Teaser: You need to come to the TKP Happy Hour to get detailed thoughts.
Steven Peoples is really showing me something as a blocker. Super physical, great hand placement and aiming points. He dictates where the defensive player is going.
Shai McKenzie broke a linebacker's ankles on a pass route. Not carrying the ball... a pass route. That was nasty. Travon McMillian also looks very fluid in passing.
Running backs over all looked very sound and physical in pass blocking drills against the linebackers. Peoples almost knocked Ronny Vandyke into the camera.
Big Tim Settle had another nasty spin move to beat Braxton Pfaff in the pass pro drill. Given that we haven't seen Nigel Williams and Ricky Walker show much pressure in those drills and in team work, perhaps Tim is pushing them for a spot. He is showing that special ability in those limited glimpses. The defense sure seemed to look better in team work.
I can't make the scrimmage tomorrow. I strongly suggest eyeballing Settle, the back up OT's, the safeties, and the linebackers. Those to me are the big questions. At running back, everything I have seen indicates that whoever wins the battle will be really good, because there is a boatload of talent and all of them appear to play an all around game (blocking, passing game, etc.)
Comments
Perhaps at happy hour you can record a podcast for those of us who cant make it?
Edit: Sounds like you are saying that the Peoples elbow is deadly?
Correction: it was McMillian who wrecked Vandyke. Peoples had great reps too, and two days in a row he was very solid blocking in team work.
I think McMillian is going to be our #2 back behind Trey by the time the season starts. JCC is going to slide down the depth chart again this year.
That doesn't sound too bad. We all know its a long season, so JCC will eventually get his chance to showcase his improvements.
I don't think we should over look JCC again. I don't see him sliding down the depth chart before the season begins. He was a different animal in those last 4 games. He's now had a whole offseason to get even stronger and now he has confidence.
I disagree. He was finally able to be productive in those last 4 games, but I didn't see a drastically different J.C. Coleman. I saw the same J.C. Coleman who was finally getting his chance under some improved circumstances. Most notably, he wasn't subjected to the high-frequency running back rotation that didn't allow anyone to get into a rhythm, and he was running behind an offensive line that was finally starting to develop something resembling consistency and cohesion.
I have zero doubts that if Coleman continues to get the volume of carries he was getting at the end of last season, he'll continue to be productive, but I still don't think his ceiling is high as Edmunds, Shai, or possibly McMillan. I hate to sound down on the guy, I'm really not, but I also don't really buy the "he was a different back at the end of last season" narrative. I think a lot of people were just too quick to throw him under the bus when the running game was floundering.
There was a drastic difference in his assertiveness getting through the hole or to the edge. Perhaps the continuous reps aided in getting him where he needed to be, but I buy into the "he was a different back at the end of last season" 100 percent. The run blocking also seemed to improve which didn't hurt. With this said, he still feels more like a change of pace back than a ground and pounder.
I don't necessarily think he will get as many carries but I think he will be on the field. I could see us using 2 RBs and flanking JCC to the slot to match up on a LB.
Not to belittle his accomplishments late in the season (which were significant), but it didn't hurt that he had August legs in November and that Wyatt Teller put the pieces together making the whole offensive line a little better in the run game. And 3 of the 4 teams weren't particularly good run defenses.
"Teaser: You need to come to the TKP Happy Hour to get detailed thoughts."
You have no idea how much it hurt me to see you guys will be meeting in my beloved Arlington.
McKinley, Swanson, Yorktown grad...used to play putt putt a block from where you are meeting. Sigh...been a long, long time...but I'm a thousand miles away. Have a blast.
Thanks for doing this French, really appreciate it.
Wish I could be there!
So is settle actually 360 lbs?
Every bit of it, he's massive.
Is Tyrod actually awesome and did Danny Coale actually catch that ball?
Actually I heard he's settled on 359
349 actually after a week in camp!
You forgot to mention, the little Beamer's are absolutely adorable.
Shane's kids are adorable, too.
What other coach has kids that old? Shane has two girls and a boy but there were a bunch of other kids.
Loeffler.
Hmmmm, sounds like we are starting to see some strong production from that oft-maligned RB coach. Maybe he needs a promotion.... Ducks!
Shane to Oregon confirmed
Steven Peoples!!! I've never seen anything but a picture of him but I feel like he will be great. Just kinda strikes me as a guy who fits the same mold of a whole bunch of other great....peoples.