First Preseason Practice Update

[mat1992 2,370]

First scrimmage was today with refs though they started out with contact but no tackling. Carlos Davis was working with the ones and there's no doubt who is going to be the starting QB. First the most part, my depth chart guesses were right. Offense is pretty much set assuming Davis goes with Devin Matthews as the starting RB (had a strong day), Chris Watkins as the change-of-pace guy and receiver out of the backfield (I'd have him as the third-down back most of the time), Tyrell Greene also figures to be in the mix as the inside runner. Maybe short-yardage back though Matthews is capable. Ike Daniels, the transfer from Syracuse looked good, but there's only one football. Get him about 10 more pounds for next season and he should be the starter.

One minor concern is Carten Runyoun not being out there because his foot was in a boot but expect him to be back at practice next week. Runyon with Davis throwing to Oregon State transfer John Dunmore, Matthews, Chris Watkins, DK James and Zay Perkins makes this offense scary. The O-line is solid and they will need to score points. Also see some improvement from freshman QB Winston Watkins (6-5, 230) since the spring. He's not there yet, but next season could be the starter or at least compete for the job. The future is also bright at receiver with a couple of dynamite true freshmen in Nayad Walker and 6-5 Cleveland Charlton. Also Fresno State transfer Jaceon Doss (6-0, 170) is a few pounds away from making an impact. There's no doubt there's some more speed on the team this season on offense.

Defensively, up front, in the 3-3-5, it's veterans Ernie Smith, (6-2, 290), Dion Harris Crews (6-0, 285) and senior Jurnee Dunbar (6-0, 305) at the nose. They have a lot of talent behind them led by Rion Roseborough (6-2, 315), Shamir Boyd (6-2, 295), and Mazio Randall (6-5, 300).

I think linebackers will be fine and I have to remind myself were playing a 3-3-5, so they are playing five DBs. John Gioia is very good in the middle. Daniel Raymond, Evan Rutkowski, Rodney Roane and Will Middleton (St. Francis) transfer will likely rotate at the other spots with Raymond and Rutkowski likely starting. Nick Haynes (6-1, 205) and C.J. McClendon (6-1, 180) are competing for that hybrid/Bandit/safety-backer type of position.

Still worried about the secondary though the safeties I think will be Kaden White, who looked very good in the spring with Kam Snell (5-11, 195), a grad transfer from Gannon. White is out of Butler C.C.

At corner, still looks like Shafeek Smith and possibly Myles Brodie (6-2, 180), who gives them some length. It's too early to tell which young corners are ready to be backups. Justin Toler (5-10, 175) is also in the picture but was banged up. Personally, I would not be thrilled with two 5-10 corners as the starters, especially when you have about 5-6 guys who are 6-0 or taller. Vinson Brown (6-0, 170) is definitely, at least I assume, the third or fourth corner, based on experience. But he's also new to the system. I'd like to see more of the freshmen. They haven't played with the 1s so unless they make a fast impression, they are going with more experience against Cincinnati. One of the freshman, Emiril Gant (5-11, 180), wasn't there in the spring, but might be the most physically ready.

As for special teams, Virginia Tech transfer Bryce LaFollete (6-3, 210) appears to have a strong edge on Justin Riter, who played some last season as the rugby-style kicker. More from Coach Pete later.

[mat1992 2,370]

Opening Comments Pete Shinnick

"Kind of our second live period that we've done. I call it a quarter scrimmage. Tried to get about 40+ plays in there to see what we can do. Happy with what we saw. Both sides had some good success on things. About where we think for practice 9."

"We wanted to try and get officials out here. Do something different. Get our guys to focus on the first part of which is a normal practice. Then we'll have a little extended live period. The NCAA says you get so many live periods and so many times to tackle. We wanted to take advantage of this one."

On discipline (doing push ups after mistakes)

"Trying to keep everybody on par. Players want to see each other held accountable."

On freshmen

"There's a couple. It's early. Before I mention this guy and he gets excited about it... I said when we signed them that this was an extremely talented freshman class. We feel very good about their future. By the time we get done with the next scrimmage a week from now, we'll have a great feel for who is emerged."

On Carter Runyon

"We're just keeping him out and he'll be ready to go."

On QBs

"Great competition. Nathan Kent, our returning starter, won five games last year. Has done a great job. Carlos Davis has come in and has created great competition. Sean Brown has really stepped up his game. It's going well. We really like Winston (Watkins) has a great future."

On OL

"It's a couple of moving parts. We have guys competing for the left guard spot. There's a lot of competition for the second group."

On DBs

"When we ended the spring, Jahsin Shiggs had moved his way into the two-deep. We added a transfer Kam Snell that's created competition. There's going to be some freshmen that play for us. Some that you will see due to fact that they are talented and good."

On DL

"Jurnee Dunbar played a lot for us last year. Will start at the nose. Dion and Ernie Smith has a lot of playing time. Brock Wallace played for us. We have a good rotation. We redshirted Shamir Boyd and Rion Roseborough last season. We brought in Tre Birch, Aaron Clark, JR Stegall as freshmen. Linebacker Evan (Rutkowski) played inside and we're playing him outside. Daniel Raymond continues to grow and play. We brought in a couple of new guys Branson Peters, JG (Goia), Will Middleton. Alfred Thomas is coming along extremely well. All those freshmen that we brought in, the two offensive linemen are doing well, the secondary guys, it's fun. I think it's going to be a really good football team and they will add depth."

On next week

"Challenge them this week. We go for 4 days and take a day off. I'm looking for three great days of practice."

[RundaPower 164]

Mat,

thank you for keeping us updated.  I appreciate your insight (depth chart) and quotes from Coach Shinnick.  Looking forward to watching this team compete  for a CAA title.

[Moleman1 44]

Thanks MS 🏈

[Blounge 545]

So I’m hearing good qb with scary good receivers, AND a good running back…this team sounds like they could win it all!

[TuTigers2012 1,138]

57 minutes ago, Blounge said:

So I’m hearing good qb with scary good receivers, AND a good running back…this team sounds like they could win it all!

ARETE!

[TSU88 1,092]

9 minutes ago, TuTigers2012 said:

ARETE!

C’mon man. There will be plenty of time for recriminations during & after the season, but why have a snark-a-thon now? No harm in people having some optimism. Every team is undefeated at the moment. And I’m not buying that your post was a genuine expression of your own optimism. I know better 😆

[TuTigers2012 1,138]

13 hours ago, TSU88 said:

C’mon man. There will be plenty of time for recriminations during & after the season, but why have a snark-a-thon now? No harm in people having some optimism. Every team is undefeated at the moment. And I’m not buying that your post was a genuine expression of your own optimism. I know better 😆

No snark. Starting year two away from the last regime, with a weakened down CAA and FCS. Looking forward to how they compete this year, and hopeful that they can finish above .500 after a brutal schedule to start the season. Sounds like we can be entertaining to watch, which since Flacco left, we have been pretty dull.

I am hopeful to get out to a few games this year too. Last year the home opener rain/thunderstorm delay, and the Delaware debacle (Left after it was 35-0 a minute into the second quarter).

[tualum 114]

20 hours ago, TuTigers2012 said:

ARETE!

😆