Here is a little setting of the scene. I love walking to the practice fields, just driving to the Dome on University road, I had to stop while Rolle, B. Johnson, and Boldin (who is practicing this morning, left calf is all taped up) crossed the road in front of me; should have had a sign up that said “Stud-Crossing”. Anyway, about the walk to the fields; picture partly cloudy skies, temps in the low 70’s, fresh mountain air as you walk pine-needle covered paths through a little forest thicket; it puts you on the North-side of the upper fields. Seating is no problem and I go to the little hill on the North side pick out a pick-nick table to set up on. Coffee, roster, Bi-noc, and my lap-top (so I could capture as much of this as I could). I am right behind the goal-posts; in the NEZ again!
Today I am going to concentrate on the glamour-boys. Just watched the receiver and back warm-up drills. I find my self forced to rant about Edge once again; during this drill all the receiver-types are running little out or in patterns while the QB’s float the ball out to them. These guys have not even stretched yet. It looks like a full crew this morning and I can pick out all the backs, TE, and WR’s. Shipp is running smooth, Pope looks like a basket-ball player to me, B. Johnson is looking good (has the look of a #1 or #2 receiver on a lesser squad), JJ is out there…and there is Edge. Every body is floating through this drill but Edge catches the ball with his hand and pulls it in while turning up-field with a burst and accelerates to the next line. Guy practices hard.
Well, stretching is over, and it looks like the Offense (in red this morning) is running undefended plays with different QB’s. Lots of WR screens to the flats. Boldin is working and so is Fitz. I have to stop and comment on Fitz. This year he is stronger and quicker; look out kids, he has the look of leopard among grey-hounds. The receivers are running blocking drills; I think Q has secret desires to be a LB. Moving on to receiving drills again. Warner, Navarre, and Davy are the three QB’s working. Navarre’s motion does look a little tighter, seems to be keeping his elbow tighter to his body in his throwing motion, Davy’s motion is much bigger; Kurt has the best of all. Nothing seems to be wrong with Q, his flashing burst of speed and hard sharp cuts. They work through all the patterns and I see BJ and Warner hook up on a mid-depth pattern across the middle. What makes me sit up is BJ’s acceleration to the ball (which I thought was thrown to far in front of him), he seemed to accelerate and stretch out to snag the ball and continued a burning-turn up-field; that had TD all over it.
Well, they are moving the glamour-boys to the lower fields so I need to follow; did I mention I brought a fold-up chair? Real handy as Denny moves the team around. Another quick dash down a forest path and I watch the offense is running defended (by other O-players) drills. Kurt is taking most of the snaps of this three-quarter speed drill. Lots of play action, lots of Edge coming out of the back-field. Did I mention that Warner (wearing a brace on his right knee) throws a beautiful ball? Let me take this moment to say how lucky we are to have this guy and re-affirm my Warnerite membership. Moving on to WR pattern-drills with four QB’s throwing; lots of balls in the air at once. Pope catches one after juggling it for a bit, this kid will be a beast when he fill out a little more.
They are in full pads today. I think I smell a little contact coming this morning; both O and D seem to be looking for it.
OK! It is time for Red vs. White; full speed. I am going to miss a lot of this because I am watching and not writing; general impressions at best because there is a lot going on. Defense is definitely winning the battle; Navarre is leading the 2nd team O against the 1st team D. O can’t move the ball. Now it 1st team O against 2nd team D. O is clinking, Edge as broke two running plays for big gains, Kurt connects on a play action to BJ. JJ burst outside for a five yard gain. The O is having their way. Back to 2nd team O. Navarre connects on his first completion over the middle to Watkins; took a long time develop and Watkins made a great catch. Navarre follows up with a nice toss and anther great catch by Spurlock. Navarre goes three for three with a out pattern. Make that four for four with a fly-pattern and GREAT catch by Watkins. 1st team Offense again; it’s the EDGE SHOW! Warner tries a quick one over the middle and….Jay McCariens takes it back for a TD! Kurt redeems himself with a quick completion to the out-side for a short gainer.
