Not gonna paint some rosy book like picture about the weather and other things. Sorry. 
Practice was in the dome however.
I have been coming to camp for roughly 13 years now. I must say that this was by far the most spirited practice I have ever witnessed. The players were loud, boisterous and completely intune to what was going on at all times. There were 2 really good fights which I will get into a bit later. One had two major players involved.
It started with just punt return walk through which was a snore fest. Then broke into the QB's doing footwork and accuracy drills. I know many people think I am a Leinart hater and many will dismiss what I'm saying because of lt. However unlike Chris's reports where Leinart has looked good. Today was not a good day. jw7 can can back up my comments if he so chooses. But it he was by far the least accurate in the footwork and accuracy drills. He was the only QB to never hit the itended square on the net that the coach would call out. He was frustrated too and would hang his head following each miss.
The other QB's were all pretty accurate during this drill. However Chris IMO was spot on with the footwork of Anderson and Skelton. they both just look sloppy and need a lot of work IMO.
While that was going on The OL was doing one on one drills off to the side. Deuce paricularly was very fired up and being very vocal. He was firing up the rest of the group as well. Even when he wasnt engaged he was really into it. The effort being put out by the group as a whole was amazing and cause several cheers from the rather large crowd at TC. The last person to go in the drill was Deuce. He had to physically be seperated from the other player he was engaged with by Grimm himself. Grimm then told him to go cool down. (He didnt listen btw)
They started to practice live punt return instead of walking through it this time. Both Roberts and Marshay Green were the ones returning punts. They both dropped their first attempts. Green caught his next 5. Roberts dropped another one and bobbled one before finally pulling it it in.
During WR/CB drills Anderson threw a beautiful Bomb to Stephen William for a 50 yard TD. Dropped in perfectly over his shoulder. Fitz made several nice catches iincluding one With Toler Draped all over him. I dont think anyone else inthe NFL except maybe Andre Johnson could have made the catch. Both Doucett and Breaston dropped easy balls right in their hands. It should be noted that Roberts caught every PASS thrown his way today. he didnt drop anything and looked good catching the ball.
They started doing 7 on 7 and Matt's very first pass was to Doucett who was open on a crossing pattern. He threw it behind him and Kerry Rhodes charged in after it dropping a sure INT. Matt then threw a sidline pass that landed at the feet of Breaston. He was also open and the throw was uncatchable. He finished teh entire drill 3 for 6. His third incompletion was a throw into the ground right at the feet of Hightower. However on one of the completions he threw a perfect strike to Gant down the left sideline for a 50 yard TD. It was a beautiful play. For whatever reason though Matt was just not sharp today. He missed Gant for another 50 yard bomb that he was wide open on a little later in practice.
Now for the action. At one point during OL vs. DL Branch and Deuce were going at each other. Deuce got his hand up into the face of Branch and literally ripped his helmet off. branch was no pleased and started to go after Deuce but was held back by other players.
During 11 on 11 Dockett actually made contact with Matt bringing him to the ground. Matt was pissed. He got up and threw the ball at DD feet. Levi Brown got into DD face and shoved him telling him to stay off his QB. DD then Charged him and a HUGE scrum insued that last a good minute. Was apile of mess trying to get everyone seperated. It was great to see the fire. It was even better to see Levi stand up for Matt and tell DD to back the hell off.
Just a few minutes later Mark Washington andTom Pestrock were into a fight as well with Washington actually throwing several punches at Pestock before they were seperated.
I know that fights happen in training camp all the time. But today was just different. I cant explain it unless you were there. But jw7 felt it too and commented on it. This whole team was lively and spry the entire practice. they were really getting after it. They were vocal and seemed to really be enjoying i t At times when your up there you will have an occasional brawl. sometimes you get the feeling that the players have that "can we just get this over with" air about them. Not today. There was some electricity in the air IMO.
Guys that looked particularly good to me.
Onrea Jones and Gant both WR's just make plays and catch everything thrown their way. LSH actually looked quicker to me this year(I think he was battling injuries last TC).
Joey Porter looks quick and broke a few plays would have had at least 1 sack if they were able to make contact with the QB. He was also mixing it up with the crowd while walking down the sideline causing a burst of laughter. Wish I could have heard what he was saying.
Kerry Rhodes looks bigger in person and looked really good out there IMO.
Gabe Watson was clooging up the middle really well during 11 on 11.
Surprised to see Trumaine Mcbride running as the first team CB. But he looked decent. Was stuck like glue to both Breaston and Fitz when covering them.
