Just thought I'd add in on today's practice report with some of the sights I saw today at practice today.
The DLine:
Can't stress enough how awesome it is to see just how big this group has grown since CTG came to campus. Height, weight.. it is all more than we have seen in about 10+ years of ASU football. Watching guys like Smith, Cherry, Wren and Boateng move around through drills is impressive. Overall it looks like this group has really put on some great weight this off season - none of that junk around the trunk talk this spring which plagued several players in the past.
Guys that stood out:
- I really thought it was a great move putting Cherry back inside to the interior line and sure enough he looks to really be holding his own in there and doing so with great force. Such a big frame that demands a long double team in the run game or he knows how to get off blocks well and impact the play. He had several great stops today. Looks to really be locking out his arms well and providing the separation needed to clear his eyes and read the play call.
- Smallwood looks to have grown up some in the weight room. I really enjoyed watching his technique in the run game which was an area he struggled last year. He has put on good size in both us upper and lower halves.
- George Lea looks to have a really good build on him and I liked what I saw from his technique. When I watched his HS tape, he looked very raw, yet today he showed some great flashes in the individual/ODLine Drills. I see him making an impact at some point early in his career.
- IMR looks to really be settling into his End/DBacker role. I thought he shows some flashes that left you saying "Wow - That kid has some serious talent". Great get off and solid technique to press the run off the edge. I think he still needs to gain some size to be a dominate force there yet he does have the skill set to make an impact. He looked especially good in his pass rush technique which showed him using a variety of moves - Spins, slap rips/swims. It all looked good and his hands were very active.
Other DLine Notes:
- Wren still looks to be struggling in his run defense. He has a hard time getting separation at times and really doesn't get off blocks as well as some of the other interior DLinemen. The guy looks like he physically could already be playing in the NFL so I hope it is only a matter of time until it all clicks for him.
- Connor Humphreys has really put on some great size. You can tell the year in the weight room/training table has done him well. Still a step behind the rest of the group when it comes to making plays, yet I think he will be good with more reps. I love his technique as I think it is very solid. Great mechanics out of his stance to punch/extension.
- Coach Shipp was really emphasizing getting off the ball today. He made individuals repeat drills if he didn't think their reaction time was quick enough- Saw lots of this correction which is great to see those small steps being corrected.
- One of the things that I thought really hurt the defense the last several years was the penetration off the edge from the defensive ends in the run game. Lots of examples through the years of guys just jetting up field and really opening up the run lanes inside tackle. Today, I saw a lot of similar examples and I really have to question why guys are allowed to just get up field like that on run plays. It puts so much stress on the linebackers and third level of defense when these lanes open up wide like that inside.
Defensive Notes:
- Mendoza looks to be running around and feeling good. I saw him making a lot of plays today and doing things he was always good at - Ripping off blocks with great violence and hand placement. Taking good angles to the ball. Great feet and change of direction. I hope he stays healthy because he can make plays!
- Carrington made some great plays today and had several nice breakups.
- Big Mo looks like Big Mo - I think his legs may have gotten even larger which I don't know how that was possible.
Offensive Notes:
OLine:
- Sam Jones looked awesome today at the LT spot. He has legitimately grown into his 6'5 frame now and really has some great feet working both in the run and pass game. Several times I watched him pancake his edge defender. I really think he is going to be a guy that is hard to keep out of the lineup this season. He is very talented.
- The same can be said for Quinn Bailey who I thought looked very good at times. Watching him last season and at the HS level I thought he really needed to work his quickness and especially the footwork. Looks like that area has improved quite a bit and he really did well in drills today.
- Jack Powers looks like he has really grown up as well and he stands very tall at 6'6. A couple times during O/Dline drills he really got the better of his matchup.
- As a whole, this group seems to be growing up much like the DLine and it is great to see the improvement through the last three years.
I did not watch the receivers or quarterbacks for more than a minute today. The WR group looks to really have worked hard though in the weight room as there are lots of gains that you can visually see. Love that our team finally looks the part. For years I thought ASU football didn't quite have the size and "wow" factor that you see on a lot of rosters when it comes to looking the part. When you see this current roster, that is not the case and it really is fun to watch this team compete together.
