerful smooth runner. OL and receivers may be a bit of a work in progress, but let's reserve judgement until I see them again.
Bad stuff: Dropped some passes we shouldn't have, muffed punt return try, couldn't run on this defensive unit. OL still getting to know each other...should get better but not consistent.
Bottom line: The coaches are coaching their butts off, the kids seem to be responding and having a lot of fun out there, and we look faster than I've seen in awhile and we look competitive. Marshall is driving this ship in the right direction. Tempo of practice was excellent!