D$ breaks down second scrimmage

DMoney

Apr 4, 2023 2 min read

- The offense had a good day, with Tyler Van Dyke leading the first team offense down the field (with passes to Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George) and finished it with a Terrell Waldon (walk-on) touchdown run. There is no question the offense looks better than this time last year in spring. Van Dyke also hit George for a TD on a post.

- Don Chaney continues to run hard with explosiveness. He is breaking tackles and is more north/south than he has been in the past.

- Jacurri Brown hit RayRay Joseph for a wide-open TD down the sideline but was inconsistent throwing. He did have a long run that probably would have been a 75-yard TD if not blown dead. Emory Williams is starting to string together some very good practices, albeit in a no-contact setting for QBs.

- The freshman TEs (Riley Williams and Jackson Carver) continue to flash. They have more receiving talent than Cam McCormick and are making more plays each week. Carver is a redshirt candidate but looks athletic and quicker laterally than I expected.

- Ahmad Moten is continuing to make plays and looks like a legitimate part of the rotation. He has been starting all spring (the second-team at DT has walk-ons due to injury) and brings a nice combination of size and disruptive ability.

- Bobby Washington continues to make tackles as the starting SAM. Francisco Mauigoa continues to impress. The spot next to him looks completely up for grabs, with Keontra Smith, Corey Flagg and Wesley Bissainthe all getting opportunities next to Mauigoa.

- Defensive back is the weakest position right now, particularly with James Williams out. Watch the Portal there.

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hoops156

Apr 4, 2023

252cane said:
Of course he is the season just ended like 3 or 4 months ago no way he would have become a great passer that fast lol

this and he was also one of the worst passers ive seen lol. he was always a project but has talent and potential. give him time since he shouldnt play if TVD stays healthy anyways

hoops156

Apr 4, 2023

ScharfCane said:
Cam Newton as well.

1 went to the lincoln riley QB school to become a better passer (we dont have that here).

Josh Allen didnt become a more accurate passer till like year 3 in buffalo and hes still iffy at best. he always had a cannon.

cway313

Apr 4, 2023

OriginalCanesCanesCanes said:
I’ll start with a couple of examples, Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts - a couple of notable NFL starters who began their CFB careers as significantly below average passers. So yes, it happens.

The other important factor is adding a clear cut #1 WR. Diggs and AJ Brown deserve a large chunk of that credit.

CANEMC

Apr 4, 2023

DMoney said:
- Don Chaney continues to run hard with explosiveness. He is breaking tackles and is more north/south than he has been in the past.

J
JG14

Apr 4, 2023

Is D$ starring in the remake of boogie nights with that hairdo?

Bunker Mentality

Apr 4, 2023

DMoney said:
Emory Williams is starting to string together some very good practices...

Care to elaborate @DMoney?

Thanks for the breakdown.

grover

Apr 4, 2023

No_Fly_Zone said:
Why would the board get mad when Malik Bryant shows up this summer and wins the spot after a hard-fought battle w/ Bobby?

I know you were being tongue-in-cheek. But the truth is we will need to depend on the FR LBs to play a lot barring another quality transfer LB.

I was never a fan of starting freshmen at LB, was vocally against Shaq/Pinckney/McCloud, and also pushed back hard last year when most CISers wanted Wes to start. It's a very rare true freshman who can man the underneath and provide solid run support.

All that is to say, don't expect a shut down defense if we see these freshmen getting a lot of minutes, even if they have the potential to be great LBs over the longer term.

grover

Apr 4, 2023

JG14 said:
Is D$ starring in the remake of boogie nights with that hairdo?

Under the right conditions, the 2023 offense could look explosive. If Chaney stays healthy and we get a #1 WR from the portal, we should see a lot of points. They are much further along than the defense.

ScubaCane

Apr 4, 2023

Reading these reports makes you realize why we were 5-7 and are headed for another tough year.

Apr 4, 2023

SAM linebacker was used by Guidry about 30% of the time last year iirc.

Good to hear Bobby has found a niche but surely Chase Smith would be in that mix as well once he returns.

Apr 4, 2023

rok said:
SAM linebacker was used by Guidry about 30% of the time last year iirc.

Good to hear Bobby has found a niche but surely Chase Smith would be in that mix as well once he returns.

