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**Official Spring Game Thread**

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My notes from the Spring Game (keep in mind, I’m a newbie and 18 months ago, I referred to the Center as “the guy with the football between his legs”).

Dereon Coleman is tiny.

As in, somebody put a weighted belt on him because a brisk wind or a flock of pigeons could carry him away.

But, the kid can SLANG that ball.

If we can keep and develop him, and maybe put him in that machine that they put Steve Rogers in, our boys can go ahead and get fitted for Ring #6/7/8.

Bain, Mesidor, and Mauigoa were on the sidelines. The latter of which looked trimmed and toned up (possibly down 15 to 20 pounds?)

Jontavius Wyman gave me Jakobe Thomas vibes by making offensive players’ souls leave their bodies with some of his tackles. He was one of the few who was making actual, full-blown contact.

Whoever was playing center (Woodrow? Sparks? Both?) made me miss Brockermayer. And I hated Brockermeyer. Snaps alternated between high and sloppy, which was my nickname in undergrad.

Wilson ain’t playing around and is going to be fun when let loose to sack.

Cantwell looks like a tree I’d like to climb (assuming he’s over 18).

We have another big, dopey white kid for TE (Luka Gilbert) but I honestly saw more hustle and effort from him in one practice than Bauman did all last season. No word yet on if he can block a basic punt.

As others have reported, the Mensah / Barkate train is going to be a fun ride. It’s giving Cam / Restrepo chemistry that comes when two players have a strong bond off the field as well. Both are individually great and together have the potential to make some magic.

They were the only real starters I saw.

Outside of the very brief warm up drills, there was no Toney, Fletcher, Brown, or Pringle.

And finally, the player who impressed me the most was Daylyn Upshaw. I remember him catching my eye in the BC game at the beginning of last season. The flash he showed then has been honed into some really great receiving now. Every time someone made a catch that stood out, I’d look and see that it was him. Looking forward to seeing more from him this season.
 
MsBankyEdwards said:
My notes from the Spring Game (keep in mind, I’m a newbie and 18 months ago, I referred to the Center as “the guy with the football between his legs”).

Dereon Coleman is tiny.

As in, somebody put a weighted belt on him because a brisk wind or a flock of pigeons could carry him away.

But, the kid can SLANG that ball.

If we can keep and develop him, and maybe put him in that machine that they put Steve Rogers in, our boys can go ahead and get fitted for Ring #6/7/8.

Bain, Mesidor, and Mauigoa were on the sidelines. The latter of which looked trimmed and toned up (possibly down 15 to 20 pounds?)

Jontavius Wyman gave me Jakobe Thomas vibes by making offensive players’ souls leave their bodies with some of his tackles. He was one of the few who was making actual, full-blown contact.

Whoever was playing center (Woodrow? Sparks? Both?) made me miss Brockermayer. And I hated Brockermeyer. Snaps alternated between high and sloppy, which was my nickname in undergrad.

Wilson ain’t playing around and is going to be fun when let loose to sack.

Cantwell looks like a tree I’d like to climb (assuming he’s over 18).

We have another big, dopey white kid for TE (Luka Gilbert) but I honestly saw more hustle and effort from him in one practice than Bauman did all last season. No word yet on if he can block a basic punt.

As others have reported, the Mensah / Barkate train is going to be a fun ride. It’s giving Cam / Restrepo chemistry that comes when two players have a strong bond off the field as well. Both are individually great and together have the potential to make some magic.

They were the only real starters I saw.

Outside of the very brief warm up drills, there was no Toney, Fletcher, Brown, or Pringle.

And finally, the player who impressed me the most was Daylyn Upshaw. I remember him catching my eye in the BC game at the beginning of last season. The flash he showed then has been honed into some really great receiving now. Every time someone made a catch that stood out, I’d look and see that it was him. Looking forward to seeing more from him this season.
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Was half falling asleep when I read that Cantwell comment. Quickly looked up to see the username. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
 
MsBankyEdwards said:
My notes from the Spring Game (keep in mind, I’m a newbie and 18 months ago, I referred to the Center as “the guy with the football between his legs”).

