2017 Spring Practice Number 6 Snapchat Review

Live reactions as the feed updates-

Terius Wheatley made an appearance for the first time wearing number 44. In a passing drill (screens to the flat) Wheatley didn't looks like he was quite up to the speed of the drill. The next rep Steven Peoples went and looked much quicker getting up into the seam.

Cam Phillips looks to be in spectacular shape. He is consistently getting a solid free release off the line of scrimmage even in press coverage drills.

Ricky Walker, Tim Settle, and Dee Fullwood are serving as personal protectors on the punt coverage team. I don't know how ideal it is to have your two starting defensive tackles covering punts and then immediately needing to play defensive reps, especially when depth is an issue.

Austin Cannon got a little movement on Jarod Hewitt in some 7 on 7 work. That opened a seam for McMillian to burst through the inside. McMillian looks really assertive and quick in between the tackles.

AJ Bush had nice footwork, a quick release, and an accurate throw over the running back's outside shoulder in an early drill. That looks simple but it isn't an easy throw if the mechanics are off.

Eric Kumah did a terrific job of selling a go route and then cutting across Terrell Edmunds' face on a crossing route. Edmunds got a hand high near Kumah's neck for what would have been a pass interference. Kumah looks like he is going to make a good catch despite the contact, but Edmunds knocks it out at the last second.

Facyson looks to be moving smoothly without any noticeable hitch.

Pass blocking drills-
TJ Jackson goes against Ray Minor and his feet look great. Jackson oversets twice, but has the footwork to recover and get back in front of Minor. Minor has the quickness, but again when he gets a slight advantage, he has to bend and go. He gets an angle, doesn't exploit it. Gets another angle, doesn't exploit it. Then, Jackson inexplicably stops on the play and claps his hands. He has all the tools, but that was disheartening to see him stop when everything was still ok.

Zach Hoyt took on Dee Fullwood. I love how Hoyt gets his hands up after snapping the ball so quickly. He sets the tempo of the rep and can dictate where the defender is going. However, in that drill you want your center and guards to stay parallel to the line of scrimmage and not get their pads turned to the sideline. Hoyt is facing the right sideline almost immediately after contact. That is ok as a tackle because you want to create a pocket and the edge guys have a wider angle. Inside, getting turned takes away throwing and running lanes. Fullwood had a really good first step, and if Hoyt's hands had been a millisecond slower, he was beaten initially. Good stuff.

Tyrell Smith versus Jimmie Taylor- Taylor attempted a speed rush and didn't seem to have the speed. Smith very casually drove him well behind the pocket. Smith looked the part as an athletic right tackle, but my only concern was that he didn't bring his hands real aggressively with that first pop on Taylor. His arms look short, which as I noted back in my initial review, he had offensive tackle feet. Wingspan was the worry. Against a good pass rusher, that length allows you to get first contact and dictate the rep.

Team work had a group of RT Plantin, RG Pfaff, C Hoyt, LG Cannon, HB Keene, QB Bush, and Wheatley as the tailback. Perhaps Kyle Chung is now getting work at right guard?