That kids never going to play

Bunker Mentality

Apr 4, 2023

ScubaCane said:
Reading these reports makes you realize why we were 5-7 and are headed for another tough year.

As long as there is progress. I think the talent infusion, schematic changes, and shift in culture will make the games more enjoyable.

Injuries obliterated us last season and really exposed the issues we have with talent and depth, but I can't see it being that bad again.

Caned Peach

Apr 4, 2023

cway313 said:
I'm hoping to see guys schemed open similar to when we had Lashlee I don't see a dynamic perimeter option on roster. Rambo made a lot of contested catches and I think Colbie can duplicate that success.

Plus be about a half foot taller or so.

Angry Ibis

Apr 4, 2023

Pearson704 said:
As long as there is progress. I think the talent infusion, schematic changes, and shift in culture will make the games more enjoyable.

Injuries obliterated us last season and really exposed the issues we have with talent and depth, but I can't see it being that bad again.

The coaching also sucked

bobbydigius

Apr 4, 2023

cway313 said:
The other important factor is adding a clear cut #1 WR. Diggs and AJ Brown deserve a large chunk of that credit.

I’ll add that Devonta Smith might be the best WR2 in the league.

No_Fly_Zone

Apr 4, 2023

grover said:
I know you were being tongue-in-cheek. But the truth is we will need to depend on the FR LBs to play a lot barring another quality transfer LB.

I was never a fan of starting freshmen at LB, was vocally against Shaq/Pinckney/McCloud, and also pushed back hard last year when most CISers wanted Wes to start. It's a very rare true freshman who can man the underneath and provide solid run support.

All that is to say, don't expect a shut down defense if we see these freshmen getting a lot of minutes, even if they have the potential to be great LBs over the longer term.

Yes, I was more poking fun at some of (sometimes) unreasonable CIS expectations that typically end in disappointment.

But, I do agree with you and I fully expect our 1st and 2nd year LBs to be putting in work and playing quality minutes (especially as the year goes on). If for no other reason because of how poorly Manny recruited the position, if we're being honest. More or less out of necessity at this point.

I appreciate Mario bringing in Mauigoa from the portal as a start-level LB with P5 playing experience. And I like the talent and athleticism of the recent recruits at LB (Wes, Popo, Malik, and Bobby all look the part). And to your point, them playing quality minutes doesn't mean there won't be growing pains or that people should expect All-ACC caliber play from 1st and 2nd year players.

DMoney

Apr 4, 2023

JG14 said:
Is D$ starring in the remake of boogie nights with that hairdo?

I was way overdue for a haircut. Shout out to Churchill's for taking care of me today.

Negro-Wan Kanobi

Apr 4, 2023

Cryptical Envelopment said:
Oh so a ~~true freshman QB~~ kid who should still be in HS has to be "with the 1's" over an entrenched 3-year starter with an NFL projection and another kid who started ACC games last year to look like a kid with potential? Have you any sense of context? You need to eat more nutritious foods.

Bobby is at a position that has been the team's achilles heel for years. We've had no one. Do you watch UM football during the season or just post? Corey Flagg has like 2000 snaps, bro. Half this board wants to punch his grandpa in the face for procreating. Animals. Again, have you any sense of context?

They are trying everyone there bro. And if you think Bobby is running first team LB right now then lol at you. They are trying every combo and getting kids different reps with each other. Bobby has a bright future and will get some run this year.

Bottom line is that the staff is very high on this class so far. There are no initial "misses" at this stage. No one looks like they don't belong. Now they have to develop. They are bullish on Bobby, and they are bullish on Emory, who has shown better than expected accuracy and arm strength for a guy who should be a HS senior right now. His size is also really impressive. Practically an NFL body right now with a thick base. It's ok to not **** on a kid so early, you know. You can do it.

You're on a roll, lately. Please keep it up!

cway313 said:
The Emory protagonist want to celebrate him looking good in the spring against air and the and 3 team defense that has continuously been described as thin and needing bodies. Reminds me of every other year. Proof is in depth chart . If Emory were at least 2nd team I could understand the victor lap. I don't understand the rush to proclaim Emory has arrived after 10 practices. The desire to be right is gross. Let the guy develop or at a minimum demonstrate in a game setting before slurping yourself.

To be honest... minus the insults.....