CoachO…Camp Report 8/5/14

CoachO

Camp Report 8/5/14

Players not participating:; Kadeem Jones, Janoris Jenkins, James Laurinaitis, Trey Watts; Barrett Jones, Rodger Saffold; Michael Brockers; Kendall Langford; Brandon McGee; Justin Veltung; Brandon Washington; Isaiah Pead

Brain Quick, LB Pat Schiller back at practice.

Jake Long and Scott Wells participated in virtually ALL of the team drills, until final session of 11 on 11.

James Laurinaitis sighting, IN A WALKING BOOT…. Barrett Jones resurfaces on sideline

Today’s Attire: SHOULDER PADS and shorts

Offense:

1st Unit: Long , Robinson, Wells, Joseph, Barksdale
2nd Unit: Person, Van Dyk, Barnes, Bond, Hooey
3rd Unit: Person, Van Dyk, Rhaney, Morrel, Dill

Defense:

1st Unit: Long Carrington; Donald; Quinn; MLB- Dunbar SLB- Ogletree; WLB- Armstrong; Johnson; Gaines; McLeod; McDonald

• Joyner took all the Nickel Reps with the 1st unit

2nd Unit: Hayes Harlan Conrath Sims Steward Bates Wilson Reid/Roberson Gaines C. Davis Alexander

• With McGee and Jenkins both out, Reid got 2nd unit reps, when they went to Nickel, Roberson came in on the outside at CB, and Gaines the Nickel

Theme of the day: DEFENSE PUSHES BACK
• The Mad Scientist Greg Williams was up to is old tricks

o Just about every conceivable blitz was put in today.

o Offense took some shots, but there were actually more than just a few plays where they couldn’t even get a throw off, because of the blitzes

• Concerted effort to work on running game

o Actually introduced a “9 on 9” drill, with offense vs. defense, no WR or CB.

o Exclusively working on running game

o Offensive Line was very effective; Stacy and Cunningham look ready
o Austin lined up in backfield, maybe 4 or 5 carries

o Mason shows quick feet, but still wants to dance in the hole instead of just hitting the hole and bouncing it

Special Teams:

1st Unit:
o Daniels Steward Armstrong Bates Reynolds C. Davis Harkey Conrath Barnes B. Cunningham Givens (both Pead and Veltung were unavailable)

2nd Unit:
o Alexander Millard Wilson A. Hill Sabino Blake J. Cunningham Brodine Sam Gaines Mason

7 on 7 & 11 on 11
Highlights:

Britt & Quick back with the 1st unit!

Bradford is throwing the ball very well. Decisive, Accurate, and has plenty of zip on his throws.

Gilbert has maybe his best practice. Great touch pass over Joyner and in front of Davis on corner route to sideline.

Bradford to Britt beats Gaines for DEEP pass from Bradford. Makes adjustment to ball in the air, and uses his body to shield off the defender who had good coverage.

Armstrong had nice coverage on Bayer (wheel route to sideline)

Tru Johnson had a couple of nice pass break ups in coverage

Roberson had INT on overthrown ball by Gilbert

TJ Moe nice crossing route, catch and run vs. Reid

PASS RUSH PASS RUSH PASS RUSH

Lowlights:

Offense struggled with the pressure which was non-stop.

Dropped passes by Cook

Depth at CB beyond Joyner and Gaines is worrisome.

Still too many players missing to get a read on who fits where.

CAMP OBSERVATIONS:
Zero carry over from the chippy practice from yesterday. This was very “workmanlike”.

Anticipated physical practice never really materialized.

