Hey guys, just went to the first of two practices I'm going to today. I have a hot Publix sub and a nap in my near future, so I'm going to be quick and to the point.
1. I was at the field before the doors opened at 7:45. The second I stepped into the bleachers, out walks Davone Bess. He started catching passes from the jug machine. Caught them low, high, and to the side. I think his work ethic is starting to rub off on guys around him, because 2 other receivers and Anthony Fasano came out early to catch some passes too. Of the other two receivers, one was Taurus Johnson, and didn't quite get a good look at the other.
The only notable drops that I saw in practice involved Brandon Marshall and Taurus Johnson. Marshall in individual drills got his hands on a high pass, failing to reel it in. Taurus Johnson had a bad drop during walk throughs, and let one get away that dropped right in the perfect spot.
Roberto Wallace also had a nice practice. With his size, he could be a pretty special player if he puts together a solid string of workouts and pre season games.
Marshall still looks like an absolute beast. He's going to be a special player for this team.
2. Chad Henne seems to be getting the touch pass down pat, which is funny because it is still thrown on a frozen rope. Chad's only bad pass I saw involved leading a receiver right into Tyrone Culver, in which Culver jumped in front of the receiver and nearly picked it off.
Thigpen was picked off by Nate Ness during practice too (it was either Ness or another low depth chart guy EDIT: It was Evan Oglesby).
Pennington's arm didn't look too good today. He threw a wounded duck pass that would have been picked off in a real game situation but it was just batted down. I'm not sure which receiver it was intended for.
From what I saw, Pat White had a pretty solid practice. He faced pressure a few times, getting the ball out right in the nick of time. One pass found Fasano directly over the middle and would have been a 15+ yard gain. Another pass White faced the blitz and dumped a screen off, which would have been a minimal gain. He also had a very nice face pass to Roberto Wallace in the back of the end zone, though, I am unsure who was in coverage.
All quarterbacks looked good in an accuracy standpoint, besides the one or two bad throws made by Henne, Thigpen, and Pennington.
3. Jake Long absolutely swallowed up Koa Misi head to head. The line lined up in their full set, while one defensive lineman lined up on a certain spot on the line. Misi didn't give much pressure, Wake did pretty decent, and Jared Odrick was an absolute monster in drills today. Odrick pulled a classic power move on one of the guards, and blew right past him. Richie Incognito was 50/50 in this drill, sometimes swallowing up a player, and sometimes getting bum rushed. John Jerry looked pretty stout, only giving up a pressure once (or maybe twice)
4. Tristan Davis was giving his heart into practice today, and couldn't seem to find any space to run. Gotta give it up to this kid for trying when pretty much all odds are against him.
I'm not sure which knee Cobbs injured, but he was holding his right knee and giving it extra stretching during breaks. He still looked pretty quick.
Ricky looks tone and in shape, he really isn't a juggernaut until gameday. He doesn't dog it, he just seems to have another gear during games.
Ronnie Brown looked good too. One play he took about 3 seconds, but juked out a defender in the backfield. The coaches didn't seem to like it though, as one screamed "What the F are you doing!". He still seems to be a favorite among this staff, Sparano was joking around with him when the backs were receiving passes in drills. Sparano semi caught Brown off guard when he was catching an over the shoulder pass, and brown missed it. Coach then said "I don't even have to cover you for you to drop it!"
5. Crowder came up with a fumble on a missed snap from the center to Henne. Crowder ran for about 10 yards, and quickly pitched it to Clemons who was running down the sideline. Crowder will probably have a better season in this defense. I think he is more important to this team than people make him out to be. Dansby was also the victim of a Davone Bess pass over the middle. Henne put it in the perfect spot for Bess, who caught it between three defenders. Dansby was inches from tipping it. Next play, Bess caught it in about the same spot, making a great effort on the catch.
Overall: Great practice. The team really seems to get along, and the guys are having fun out there, while still playing disciplined. I will update tonight once the 5PM session gets out. I will also post pictures when I get home tomorrow.