Hope these notes add to the practice break down.
Go Devils!
The DLine:
Can't stress enough how awesome it is to see just how big this group has grown since CTG came to campus. Height, weight.. it is all more than we have seen in about 10+ years of ASU football. Watching guys like Smith, Cherry, Wren and Boateng move around through drills is impressive. Overall it looks like this group has really put on some great weight this off season - none of that junk around the trunk talk this spring which plagued several players in the past.
Guys that stood out:
- I really thought it was a great move putting Cherry back inside to the interior line and sure enough he looks to really be holding his own in there and doing so with great force. Such a big frame that demands a long double team in the run game or he knows how to get off blocks well and impact the play. He had several great stops today. Looks to really be locking out his arms well and providing the separation needed to clear his eyes and read the play call.
- Smallwood looks to have grown up some in the weight room. I really enjoyed watching his technique in the run game which was an area he struggled last year. He has put on good size in both us upper and lower halves.
- George Lea looks to have a really good build on him and I liked what I saw from his technique. When I watched his HS tape, he looked very raw, yet today he showed some great flashes in the individual/ODLine Drills. I see him making an impact at some point early in his career.
- IMR looks to really be settling into his End/DBacker role. I thought he shows some flashes that left you saying "Wow - That kid has some serious talent". Great get off and solid technique to press the run off the edge. I think he still needs to gain some size to be a dominate force there yet he does have the skill set to make an impact. He looked especially good in his pass rush technique which showed him using a variety of moves - Spins, slap rips/swims. It all looked good and his hands were very active.
Other DLine Notes:
- Wren still looks to be struggling in his run defense. He has a hard time getting separation at times and really doesn't get off blocks as well as some of the other interior DLinemen. The guy looks like he physically could already be playing in the NFL so I hope it is only a matter of time until it all clicks for him.
- Connor Humphreys has really put on some great size. You can tell the year in the weight room/training table has done him well. Still a step behind the rest of the group when it comes to making plays, yet I think he will be good with more reps. I love his technique as I think it is very solid. Great mechanics out of his stance to punch/extension.
- Coach Shipp was really emphasizing getting off the ball today. He made individuals repeat drills if he didn't think their reaction time was quick enough- Saw lots of this correction which is great to see those small steps being corrected.
- One of the things that I thought really hurt the defense the last several years was the penetration off the edge from the defensive ends in the run game. Lots of examples through the years of guys just jetting up field and really opening up the run lanes inside tackle. Today, I saw a lot of similar examples and I really have to question why guys are allowed to just get up field like that on run plays. It puts so much stress on the linebackers and third level of defense when these lanes open up wide like that inside.
Defensive Notes:
- Mendoza looks to be running around and feeling good. I saw him making a lot of plays today and doing things he was always good at - Ripping off blocks with great violence and hand placement. Taking good angles to the ball. Great feet and change of direction. I hope he stays healthy because he can make plays!
- Carrington made some great plays today and had several nice breakups.
- Big Mo looks like Big Mo - I think his legs may have gotten even larger which I don't know how that was possible.
Offensive Notes:
OLine:
- Sam Jones looked awesome today at the LT spot. He has legitimately grown into his 6'5 frame now and really has some great feet working both in the run and pass game. Several times I watched him pancake his edge defender. I really think he is going to be a guy that is hard to keep out of the lineup this season. He is very talented.
- The same can be said for Quinn Bailey who I thought looked very good at times. Watching him last season and at the HS level I thought he really needed to work his quickness and especially the footwork. Looks like that area has improved quite a bit and he really did well in drills today.
- Jack Powers looks like he has really grown up as well and he stands very tall at 6'6. A couple times during O/Dline drills he really got the better of his matchup.
- As a whole, this group seems to be growing up much like the DLine and it is great to see the improvement through the last three years.
I did not watch the receivers or quarterbacks for more than a minute today. The WR group looks to really have worked hard though in the weight room as there are lots of gains that you can visually see. Love that our team finally looks the part. For years I thought ASU football didn't quite have the size and "wow" factor that you see on a lot of rosters when it comes to looking the part. When you see this current roster, that is not the case and it really is fun to watch this team compete together.
Hope these notes add to the practice break down.
Go Devils!
