Thoughts on Practice #2

DMoney
DMoney
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Comments (122)

Idk why anyone would look at our WR group and how Dawson has consistently ran his offense and think the young guys aren't going to have every single opportunity through the course of the season to prove themselves. What you think the staff is going to give preferential treatment to Anthony Johnson and Keelon Marrion? Lol. I mean if they earn it they earn it. But I don't see any way Johnson is keeping anyone off the field. Marrion has potential so I'd expect to be in the rotation and contribute on ST for sure. If Toney and Moore are dawgs They're going to play, period. Same with Ny Carr and Upshaw. Theres 3 guys that I can see getting preferential treatment - Jojo, Daniels, and Ray Ray. Only one of those would be a negative. ND game shouldn't be used to judge anything for the entire season though. Game, 4, 5, and 6 is when these guys need to have earned it by.
 
- S Bryce Fitzgerald continues to flash with his athleticism and ball skills. He's playing safety, and he will need to prove he is willing to tackle to stay at that position. The size (6', 187) and speed (10.8) are there.
This is interesting.

But we are in shirts n shorts or uppers right now.

So this is where he should flash.

I like him as a prospect and as a corner but if this kid could make the switch and actually grow at safety could be something down the road with his ball skills.


* Damari Brown looks crazy swole (pause). Im sure he is giving new db coaches the look dj ivey gave every cb coach that ever saw him.

We got like 3 cbs that off the huff look like nfl cbs right now in Lucas, Frederique, Damari Brown from a size standpoint.

We have a better cb room than the miami dolphins maybe lol
 
This is interesting.

But we are in shirts n shorts or uppers right now.

So this is where he should flash.

I like him as a prospect and as a corner but if this kid could make the switch and actually grow at safety could be something down the road with his ball skills.


* Damari Brown looks crazy swole (pause). Im sure he is giving new db coaches the look dj ivey gave every cb coach that ever saw him.

We got like 3 cbs that off the huff look like nfl cbs right now in Lucas, Frederique, Damari Brown from a size standpoint.

We have a better cb room than the miami dolphins maybe lol
I like him as a cb or wr. hes a great athlete.

the one kid no one talks about who I heard staff really likes is Ewald.
 
Practice #2 is in the books. Tomorrow is a lighter practice before contact ramps up on Sunday. Here are some of my thoughts on the media portion of practice:

- WR Josh Moore is developing at a fast rate. He's hard to miss at 6'4, 205, and he had unbelievable flashes in spring. But he's starting to show more consistency after a summer of workouts. He ran by CB Ethan O'Connor and caught a TD during one-on-ones. Physically, he might be the most talented receiver on the team.

- CB Damari Brown is stringing together some good days. I have OJ Frederique and Xavier Lucas as the top 2 CBs, but Brown is pushing and opening a lot of eyes. He had several pass breakups and physically looks like a 6'1 David Njoku. If he stays healthy, he will play a lot.

- S Bryce Fitzgerald continues to flash with his athleticism and ball skills. He's playing safety, and he will need to prove he is willing to tackle to stay at that position. The size (6', 187) and speed (10.8) are there.

- LB Kellen Wiley has a chance to blossom here. He looks every bit of 6'4, 237, and he doesn't seem out of place in pass coverage. Heatherman says he wants long and fast linebackers to develop instead of less-talented finished products. Wiley will be a perfect test case.

- At this point, I don't even treat WR Malachi Toney as a freshman. He is carrying himself as a starter on and off the field. Beck is already looking for him.

- One player who stood out during 1-on1s- TE Alex Bauman. The Tulane transfer is much heavier and more physical than I expected, but he is still fluid as a receiver. He made a one-handed catch over the middle and strode into the end zone.

This version is the radio edit from the media portion of practice. For more specific thoughts on the entire practice, sign up for Canes Connection by using promo code CIS50 and clicking this link to get on the mailing list for the weekly Zoom practice calls. That code takes 50% off the first month.

I will be having a call every week to provide practice information for the donor community. Let's be part of the sixth championship.

moore was our highest rated recruit on the staffs board. they believe hes a 5 star talent.
 
What’s the name of the Malachi Toney fan club? I want him seeing the field game 1!
 
Very excited by Toney. Heard good things from my Heritage guy all throughout last year and into camp this year.

I just hope they rip the training wheels off and don’t give Tony Johnson snaps out of pity. It’s fine to mix the two, but it sounds like Toney is already cleaner and more fluid with route running, plus his football IQ is impressive for a TF. I think playing QB out of necessity in HS helps with understanding all the intricate details that come with each particular play; it’s imperative to have “feel” in a situation when it doesn’t go perfectly to plan. He knows when to break off his route a little earlier based on coverage, or find a soft spot in a zone etc.