Dereon Coleman is tiny.

As in, somebody put a weighted belt on him because a brisk wind or a flock of pigeons could carry him away.

But, the kid can SLANG that ball.

If we can keep and develop him, and maybe put him in that machine that they put Steve Rogers in, our boys can go ahead and get fitted for Ring #6/7/8.

Bain, Mesidor, and Mauigoa were on the sidelines. The latter of which looked trimmed and toned up (possibly down 15 to 20 pounds?)

Jontavius Wyman gave me Jakobe Thomas vibes by making offensive players’ souls leave their bodies with some of his tackles. He was one of the few who was making actual, full-blown contact.

Whoever was playing center (Woodrow? Sparks? Both?) made me miss Brockermayer. And I hated Brockermeyer. Snaps alternated between high and sloppy, which was my nickname in undergrad.

Wilson ain’t playing around and is going to be fun when let loose to sack.

Cantwell looks like a tree I’d like to climb (assuming he’s over 18).

We have another big, dopey white kid for TE (Luka Gilbert) but I honestly saw more hustle and effort from him in one practice than Bauman did all last season. No word yet on if he can block a basic punt.

As others have reported, the Mensah / Barkate train is going to be a fun ride. It’s giving Cam / Restrepo chemistry that comes when two players have a strong bond off the field as well. Both are individually great and together have the potential to make some magic.

They were the only real starters I saw.

Outside of the very brief warm up drills, there was no Toney, Fletcher, Brown, or Pringle.

And finally, the player who impressed me the most was Daylyn Upshaw. I remember him catching my eye in the BC game at the beginning of last season. The flash he showed then has been honed into some really great receiving now. Every time someone made a catch that stood out, I’d look and see that it was him. Looking forward to seeing more from him this season.
Click to expand...
Coleman got the craziest arm I ever seen but hope he is accurate and can anticipate throwing windows with progression. He cant go out there ever for a serious team if he doesn't add serious weight. If he gets hit by a real defense he may not get up.
 
WantedCane said:
Hurricajun said:
TheUBack said:
Calinative said:
Dude looks like a brick. He’s 6’8” I believe, but I think he’s becoming a guard all the way. I guess it depends upon foot quickness if he can be a OT.

But there couldn’t be a bigger difference between him and SJ for backup OG role lol. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Buchanan get like 66% of snaps and Congdon get rotstion for 33%. I’d expect now Meriweather to primarily be OT.

I really don’t get what Staffs plan is with SJ with him not getting force fed Center snaps though. Like they keep reporting he’s getting a lot of guard work and that’s what he was doing last yr. SJ will never start at Guard for us imo. He is just too undersized. Center is only way he’s going to get heavy rotation or start for us imo
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SJ is just a fullback. Too small for power 4 O Line
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Let him be a blocking tight end. Goal line. Short yardage.
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Agree, wouldn’t mind some kind of gadget plays for him. Dawson has to find ways to put our players in the best position to do what they do best
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Yep. He’s a good athlete. Hit him with jump pass or PA out of a jumbo.
 
P-Tizzle said:
Fair. But your'e concern about the defense is cry-baby ***** energy. It's Spring practice verses a super elite offense.
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It was a question about whether the concern of the radio announcers was justified. It sounds like it wasn't. I was never crying or *****ing. (Joe Zagacki was. Lol)
 
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Dwinstitles said:
Coleman got the craziest arm I ever seen but hope he is accurate and can anticipate throwing windows with progression. He cant go out there ever for a serious team if he doesn't add serious weight. If he gets hit by a real defense he may not get up.
Click to expand...
I barely care about arm talent anymore.. Can you click thru your progressions and get off your initial target with ease? Can you anticipate throws? Are you accurate and can you throw the receiver into open space or do they have to adjust to your throws and stop momentum while you spray the ball at their feet?