1. I was at the field before the doors opened at 7:45. The second I stepped into the bleachers, out walks Davone Bess. He started catching passes from the jug machine. Caught them low, high, and to the side. I think his work ethic is starting to rub off on guys around him, because 2 other receivers and Anthony Fasano came out early to catch some passes too. Of the other two receivers, one was Taurus Johnson, and didn't quite get a good look at the other.
The only notable drops that I saw in practice involved Brandon Marshall and Taurus Johnson. Marshall in individual drills got his hands on a high pass, failing to reel it in. Taurus Johnson had a bad drop during walk throughs, and let one get away that dropped right in the perfect spot.
Roberto Wallace also had a nice practice. With his size, he could be a pretty special player if he puts together a solid string of workouts and pre season games.
Marshall still looks like an absolute beast. He's going to be a special player for this team.
2. Chad Henne seems to be getting the touch pass down pat, which is funny because it is still thrown on a frozen rope. Chad's only bad pass I saw involved leading a receiver right into Tyrone Culver, in which Culver jumped in front of the receiver and nearly picked it off.
Thigpen was picked off by Nate Ness during practice too (it was either Ness or another low depth chart guy EDIT: It was Evan Oglesby).
Pennington's arm didn't look too good today. He threw a wounded duck pass that would have been picked off in a real game situation but it was just batted down. I'm not sure which receiver it was intended for.
From what I saw, Pat White had a pretty solid practice. He faced pressure a few times, getting the ball out right in the nick of time. One pass found Fasano directly over the middle and would have been a 15+ yard gain. Another pass White faced the blitz and dumped a screen off, which would have been a minimal gain. He also had a very nice face pass to Roberto Wallace in the back of the end zone, though, I am unsure who was in coverage.
All quarterbacks looked good in an accuracy standpoint, besides the one or two bad throws made by Henne, Thigpen, and Pennington.
3. Jake Long absolutely swallowed up Koa Misi head to head. The line lined up in their full set, while one defensive lineman lined up on a certain spot on the line. Misi didn't give much pressure, Wake did pretty decent, and Jared Odrick was an absolute monster in drills today. Odrick pulled a classic power move on one of the guards, and blew right past him. Richie Incognito was 50/50 in this drill, sometimes swallowing up a player, and sometimes getting bum rushed. John Jerry looked pretty stout, only giving up a pressure once (or maybe twice)
4. Tristan Davis was giving his heart into practice today, and couldn't seem to find any space to run. Gotta give it up to this kid for trying when pretty much all odds are against him.
I'm not sure which knee Cobbs injured, but he was holding his right knee and giving it extra stretching during breaks. He still looked pretty quick.
Ricky looks tone and in shape, he really isn't a juggernaut until gameday. He doesn't dog it, he just seems to have another gear during games.
Ronnie Brown looked good too. One play he took about 3 seconds, but juked out a defender in the backfield. The coaches didn't seem to like it though, as one screamed "What the F are you doing!". He still seems to be a favorite among this staff, Sparano was joking around with him when the backs were receiving passes in drills. Sparano semi caught Brown off guard when he was catching an over the shoulder pass, and brown missed it. Coach then said "I don't even have to cover you for you to drop it!"
5. Crowder came up with a fumble on a missed snap from the center to Henne. Crowder ran for about 10 yards, and quickly pitched it to Clemons who was running down the sideline. Crowder will probably have a better season in this defense. I think he is more important to this team than people make him out to be. Dansby was also the victim of a Davone Bess pass over the middle. Henne put it in the perfect spot for Bess, who caught it between three defenders. Dansby was inches from tipping it. Next play, Bess caught it in about the same spot, making a great effort on the catch.
Overall: Great practice. The team really seems to get along, and the guys are having fun out there, while still playing disciplined. I will update tonight once the 5PM session gets out. I will also post pictures when I get home tomorrow.
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