On to special teams and some punting drills; first team with Player, Pro-Bowler, second team with Fred Capshaw, rookie-challenger. First round (from the goal line) goes to player, cleaner punt with better hang time. Second round is a tie, both kicker boom them out, Capshaw was longer but Player’s hung longer. BJ, Walters, and Spurlock are catching.
I have to wrap this up, my batteries are going. Still to come is some one-one with the OL and DL, receiver drills, and the last Red vs. White full speed drills. Maybe I can write more on that when I get back to the Valley.
Today I am going to concentrate on the glamour-boys. Just watched the receiver and back warm-up drills. I find my self forced to rant about Edge once again; during this drill all the receiver-types are running little out or in patterns while the QB’s float the ball out to them. These guys have not even stretched yet. It looks like a full crew this morning and I can pick out all the backs, TE, and WR’s. Shipp is running smooth, Pope looks like a basket-ball player to me, B. Johnson is looking good (has the look of a #1 or #2 receiver on a lesser squad), JJ is out there…and there is Edge. Every body is floating through this drill but Edge catches the ball with his hand and pulls it in while turning up-field with a burst and accelerates to the next line. Guy practices hard.
Well, stretching is over, and it looks like the Offense (in red this morning) is running undefended plays with different QB’s. Lots of WR screens to the flats. Boldin is working and so is Fitz. I have to stop and comment on Fitz. This year he is stronger and quicker; look out kids, he has the look of leopard among grey-hounds. The receivers are running blocking drills; I think Q has secret desires to be a LB. Moving on to receiving drills again. Warner, Navarre, and Davy are the three QB’s working. Navarre’s motion does look a little tighter, seems to be keeping his elbow tighter to his body in his throwing motion, Davy’s motion is much bigger; Kurt has the best of all. Nothing seems to be wrong with Q, his flashing burst of speed and hard sharp cuts. They work through all the patterns and I see BJ and Warner hook up on a mid-depth pattern across the middle. What makes me sit up is BJ’s acceleration to the ball (which I thought was thrown to far in front of him), he seemed to accelerate and stretch out to snag the ball and continued a burning-turn up-field; that had TD all over it.
Well, they are moving the glamour-boys to the lower fields so I need to follow; did I mention I brought a fold-up chair? Real handy as Denny moves the team around. Another quick dash down a forest path and I watch the offense is running defended (by other O-players) drills. Kurt is taking most of the snaps of this three-quarter speed drill. Lots of play action, lots of Edge coming out of the back-field. Did I mention that Warner (wearing a brace on his right knee) throws a beautiful ball? Let me take this moment to say how lucky we are to have this guy and re-affirm my Warnerite membership. Moving on to WR pattern-drills with four QB’s throwing; lots of balls in the air at once. Pope catches one after juggling it for a bit, this kid will be a beast when he fill out a little more.
They are in full pads today. I think I smell a little contact coming this morning; both O and D seem to be looking for it.
OK! It is time for Red vs. White; full speed. I am going to miss a lot of this because I am watching and not writing; general impressions at best because there is a lot going on. Defense is definitely winning the battle; Navarre is leading the 2nd team O against the 1st team D. O can’t move the ball. Now it 1st team O against 2nd team D. O is clinking, Edge as broke two running plays for big gains, Kurt connects on a play action to BJ. JJ burst outside for a five yard gain. The O is having their way. Back to 2nd team O. Navarre connects on his first completion over the middle to Watkins; took a long time develop and Watkins made a great catch. Navarre follows up with a nice toss and anther great catch by Spurlock. Navarre goes three for three with a out pattern. Make that four for four with a fly-pattern and GREAT catch by Watkins. 1st team Offense again; it’s the EDGE SHOW! Warner tries a quick one over the middle and….Jay McCariens takes it back for a TD! Kurt redeems himself with a quick completion to the out-side for a short gainer.
On to special teams and some punting drills; first team with Player, Pro-Bowler, second team with Fred Capshaw, rookie-challenger. First round (from the goal line) goes to player, cleaner punt with better hang time. Second round is a tie, both kicker boom them out, Capshaw was longer but Player’s hung longer. BJ, Walters, and Spurlock are catching.
I have to wrap this up, my batteries are going. Still to come is some one-one with the OL and DL, receiver drills, and the last Red vs. White full speed drills. Maybe I can write more on that when I get back to the Valley.
