Week 1 is in the books. Here are my five takeaways from practice (both media portion and closed portion):

1. We have three young mutants on the OL

This OL class is strong as a whole, with Canon Pickett and Rhys Woodrow getting a lot of good reps and Jacob Hawks showing promise. But the big takeaway for me is that we have three physical anomalies in Jackson Cantwell, Ben Congdon and Joel Ervin. I expect the first two to play a big role this year, and Ervin has a chance depending on how fast he develops (he missed spring with injury).

All three of those guys are unique specimens and we need to find ways to get them on the field.

2. We’ve significantly upgraded TE athleticism

We were slow at TE last year without being particularly good at blocking. Alex Bauman ran a 5.2 and Elija Lofton was hurt and heavy. This year’s group can at least match last year’s blocking with way more speed and athleticism.

Lofton has lost almost 20 pounds and is back to making explosive plays. Israel Briggs is a flat-out stud with balance, fluidity and burst at 6’4, 230. He can separate vertically and laterally and is a natural pass-catcher. He also competes in the run game. Gavin Mueller was limited in spring but is huge (6’5, 260) and runs well. He doesn’t have a ton of blocking experience, but if Coach Viti can unlock Mueller’s natural power (55’2.5 shotput as sophomore) it will solve our in-line TE issue.

3. There is no clarity on the position battles

This is more of a disclaimer. We are four practices in with no scrimmages. All the major position battles (QB2, WR3, RB2, OL, LB3) are still wide open. Many players are getting reps with the 1s. Don’t read too much into out-of-context tidbits. Nobody knows yet.

4. Our interior pass rush is lethal

We were good inside last year, but in the beginning of the year we were more oriented to stopping the run with David Blay getting heavy snaps. This year, everybody in the DT rotation is built to rush the passer and Ahmad Moten Sr and Justin Scott are making leaps. This group wreaks havoc.

5. The defensive backfield is elite

The DB group has impressed me more than any other position on the team. We have four healthy starting outside corners. Jaboree Antoine is knocking on the door. Zechariah Poyser is rock-solid at safety. Bryce Fitzgerald might be the best defensive athlete in America. The players we had last year are getting better.

You never replace a Keionte Scott or Jakobe Thomas, but our additions are cut from the same cloth. Omar Thornton is better than I thought. I knew he’d be good, but he has legit breakout potential. He’s explosive and plays faster in full-contact. JJ Dunnigan is one of the most impressive freshman DBs I’ve ever seen on Greentree. He’s big, twitchy, can change directions, has great instincts and practices 100 MPH. He has star potential sooner than later. Camdin Portis is a natural at nickel, and Jaelen Waters has progressed in a huge way since spring.

Overall, this is a really good team. They don’t need anything crazy- if they just keep putting together strong days and stay healthy they have enough to compete for the championship.

 

What does the safety depth chart look like?

 

Based on your DT statements, are you anticipating we take a step back in run D or are you saying our guys have just added the pass rush element in addition to stopping the run?

 

How are the back up DL? Charles? Pickett?

 

Based on your DT statements, are you anticipating we take a step back in run D or are you saying our guys have just added the pass rush element in addition to stopping the run?

Nope.

 

Nope.

I for one had some worry w the run defense w losing Bain and Mesi as they were awesome against the run. But when reading how we have gotten better in the interior, I think we will be fine.

Can’t wait to hear how that goes in the scrimmage.

 

5.2? I hope you are making that up. How Bauman found a spot on this roster last year is beyond me. Probably one of the worst tight ends I’ve ever seen.

 

The idea of Moten and Scott collapsing every single pocket makes like fire in my belly

 

Week 1 is in the books. Here are my five takeaways from practice (both media portion and closed portion):

1. We have three young mutants on the OL

This OL class is strong as a whole, with Canon Pickett and Rhys Woodrow getting a lot of good reps and Jacob Hawks showing promise. But the big takeaway for me is that we have three physical anomalies in Jackson Cantwell, Ben Congdon and Joel Ervin. I expect the first two to play a big role this year, and Ervin has a chance depending on how fast he develops (he missed spring with injury).

All three of those guys are unique specimens and we need to find ways to get them on the field.

2. We’ve significantly upgraded TE athleticism

We were slow at TE last year without being particularly good at blocking. Alex Bauman ran a 5.2 and Elija Lofton was hurt and heavy. This year’s group can at least match last year’s blocking with way more speed and athleticism.

Lofton has lost almost 20 pounds and is back to making explosive plays. Israel Briggs is a flat-out stud with balance, fluidity and burst at 6’4, 230. He can separate vertically and laterally and is a natural pass-catcher. He also competes in the run game. Gavin Mueller was limited in spring but is huge (6’5, 260) and runs well. He doesn’t have a ton of blocking experience, but if Coach Viti can unlock Mueller’s natural power (55’2.5 shotput as sophomore) it will solve our in-line TE issue.

3. There is no clarity on the position battles

This is more of a disclaimer. We are four practices in with no scrimmages. All the major position battles (QB2, WR3, RB2, OL, LB3) are still wide open. Many players are getting reps with the 1s. Don’t read too much into out-of-context tidbits. Nobody knows yet.