The slot is so important in Dawson’s offense. I just hope we play the best player.

Good signs for the offense overall imo. I look forward to hearing about the DTs and rest of defense in about a week or so, when pads come on and fall camp actually starts to matter.
 
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Very excited by Toney. Heard good things from my Heritage guy all throughout last year and into camp this year.

I just hope they rip the training wheels off and don’t give Tony Johnson snaps out of pity. It’s fine to mix the two, but it sounds like Toney is already cleaner and more fluid with route running, plus his football IQ is impressive for a TF. I think playing QB out of necessity in HS helps with understanding all the intricate details that come with each particular play; it’s imperative to have “feel” in a situation when it doesn’t go perfectly to plan. He knows when to break off his route a little earlier based on coverage, or find a soft spot in a zone etc.

Good signs for the offense imo. I look forward to hearing about the DTs and rest of defense in about a week or so, when pads come on and fall camp actually starts to matter.

Going into Spring, the questions were Beck and Daniels health, WR depth, TE talent and depth (after Lofton), LB talent and depth, Safety talent and depth, DT talent and depth:
  1. Beck and Daniels: Check
  2. WR depth: Check
  3. TE talent and depth: Check (Bauman doing his thing and the freshmen physically ready)
  4. LB talent and depth: Check
  5. S talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD
  6. DT talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD

We have questions marks, but the roster looks like it should and there are a ton of chess pieces for both coordinators to work with. Can't wait until the pads come on to see if the Safeties and DTs are stepping up (impossible to know without pads). Team looks legit, right ingredients in place. Now bake the cake.
 
Going into Spring, the questions were Beck and Daniels health, WR depth, TE talent and depth (after Lofton), LB talent and depth, Safety talent and depth, DT talent and depth:
  1. Beck and Daniels: Check
  2. WR depth: Check
  3. TE talent and depth: Check (Bauman doing his thing and the freshmen physically ready)
  4. LB talent and depth: Check
  5. S talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD
  6. DT talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD

We have questions marks, but the roster looks like it should and there are a ton of chess pieces for both coordinators to work with. Can't wait until the pads come on to see if the Safeties and DTs are stepping up (impossible to know without pads). Team looks legit, right ingredients in place. Now bake the cake.
That is super optimistic. I’m with you on the first three. The second half is questionable, in particular #6. There’s SOME talent there allegedly, but we haven’t seen Justin Scott actually do it yet. Will Ahmad Moten step up and play like an All ACC (lower team) tackle? Haven’t seen it yet. Blay? Simpson? Russell? No idea. Could the group be really talented, sure. There’s little to no supporting evidence right now though. The depth part is where I just don’t agree. I think we have 6 DTs on the roster right now, not including guys like Blount, Bain and Mesidor who’ve bounced between 5 and 3 tech. I’m terrified of something happening to one of the projected two deep.
 
That is super optimistic. I’m with you on the first three. The second half is questionable, in particular #6. There’s SOME talent there allegedly, but we haven’t seen Justin Scott actually do it yet. Will Ahmad Moten step up and play like an All ACC (lower team) tackle? Haven’t seen it yet. Blay? Simpson? Russell? No idea. Could the group be really talented, sure. There’s little to no supporting evidence right now though. The depth part is where I just don’t agree. I think we have 6 DTs on the roster right now, not including guys like Blount, Bain and Mesidor who’ve bounced between 5 and 3 tech. I’m terrified of something happening to one of the projected two deep.

I didn't "check" the talent box at DT or S just yet. But I changed my opinoin on DT depth because @Hstokes1447 and @Lance Roffers convinced me we'll see fewer pure DT snap counts in Hetherman's 4i than in the classic 4-3.

If we're often only running with 1 DT, Bain, Mesidor and a stand-up Jack along the line, then our DT depth is just fine. It's if we need 2 DTs out there for 40+ snaps a game each that I start getting worried.... Also, Jones should be "okay" as the 4th DT, and @DMoney thinks Blount may fill that role anyway.
 
Going into Spring, the questions were Beck and Daniels health, WR depth, TE talent and depth (after Lofton), LB talent and depth, Safety talent and depth, DT talent and depth:
  1. Beck and Daniels: Check
  2. WR depth: Check
  3. TE talent and depth: Check (Bauman doing his thing and the freshmen physically ready)
  4. LB talent and depth: Check
  5. S talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD
  6. DT talent and depth: Check on depth, talent TBD

We have questions marks, but the roster looks like it should and there are a ton of chess pieces for both coordinators to work with. Can't wait until the pads come on to see if the Safeties and DTs are stepping up (impossible to know without pads). Team looks legit, right ingredients in place. Now bake the cake.
Anything less than undefeated and a National Championship is another unaccomplished season.
 
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