Skimming thru some of these spring games and Watched some of the hot shot QB at Michigan for like 2 minutes, and I was like they spent all that money and yea he got size and big arm, can run Im sure but he couldnt do any of above in the 5 throws I saw.. Maybe he develops but I rather pay him after he does so.. #PortalMeForever!
 
Derreon Coleman was up and down. You can see the natural arm talent. You watch a guy like Judd throw the ball and the balls dips more during the windup....leading to a longer windup.

Coleman has a nasty quick release and that "Ward flick of the wrist" thing going. The ball jumps off his hands. That's the good.

The bad....he made some bad reads today and got fooled a couple times. He threw into coverage on a couple of occasions. Could have easily had two picks. Those are the growing pains.

Too early to call either way.....need more sample size.
 
CaneBear0207 said:
On WQAM after the game, they sounded very concerned about the defense. Can someone who was at the game tell us whether the defense is concerning? I might have misinterpreted them, or they might have been mistaken.
Also, IIRC, we were worried about run blocking last year because the D line was stuffing runs in the spring game. Turns out our D line was just stupid good. So, maybe the '26 offense is just ridiculous.
Can anyone weigh in who had eyes on today?
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I wouldn't worry to much. We did lose a lot of talent on defense but I think they will eventually find their footing in fall.
 
skyman said:
Dwinstitles said:
Coleman got the craziest arm I ever seen but hope he is accurate and can anticipate throwing windows with progression. He cant go out there ever for a serious team if he doesn't add serious weight. If he gets hit by a real defense he may not get up.
Click to expand...
I barely care about arm talent anymore.. Can you click thru your progressions and get off your initial target with ease? Can you anticipate throws? Are you accurate and can you throw the receiver into open space or do they have to adjust to your throws and stop momentum while you spray the ball at their feet?

Skimming thru some of these spring games and Watched some of the hot shot QB at Michigan for like 2 minutes, and I was like they spent all that money and yea he got size and big arm, can run Im sure but he couldnt do any of above in the 5 throws I saw.. Maybe he develops but I rather pay him after he does so.. #PortalMeForever!
Click to expand...
Yup it’s why so many qbs fail then the coaches get blamed. The most important things are do you let it go and throw guys open can you throw to them before you see them open?

QBs that have to see guys open before throwing it usually throw it late vs super talented defenses. It’s why a guy like Fields will never be good, they have to see you open and then it’s already too late.

Give me those guys that have the small things no one talks about. It’s why there are so many qb busts cause not a bunch of qbs can do it.
 
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CaneBear0207 said:
On WQAM after the game, they sounded very concerned about the defense. Can someone who was at the game tell us whether the defense is concerning? I might have misinterpreted them, or they might have been mistaken.
Also, IIRC, we were worried about run blocking last year because the D line was stuffing runs in the spring game. Turns out our D line was just stupid good. So, maybe the '26 offense is just ridiculous.
Can anyone weigh in who had eyes on today?
Click to expand...

Nah. It's a controlled scrimmage. There was SEVERAL plays that in real life would have been a sack given the time to throw. They were lenient on the "would be" sacks.

Look at it this way....we saw Lucas, OJ, and company last year play really well against pretty much every good receiver we faced last year. We KNOW we have talent and depth there that is proven. I think it's just a case of a veteran QB getting to camp on time and already having a familiar target (Barkate) with him that really helped him hit the ground running. My guess is today is more of a sign of just how good our offense is this year as opposed to any perceived weaknesses in the defense.

Our receiving core is absolutely stacked. Both Vaughn and Jacobs flashed today and both have already produced against good competition....and they are, AT BEST, our #4 and #5 receivers. You've got the continuity of coordinators mixing with a talented experienced QB, multiplied by a stacked receiving corp.........and it's going to be beautiful.
 
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