--Longer scrimmage today, with a lot of give and take. Defense started strong and forced some takeaways, but in the middle the offense rebounded and ran the ball better. They did some nice things after that. In the red zone, the defensive played well but inside the tight score zone, the offense was able to score some touchdowns. In the four-minute situation, the offense was able to run out the clock but a two-minute scenario the offense went backwards. It was basically a day where the two units continued to go back and forth throughout practice.
--Defensively they must do better against the run and once they get into the goal line area, they must do a better job covering the pass. They must get off the field. Big time improvement in the department of take aways and Brown was pleased with how they started the scrimmage.
--Players that stood out were Leddie Brown, at running back, A’Varius Sparrow had a kickoff return and a couple nice runs with the threes, offensive lineman Zach Frazier impressed, and Zack Dobson in his first scrimmage was good. Tykee Smith and Tae Mayo both had interceptions and Tony Fields was active in his first scrimmage. Special teams and penalties are two areas that must improve, and they will be focused on those areas beginning Tuesday.
--Tony Fields is playing MIKE right now, but he can play both. He really runs and plays the game at full speed. He has great energy and he is physical at the point of contact. He is excited about what he will bring to the point of defense.
--Zero enjoyment putting together a depth chart, but that was the one that was going into camp. There has probably been some movement heading into the first game, but they will release a new one ahead of the Eastern Kentucky game.
--At the spear, Tykee Smith is always around the ball but he can get better. Sean Mahone started camp a little slow but has been solid over the last 10 practices. Alonzo Addae is playing well in the back end of the three safety spots and they covered better today than they had been.
--Live work is most important for the running backs and the linebackers/safeties. The tackle situation or thud situation doesn’t really matter for the two lines. The running backs have risen to the occasion.
--Daryl Porter will play this fall. His football IQ is extremely high, and he loves to compete. He has great feet and keeps himself in football position, he has the most picks of anybody in camp. He has been productive in the snaps that he has been given.
--Brandon Yates and Junior Uzebu are battling at the left tackle spot. James Gmiter is solidified at left guard; Chase Behrndt has had a nice camp at center and Zach Frazier will back him up. Mike Brown has the right guard spot and John Hughes and Briason Mays are competing for right tackle.
--They were thin at linebacker, but they got to where they were thin at the three spots, Fields gives them the flexibility to move Bartlett back to bandit. Tonkery is still at MIKE and has been one of the most improved players on the roster, while Exree Loe is providing depth at WILL. It allows for more flexibility especially in the nickel and dime packages.
--On scrimmage days it’s hard to judge the quarterbacks. They are mixed with the ones and the twos and while both did some nice things, both did some things that they shouldn’t do. Brown expects to name a starting quarterback at some point this week.
--Split practices hurt and helped special teams. They know what to do, but they couldn’t get full speed reps because they didn’t have enough depth in the split squad to get a real scout team look. Now, they are practicing Friday and Saturday, but this is the seventh practice where they had a true rush team. They are a little bit behind on the full speed special teams element. They must get better at it.
--The creative department does a tremendous job and it’s good to give the fanbase some insight in what’s going on which led to the five-part series that they released on social media.
--Brown said Vandarius Cowan practiced last year while he was suspended and played in two games, but this is the most run he has had with the ones and the twos. This is the longest look they’ve gotten.
--Brown said the outlook of college football is still to be determined. He said he was fired up that little league has been going on and he’s glad that he has seen competitions going on.
--Going to wait a little bit longer on shifting into opponent prep, they are going to stay in camp mode until Tuesday. They need the situational work and the full speed work. They want to do good on good longer due to the circumstances.
--Brown doesn’t have any news on waivers.
--Defensively they must do better against the run and once they get into the goal line area, they must do a better job covering the pass. They must get off the field. Big time improvement in the department of take aways and Brown was pleased with how they started the scrimmage.
--Players that stood out were Leddie Brown, at running back, A’Varius Sparrow had a kickoff return and a couple nice runs with the threes, offensive lineman Zach Frazier impressed, and Zack Dobson in his first scrimmage was good. Tykee Smith and Tae Mayo both had interceptions and Tony Fields was active in his first scrimmage. Special teams and penalties are two areas that must improve, and they will be focused on those areas beginning Tuesday.
--Tony Fields is playing MIKE right now, but he can play both. He really runs and plays the game at full speed. He has great energy and he is physical at the point of contact. He is excited about what he will bring to the point of defense.
--Zero enjoyment putting together a depth chart, but that was the one that was going into camp. There has probably been some movement heading into the first game, but they will release a new one ahead of the Eastern Kentucky game.
--At the spear, Tykee Smith is always around the ball but he can get better. Sean Mahone started camp a little slow but has been solid over the last 10 practices. Alonzo Addae is playing well in the back end of the three safety spots and they covered better today than they had been.
--Live work is most important for the running backs and the linebackers/safeties. The tackle situation or thud situation doesn’t really matter for the two lines. The running backs have risen to the occasion.
--Daryl Porter will play this fall. His football IQ is extremely high, and he loves to compete. He has great feet and keeps himself in football position, he has the most picks of anybody in camp. He has been productive in the snaps that he has been given.
--Brandon Yates and Junior Uzebu are battling at the left tackle spot. James Gmiter is solidified at left guard; Chase Behrndt has had a nice camp at center and Zach Frazier will back him up. Mike Brown has the right guard spot and John Hughes and Briason Mays are competing for right tackle.
--They were thin at linebacker, but they got to where they were thin at the three spots, Fields gives them the flexibility to move Bartlett back to bandit. Tonkery is still at MIKE and has been one of the most improved players on the roster, while Exree Loe is providing depth at WILL. It allows for more flexibility especially in the nickel and dime packages.
--On scrimmage days it’s hard to judge the quarterbacks. They are mixed with the ones and the twos and while both did some nice things, both did some things that they shouldn’t do. Brown expects to name a starting quarterback at some point this week.
--Split practices hurt and helped special teams. They know what to do, but they couldn’t get full speed reps because they didn’t have enough depth in the split squad to get a real scout team look. Now, they are practicing Friday and Saturday, but this is the seventh practice where they had a true rush team. They are a little bit behind on the full speed special teams element. They must get better at it.
--The creative department does a tremendous job and it’s good to give the fanbase some insight in what’s going on which led to the five-part series that they released on social media.
--Brown said Vandarius Cowan practiced last year while he was suspended and played in two games, but this is the most run he has had with the ones and the twos. This is the longest look they’ve gotten.
--Brown said the outlook of college football is still to be determined. He said he was fired up that little league has been going on and he’s glad that he has seen competitions going on.
--Going to wait a little bit longer on shifting into opponent prep, they are going to stay in camp mode until Tuesday. They need the situational work and the full speed work. They want to do good on good longer due to the circumstances.
--Brown doesn’t have any news on waivers.