Second football practice update

[mat1992 2,237]

Practice was scheduled for three hours but they limited it two hours. That was wise since rain starting coming down around 5:30. Start with the quotes.

DC Lyndon Johnson on the Defense
Everyday is a learning process. We're getting better each day but we're adding stuff each day, stuff they haven't seen before. If we get guys right with their eyes, we have a chance to where we want to be.

On transfer corners
Both Brandon (Shuman) and Terrelle (Gillette) have come in and done good jobs. They've been nice additions for us. It's given us the ability to become a little more aggressive than we have in the past. I'm happy with their progress and I want them perfect, and I'm happy with the direction they're going.

On competition
Jamal Watson, Vashon McCants, going back and forth from corner to safety.

On last season
In the second year of the defense, I want them to understand the defense as a whole. Last season, was to memorize my job but to not know what the defense is. Now they are to the point where they know what the words mean and the concepts. We can start to intermix things from one personnel group to another.

On big DTs including Charles Garrett
He had to get his jaw wired. We're excited to get him back out there because he needs the work. Anytime you have Zain (Harps-Upshur) out there, you are going to be better. Ni. Cook is having a good camp. Tibo (Debaille) is getting better every day. Getting Charles back, makes us a little more stout in the run game and you can't teach that size (6-2, 310). 

On LBs
Nygill (Johnson) is having a good camp. Dymelle (Parker) can rush the quarterback. Chiz and Ryan Kearney are coming along. They have the ability and the tools. 

On young guys standing out
Jamal Gay, the freshman safety. He was hurt but has been out there the last few days and has had two really good practices. Our whole freshman group this year, we're fortunate to have a really good group of kids. They are very close off the field. They are all workers. At one point, we're going to have to make a decision. It's going to be tough (as far as redshirting some).

Coach Rob Ambrose
On qbs from the scrimmage
They were ok. Feeling a little bit better than I was a year ago. Not ready to win a ball game yet. There aren't just 11 guys. We're rolling guys in. You're getting some continuity. It doesn't matter who is behind center.

On offensive line
First is good. I feel good with the starters and seven or eight guys I can count on and plug and play. We're playing with (true freshman) Alex Desire at left and (r-freshman) Josh Diaz at right tackle. They are going against seniors so it's tough but it will get them better. I think Alex is going to have a really good career year. He's very smart and is a hard worker. He's getting it. Rusolillo and Carnesale are going back and forth  at center.

On injuries
(Juco transfer Charles) Garrett should be back on Monday. A whole bunch of guys will be back. Clark is still medically not cleared. Right now, DeBerry is having a good camp. He's playing his way into shape because over the summer, he was looking where to play. Had a bruised foot today (hopefully). He can put his hand in the dirt or stand up. He'll drop into coverage a little bit. I like him going forward more.

On transfers at corner
We completed some balls and guys made plays. Those two (Shuman and Gillette) both have collegiate experience. They are hard working students of the game. Those were really good pickups. They had talent when they walked through the door.

On kicking game
I didn't ask Pat (Toomey) to do much. I thought he did what I asked him to do. The young bucks did well. I'm a little disappointed in Aiden (O'Neill). He's a better player than he showed today. We're going to have to evaluate that.

Where is the team now
Clearly better than a year ago. By a lot. There's still a lot to fix. We need a better sense of urgency. We're running a lot of different plays with a lot of different guys and packages. So there's a lot of thinking. Guys are talking, which is good. We will start paring it down in the middle of next week and so thing should (run smoother). 

[mat1992 2,237]

RA mentioned that a lot of guys are expected back on Friday. Even Diondre Wallace was out due to an ankle injury and he almost never misses time. Not serious. Most of the injuries don't appear to be. Chris Clark is still waiting to get cleared for that arm injury. Hopefully he'll be back next week. Chris Tedder, Chris Greaves, Adrian Platt (as I mentioned his injury last week), Mitch Boles (still out), Charles Garrett (dental surgery), Tommy Danagogo. More worried about DeBerry, who missed the 2nd half of practice due to a foot injury. He walked off the field as I was doing interviews and he was putting some pressure on the foot. He was nearly unblockable before he got hurt. I'm guessing if he's fine, he'll just play OLB and put his hand in the dirt. Rush the passer.

The good thing about having three good transfer corners is that we can send guys at any time. Maybe Nygill Johnson, maybe Dymelle Parker on passing downs. Shuman and Gillette were working as the starters today and I didn't see many open receivers against them. Most of the throws were in the slot to Leatherbury going up against Keon Paye. Troy Vincent Jr. was back at practice but playing mainly with the threes. 

Thought Flacco looked pretty good but he was having trouble finding open guys going up against those transfer corners. He does a nice job of adlibbing. I won't say it's over but I would say he'll likely be the starter. He made some terrific throws today down the seam to Jabari Allen. Jabari Greenwood limped off so he wasn't there in the 2nd half of practice. So you don't have Greenwood, Greaves is on the side and I didn't see Rodney Dorsey. Clark is not ready yet. That's four strong and athletic targets. Puts more of the onus on Leatherbury, Brent Richardson, Jabari Allen, and Gallahan. 