4. Our interior pass rush is lethal

We were good inside last year, but in the beginning of the year we were more oriented to stopping the run with David Blay getting heavy snaps. This year, everybody in the DT rotation is built to rush the passer and Ahmad Moten Sr and Justin Scott are making leaps. This group wreaks havoc.

5. The defensive backfield is elite

The DB group has impressed me more than any other position on the team. We have four healthy starting outside corners. Jaboree Antoine is knocking on the door. Zechariah Poyser is rock-solid at safety. Bryce Fitzgerald might be the best defensive athlete in America. The players we had last year are getting better.

You never replace a Keionte Scott or Jakobe Thomas, but our additions are cut from the same cloth. Omar Thornton is better than I thought. I knew he’d be good, but he has legit breakout potential. He’s explosive and plays faster in full-contact. JJ Dunnigan is one of the most impressive freshman DBs I’ve ever seen on Greentree. He’s big, twitchy, can change directions, has great instincts and practices 100 MPH. He has star potential sooner than later. Camdin Portis is a natural at nickel, and Jaelen Waters has progressed in a huge way since spring.

Overall, this is a really good team. They don’t need anything crazy- if they just keep putting together strong days and stay healthy they have enough to compete for the championship.

Dunnigan sounds like the candidate for this years "Malachi Toney". A player that the coaches dont talk about at all...they want the proof to be in the pudding. The coaches did a helluva job keeping Toney a secret. Until that ND game. LOL. I think Dunnigan will be that guy.

 

Is Stancil big enough to provide some snaps at DT this year?

Interior is thin. Is they have to move Davis outside to help there. I guess they could use 3 DL on pass rush downs and bring Wiley or a blitzer down.

The more they force teams into passing downs the better to keep Moten and Scott fresh.

 

If it comes to fruition that the DTs are gamewreckers in the middle, presumably teams will try to run outside.

Forgetting about the DEs, do Traore and Smith have the speed to thump on the outside? Last year Traore was coming off significant injuries and looked better as the year went on. Smith also has had significant injuries in his career, split snaps last year and will be playing much more.

How are they looking speed-wise?

 

Cantwell and Congdon at OL with Ervin coming in with heavy personnel....oooohh weee

 

Nope.

He asked you two opposing questions

 

5.2? I hope you are making that up. How Bauman found a spot on this roster last year is beyond me. Probably one of the worst tight ends I’ve ever seen.

I literally had the same reaction. Like I had to reinsert my eyeballs after I read it. I think my fat *** might be able to run a 5.2 right now in my 50’s.

Ok probably not, but certainly you get the point.

 

Is Stancil big enough to provide some snaps at DT this year?

Interior is thin. Is they have to move Davis outside to help there. I guess they could use 3 DL on pass rush downs and bring Wiley or a blitzer down.

The more they force teams into passing downs the better to keep Moten and Scott fresh.

Stancil looks thin from the practice clips I've seen,all the freshmen DTs look a year or 2 away physically,Nagle is the only one that looks maybe ready and he too looks to be a year away from playing.

 

If it comes to fruition that the DTs are gamewreckers in the middle, presumably teams will try to run outside.

Forgetting about the DEs, do Traore and Smith have the speed to thump on the outside? Last year Traore was coming off significant injuries and looked better as the year went on. Smith also has had significant injuries in his career, split snaps last year and will be playing much more.

How are they looking speed-wise?

Good observation. Our lbs are the biggest question mark to me on defense. Think Toure and Smith give us a nice floor, but Pruitt and Wiley our highest ceiling. I think the combinations are nice and likely to be based on situations. 1st and 2nd down, Chase and Tuore base.

3rd down - rush 4 and drop back Pruitt and Smith. Or use 3 DL on passing down and bring Wiley and Tuore on blitzes and drop back Pruitt.

I’m sure there are others who close in situationally as well too.

 

Can’t stress enough the importance of blowing out a majority of the teams on the schedule so our 2’s and 3’s get a ton of good game reps. Will go a long way as we get into the November-January schedule

 

Is Stancil big enough to provide some snaps at DT this year?

Interior is thin. Is they have to move Davis outside to help there. I guess they could use 3 DL on pass rush downs and bring Wiley or a blitzer down.

The more they force teams into passing downs the better to keep Moten and Scott fresh.

We have 4 proven guys at DT and 2 of them being top 5 overall. 5th proven guy is Blount. That is not at all thin. Don't think there's another team with this good problem.

 

Is Stancil big enough to provide some snaps at DT this year?

Interior is thin. Is they have to move Davis outside to help there. I guess they could use 3 DL on pass rush downs and bring Wiley or a blitzer down.

The more they force teams into passing downs the better to keep Moten and Scott fresh.

I think I heard he was 275-280 so likely not ready for heavy snaps. Newton may have inside track for DT5 spot.

 

Is Stancil big enough to provide some snaps at DT this year?

Interior is thin. Is they have to move Davis outside to help there. I guess they could use 3 DL on pass rush downs and bring Wiley or a blitzer down.

The more they force teams into passing downs the better to keep Moten and Scott fresh.

Behind Scott and Moten, we have Davis and Blount who can play DT and DE. Also, Carter is going to be huge for us. Those are 5 guys that can play DT.

Having a guy like Stancil get some snaps especially in either lower tier ACC games or FBS type of games is what I expect. Maybe Newton gets some snaps in those kinds of games.

Not sure I'd say "thin" but I think depth is ok.