Spring Game Observations...

[LuCane]

If some of these guys had been to the spring games during the dynasty years (2000-2003) they would have had heart attacks! Lol. Especially the one in 2001 when Mcgahee ran for like 200 yards on that defense! Lol. People were **** near ready to fold the season saying our run defense was the worst ever! Lmao! It's a spring game! **** I left in the 4th quarter! It was fun and we got to see the kids one last time before the season starts. That's it. Don't look too much into it.

I was at that scrimmage and enamored with Mcgahee that entire spring. One thing is to judge the stats and results. Another thing altogether is to judge the talent. I left that scrimmage, turned to a couple guys on this board and said "this may be the most talented team we ever see." Our DBackfield was from another planet. Our DL was packed full of gargoyles. The only unit I wondered about was the LB unit, where Vilma was a rising Soph and still kinda small, DJ Williams was a converted FB and Chris Campbell was supposed to be in the athletic veteran role.

Mcgahee's performance, I thought, was more of a testament to that seasoned OL and Mcgahee being a super freak.

The funny thing is that he had a horrid season. He was injured most of the time and couldn't get many looks with JJ and Portis in front of him. So, in that way, projecting what will happen during the season based on the spring is...risky.

 

[WhatTheHell]

The front 7 - specifically the DTs - on the orange looked good, and that's all I care about.

 

[gcane44]

The front 7 - specifically the DTs - on the orange looked good, and that's all I care about.

I agree with this. The Orange D (particularly the front 7) looked very good to me. Granted, they were going against an OL unit that is slightly worse than our normal second string. But, it seems to me they did what they were supposed to against that unit. There were at least 5 sacks by the orange that were not whistled dead because it was close enough or they just wanted to get the look off. Kirby and Perryman were both pretty active and around the ball all afternoon.

There's a reason Dallas Crawford got his first good looks in the second half when he switched sides.

 

[DC Dog Nuts]

I think D. Crawford is going to make a significant contribution on offense this year, but I think he'd be a playmaker on Defense. I think it's a mistake to keep him on O, but then again I don't get paid millions to make those decisions

Based on what? He's quick but that doesn't mean he has the brain for defense. And who's he gonna play over?

Considering our depth at DB, and our lack of depth at RB, it's not a mistake at all.

Based on the same reason you think Tracy Howard is going to be a productive DB....He was pretty good at it in HS. Scout team defense MVP. I don't think they should have moved him in the first place. I feel like he would be competing for a starting job had he stayed in that spot.

With respect to RB depth, perhaps we should have recruited RBs the same way we've been recruiting DBs.

Well apparently he's not good at it in college cause he was moved.

That's not true. He might have been moved purely for depth purposes. A guy who is not good at defense in college would receive Defensive Scout Team MVP...in college?

That has nothing to do with his ability to crack the starting lineup on defense. I had a good friend who won the same award at Nebraska and ended up transferring because he couldn't get past that point.

It's an award that involves more than just your performance on the field.

 

[DCH]

Morris had a phenomenal day. Its obviously a lot easier to do when you wont get hit and they are only playing man but he was incredibly accurate. Howard and Dortch had good position on most of the plays they got beat on but the throw and catch were that good. I'm not sounding the alarm on the secondary yet. This is going to be a very good offense.

Hard to tell really on the defensive side. Perryman is going to be a monster this year if he stays healthy though.

 

[k9cane]

If some of these guys had been to the spring games during the dynasty years (2000-2003) they would have had heart attacks! Lol. Especially the one in 2001 when Mcgahee ran for like 200 yards on that defense! Lol. People were **** near ready to fold the season saying our run defense was the worst ever! Lmao! It's a spring game! **** I left in the 4th quarter! It was fun and we got to see the kids one last time before the season starts. That's it. Don't look too much into it.

I was at that scrimmage and enamored with Mcgahee that entire spring. One thing is to judge the stats and results. Another thing altogether is to judge the talent. I left that scrimmage, turned to a couple guys on this board and said "this may be the most talented team we ever see." Our DBackfield was from another planet. Our DL was packed full of gargoyles. The only unit I wondered about was the LB unit, where Vilma was a rising Soph and still kinda small, DJ Williams was a converted FB and Chris Campbell was supposed to be in the athletic veteran role.

Mcgahee's performance, I thought, was more of a testament to that seasoned OL and Mcgahee being a super freak.

The funny thing is that he had a horrid season. He was injured most of the time and couldn't get many looks with JJ and Portis in front of him. So, in that way, projecting what will happen during the season based on the spring is...risky.

D$, it was Gore who was in front of McGahee, JJ had graduated after 2000. Portis was Portis and Willis banged up his knee and that's when Gore got his chance at the back-up and averaged 10 yards a carry. Willis did start the Rose Bowl as a fullback I recall