Stover was solid but he has to be much better than that to win the job. He was mainly going against the 2s unlike last week. Thought Daniel Rose made an excellent throw on the run to true freshman D'Argo Hunter in the end zone. One of the best passes of the day. Still think they have to get him on the field somewhere. He's more elusive than Flacco though Tom has excellent once he gets going.

Offensive line is pretty well set though I saw Z. Ventemglia go down again. I don't know if it's a back issue. Cole Cheripko can fill in at right guard if needed. He looks good. Rusolillo is likely the starting center with Gryzmkowski at left guard. I think "Gryz" goes to left tackle if something happens to Andrew Garnett. They are playing freshmen tackles on the 2nd unit and they were abused by John Lambert (at least 3 sacks). Lambert is the senior juco transfer who had to sit out last season. Another transfer, OG Mark Shetletski was supposed to play at Charlotte. He has to finish up a class and should be eligible shortly. Can play guard, maybe center, but is more for future. 

At running back, Yeedee Thaenrat was decent but did put the ball on the ground and dropped a pass. Waiting on him to be officially cleared to play. He would really help in short yardage but not ahead of Shane or Kobe right now. Shane was fantastic in the scrimmage. The best I've seen from him since 2016. Great burst. Elusiveness. Making people miss. Showing that great finishing speed. He usually gets a few reps to rest but he played a lot-and looked great. Kobe Young is a nice second-string back. He had a dropped pass. A couple of guys did today. Just need to be more consistent. Yeedee reminds me of Vito in that he'd rather take the hit than elude the first tackler. Sometimes that's great and other times not so good.

Special teams appears to be fine though Rob was not happy with Aidan O'Neill. I thought the new snapper Conrad Brake was fine but some of these young kickers like Stephen Oscar and Brandon Chiozza could push him if he continues to be inconsistent. Punting still erratic though Toomey didn't punt much. I assume Shane will handle punt returns though they have options there with Tippett and Leatherbury. 

 

 

[BradTU 18]

Your observations are spot on.

Stover doesn’t really do it for me. Flacco seems to command the offense much better. So weird to say “Flacco” when talking about our QB. Hope Joe comes to Unitas on Saturdays to show his support haha. Too bad Tom isn’t a little taller. 

I know Miller isn’t mobile, but he throws a beautiful ball. That one throw down the sideline had so much touch on it. Excited for his future. 

Looks like we have plenty of capable DBs and WRs.

Excited to see Chris Clark healthy. 

[mat1992 2,237]

It's a shame that Clark wasn't there. Greaves and Dorsey were out and Greenwood got hurt about midway through the practice. I was more impressed with the D, esp. the new corners. DeBerry was awesome until he got hurt and I heard it's not serious thankfully.

Miller is likely to redshirt. They didn't use him with the 1s so he's going to be a the scout team guy but you're right about his touch downfield. He just needs time to throw. He's not going to get a lot playing behind two freshmen tackles.

I think even if Flacco wasn't great today and he was fine, you could see he has that poise and calmness from being older. He's not too up or too down. He was pissed that he missed that one thrown down the middle in the end zone, I believe to #82 Elliott. But other than that, he doesn't often miss open guys. Stover wasn't bad. He did throw a pick late and he's definitely shown improvement but Tom is the guy right now and hopefully for the next 2 years. Also that speed Flacco has is very deceptive. Kind of like Joe when he first came out of Delaware, running under 4.7. Tom hasn't shown it much but he turned it on the down the sidelines and you can just see, when he needs to run, he can turn the jets on.

[Chris Datres 424]

If Rob is happy with the offensive line, that's a very good thing to hear.  Too many times in the past couple of down years, we've had a below-average offensive line and that just kills the running game and has your QB running for his life and making bad decisions under fire.

[mat1992 2,237]

 

[TigerFan54 102]

TL told me the Yeedee has received a waiver to play, so we're good there. He also said DeBerry would play DE, but who knows.

Shane looked like the Shane of old on that TD run to the corner.

Not sure who blocked the punt in the end zone, but he came flying through. Either a missed assignment or a super athletic play.

I like how Flacco sees the field and senses pressure (unlike his brother). Agree that he looks like the guy. Also agree that Rose looks dynamic out there, so much so that it seems like waste not to get him onto the field somehow.

Like RA, I was disappointed in Aidan's kicking.

[mat1992 2,237]

Yeah, Yeedee is expected to play. I just didn't want to announce it though before it was official but with the way they are using him, they were certainly confident that this was going to come out positive. Even though I haven't been blown away by him, I'm supper happy to have him. I'd rather have him take the short-yardage and goal line touches than Shane or Kobe. I also think the more he plays with the 1s, the more he'll be able to show his power and speed. He was a track guy in H.S. There's a major difference right now between the two lines mainly due to the youth with Cheripko, Desire and Diaz all freshmen.

I think he just wants Aidan to feel the pressure. If he's not making short kicks and XPs, he's got other options to replace him with. But not sure they are better options. Who knows. That's just another worry now for this team.