Gotta go eat dinner thats all for now.
Practice was in the dome however.
I have been coming to camp for roughly 13 years now. I must say that this was by far the most spirited practice I have ever witnessed. The players were loud, boisterous and completely intune to what was going on at all times. There were 2 really good fights which I will get into a bit later. One had two major players involved.
It started with just punt return walk through which was a snore fest. Then broke into the QB's doing footwork and accuracy drills. I know many people think I am a Leinart hater and many will dismiss what I'm saying because of lt. However unlike Chris's reports where Leinart has looked good. Today was not a good day. jw7 can can back up my comments if he so chooses. But it he was by far the least accurate in the footwork and accuracy drills. He was the only QB to never hit the itended square on the net that the coach would call out. He was frustrated too and would hang his head following each miss.
The other QB's were all pretty accurate during this drill. However Chris IMO was spot on with the footwork of Anderson and Skelton. they both just look sloppy and need a lot of work IMO.
While that was going on The OL was doing one on one drills off to the side. Deuce paricularly was very fired up and being very vocal. He was firing up the rest of the group as well. Even when he wasnt engaged he was really into it. The effort being put out by the group as a whole was amazing and cause several cheers from the rather large crowd at TC. The last person to go in the drill was Deuce. He had to physically be seperated from the other player he was engaged with by Grimm himself. Grimm then told him to go cool down. (He didnt listen btw)
They started to practice live punt return instead of walking through it this time. Both Roberts and Marshay Green were the ones returning punts. They both dropped their first attempts. Green caught his next 5. Roberts dropped another one and bobbled one before finally pulling it it in.
During WR/CB drills Anderson threw a beautiful Bomb to Stephen William for a 50 yard TD. Dropped in perfectly over his shoulder. Fitz made several nice catches iincluding one With Toler Draped all over him. I dont think anyone else inthe NFL except maybe Andre Johnson could have made the catch. Both Doucett and Breaston dropped easy balls right in their hands. It should be noted that Roberts caught every PASS thrown his way today. he didnt drop anything and looked good catching the ball.
They started doing 7 on 7 and Matt's very first pass was to Doucett who was open on a crossing pattern. He threw it behind him and Kerry Rhodes charged in after it dropping a sure INT. Matt then threw a sidline pass that landed at the feet of Breaston. He was also open and the throw was uncatchable. He finished teh entire drill 3 for 6. His third incompletion was a throw into the ground right at the feet of Hightower. However on one of the completions he threw a perfect strike to Gant down the left sideline for a 50 yard TD. It was a beautiful play. For whatever reason though Matt was just not sharp today. He missed Gant for another 50 yard bomb that he was wide open on a little later in practice.
Now for the action. At one point during OL vs. DL Branch and Deuce were going at each other. Deuce got his hand up into the face of Branch and literally ripped his helmet off. branch was no pleased and started to go after Deuce but was held back by other players.
During 11 on 11 Dockett actually made contact with Matt bringing him to the ground. Matt was pissed. He got up and threw the ball at DD feet. Levi Brown got into DD face and shoved him telling him to stay off his QB. DD then Charged him and a HUGE scrum insued that last a good minute. Was apile of mess trying to get everyone seperated. It was great to see the fire. It was even better to see Levi stand up for Matt and tell DD to back the hell off.
Just a few minutes later Mark Washington andTom Pestrock were into a fight as well with Washington actually throwing several punches at Pestock before they were seperated.
I know that fights happen in training camp all the time. But today was just different. I cant explain it unless you were there. But jw7 felt it too and commented on it. This whole team was lively and spry the entire practice. they were really getting after it. They were vocal and seemed to really be enjoying i t At times when your up there you will have an occasional brawl. sometimes you get the feeling that the players have that "can we just get this over with" air about them. Not today. There was some electricity in the air IMO.
Guys that looked particularly good to me.
Onrea Jones and Gant both WR's just make plays and catch everything thrown their way. LSH actually looked quicker to me this year(I think he was battling injuries last TC).
Joey Porter looks quick and broke a few plays would have had at least 1 sack if they were able to make contact with the QB. He was also mixing it up with the crowd while walking down the sideline causing a burst of laughter. Wish I could have heard what he was saying.
Kerry Rhodes looks bigger in person and looked really good out there IMO.
Gabe Watson was clooging up the middle really well during 11 on 11.
Surprised to see Trumaine Mcbride running as the first team CB. But he looked decent. Was stuck like glue to both Breaston and Fitz when covering them.
Gotta go eat dinner thats all for now.
