Spring game notes from the cheap seats

By: Coach Venable – The best thing about spring games is several weeks of gut check is finally in the books. You don’t have a specific opponent nor scheme to dwell upon and the guy aligned in front of you is one of the good guys. It’s strictly bragging rights on the line and considering I saw some offensive players doing pushups after the final play I’m guessing there might have been a small wager on the final outcome. Typical if I remember correctly and trust me, I do.

I also believe Steve Sarkisian pulled off the early bomb throws because we might have scored triple digits and everybody knows scoreboards don’t climb that high. The real reason is while it highlights offense it is demoralizing to the defense and specifically the DBs. Any doubt our offensive skill people are next level higher than our defensive skills is blind faith hurting but since we weren’t stunting I guess there is ready made excuses available.

I like to peruse through the video after the fact to see little things that spike my interest. It’s easy to enjoy the game following the ball but a damn old DC finds exactly how things turned out that way more of a lottery ticket. Finding little nuggets in the lesser known scheme of things tells one a possible foreshadowing into a young man’s future. I won’t waste your time with several vets performance—there were no huge surprises in guys like 90 (Byron Murphy), 93 (T’Vondre Sweat), 95 (Alfred Collins), 98 (Moro Ojomo), or 99 (Keondre Coburn) on defense.

However, the most improved defensive football player was one Vernon Broughton (45) who lost bad weight, gained positive quickness and technique, and had the lights turned on for the first time since high school. Vernon has strong depth in front of him but I just don’t see how they keep him off the field—he will play and play well this year. Vernon went from never being anything but a spare part to a possible stud most of us predicted two springs ago. Damn, there are things about this game that just make you smile out loud.

I saw one other player that must find a position on this defense because he’s got zero quit in his make-up. Introduce yourself to Morice Blackwell (37). He just makes plays you know. I’m not sure he’s a LB (200 pounds) nor a safety (questionable speed) but he’s damn sure a tackler. He finds the ball better than the rest and he isn’t slow about finding his quickest route to stabbing the ball carrier. You got to love this guy.

The last big surprise was the high school early dropout at RG. Cole Hutson (54) might have been the best OL last night. I appreciate good blockers with outstanding savvy better than most defensive coaches because I like to think my guys are just better prepared than those slobs on offense. Hutson was up to the task more times than I care to remember. It won’t surprise me to see several young first year guys find their way into the lineup very early in the season. I also see several (OL) vets that won’t see the field unless they make a huge jump in performance over the summer. Huge jump.

I had a few thoughts about the following during the game—some are not mentioned because of little change and some aren’t worth mentioning so there’s that. It’s just one man’s opinion and might not gee-haw with your thought pattern but that’s what makes a horse race so popular. The best thing about this spring is we appear to have come out of it major injury free. That’s as positive as it gets.

Incidentally, we will put some big numbers up on that scoreboard this year. The alumni stripe will get plenty of traffic. The sad news is we might give up some big numbers also. Nothing I saw defensively last night gives me enough energy to buy a bottle of Binaca and fill up my dance card at Yesterday’s Once More but I keep hoping for a miracle. Just in case you are still reading here’s some other thoughts out loud:

0—Ja’Tavion Sanders—better blocker than advertised.

0—DeMarvion Overshown—had his usual “bit” part in this movie.

1—Hudson Card—improved everywhere but antsy feet and deep lobs.

1—Justice Finkley—love his want-to.

2—Roschon Johnson—money player.

3—Quinn Ewers—I’m glad he’s ours.

4—Jordan Whittington—star in the making.

7—Bijan Robinson—dangerous speed.

8—Xavier Worthy—wow—just wow.

18—Isaiah Neyor—hello win column.

21—Kitan Crawford—he will make more plays than mistakes—he will hit-ya.

24—Jonathon Brooks—crying a$$ shame he has three future NFL’ers reducing his snaps but thems the breaks.

30—Devin Richardson—looks like a LB about half his snaps—lost in translation on the other half.

33—David Gbenda—improved but not a majority of positive yet.

37—Morice Blackwell—I find or invent a position for him—he makes plays period.

42—DJ Harris—need to find a package home until he’s full growed.

43—Jett Bush—won’t be a popular stance but he’s a good LB with physical limitations—I play him over some others.

45—Vernon Broughton—most improved player on defense—very solid scrimmage.

53—Aaron Bryant—love his playing attitude—terrific future but depth chart is unkind this season.

54—Cole Hutson—player—he will play big this year.

65—Jake Majors—good player—smart and savvy.

75—Junior Angilau—leader—limited in pass pro.

76—Hayden Conner—improved—might be one of best five but good coming in will test his ability.

85—Gunnar Helm—not a bucket of blood but gets the job done most times.

88—Barryn Sorrell—them damn cajuns can play this game—fact, Jack.

By the way, getting that WR last night is huge—-he is some sweet no-nonsense player. The Alabama transfer with the Panhandle high schooler added also gives us scary speed and there’s no doubt speed kills. Wow—just Wow on offensive personnel. Defense needs to take some notes and sign some equal talents to their side of the ledger.