Players who have risen up the Special Teams Depth Chart is a good indication of who is mostly likely ahead of the game in terms of sticking around:

Chase Reynolds: he is made his way back to being a core player on ALL of the ST. Didn’t start out that way

Phillip Steward: very present on both coverage teams

EJ Gaines: showing up on 3 of the 4 core ST

Mo Alexander: same as Gaines, on 3 of the 4 core teams

Aaron Hiil, Mason Brodine, Etienne Sabino all on 2nd unit ST

Players who are noticeably ABSENT form Special Teams:

Marcus Roberson: just doesn’t like to tackle

Greg Reid: 4th in line as KO Returner; 3rd in line as Punt Returner

Darren Woodard: not a good sign

CLOSED Special Team Practice tomorrow, and game prep of Thursday![/quote]

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Shawn Hill looks to be exactly as advertised. A veteran backup QB who understands his role, and does his job. He has moments where he makes some very good throws, and others where he misses on.

Austin Davis may not make it past the FIRST cut. He is the very definition of a “camp arm” at this stage. He looks NOTHING like the guy who was here 2 years ago. There will be no PS for him. They will cut him outright, and if for whatever reason they need him in 6 months, they can call him back because no one else will be breaking down any doors to sign him.

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I don’t necessarily agree that it’s Westbrooks or Sam. It may very well be neither. It wouldn’t surprise me to see them keep Conrath AND Carrington as the 4th and 5th DT, with Carrington having the ability to slide outside if needed. When you think about it, it they are only gonna keep 9 DL, that would be the BEST 9. They love Conrath,, they have since he got here. And he isn’t the 270 lb kid anymore.

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[Pead:] I don’t think he is on the fence because of the injury. I think he may have finally worn out his welcome. I have heard a few things I am not at liberty to share just yet, about some things that have happened. Let’s just say, the things you hear about him not being exactly the best teammate might be more accurate than previously reported.

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[Jones:] He was merely ROTATING days with Barnes, in Wells’ absence. He hasn’t been seen there [with the 1st unit] since they put pads on. I have not heard one word as to what his “ailment” might be. But I do find it strange, that he has not even been on the sideline since his last practice a week ago today. That includes Saturday at the Dome. With Barnes ability to play Guard as well, Jones’ best bet is to get on the field and find a way to compete for the Center spot. Also keep in mind, Barnes is a mainstay on the Kickoff Return team as well as the FG/XP team. He dressed in all 16 games last year, starting 4 at Center. To think he is not in a good position compared to Jones would be wishful thinking. Barnes hasn’t surpassed Jones at all. The fact is he has been ahead of him from the start. To me, the accurate statement here would be that Jones hasn’t caught up to Barnes. Jones to this point is still the weakest physically of any of the OL. For all the talk of his reshaped body he still had the weakest punch and isn’t moving well enough (be it lingering effects of the foot injury or not).

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I think [Gaines and Joyner] are having similar camps. For different reasons. They both have shown the individual skill sets that show why there were drafted. Gaines obviously is a better “pure” corner. While Joyner has more upside as an overall player. But if you are expecting Joyner to be a CB, as in on the outside covering WRs, it won’t happen. Gaines, on the other hand, can and will have be the main depth guy in both the CB and the Nickel?

They both have a tremendous football IQ, in that they understand how they need to play to be successful. I expect both players to be very good fits in Williams scheme.

[Joyner] getting beat in 1 on 1 passing drills doesn’t mean much to me. They ALL get beat in those. They are trying to defend the entire field, with NO pressure on the QB. Also, it has been the case in previous practices, but none as prevalent as today, 3 out of 4 plays run today by the offense, would have ended up in sacks, so trying to judge a DB in coverage is pointless.

Even a couple of the so called highlight catches, (one by Austin along the sideline, first of all, would never have been thrown, and second of all, had it been live, TJ McDonald was in position to lay a hit on an exposed Austin. Those kind of plays draw all sorts of oooh and aaahs from the crowd because it looks like a huge play for the offense, when in reality, its the defense who are the ones celebrating the play.

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These UDFA are going to have a very difficult time making this roster this year. I talked to someone yesterday “close to the organization” and was basically told that most everything is decided. They are “looking at 6 or 7 players” at this point that still have a chance to make an impression.