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Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Not much going on the recruiting front right now as the focus is on training camp. So here's where everything stands, position by position:
QB: Haynes King is a little bit ahead of Max Johnson, by nearly all accounts. King knows the system, has performed better and brings the element of speed to the offense. Johnson is by no means out of it (I'm serious when I say it's close), which means tomorrow's scrimmage could be key to the chances for both of them. Conner Weigman is the third-stringer.
RB: Devon Achane starts, and Amari Daniels has taken the second-team snaps almost exclusively. But LJ Johnson has also stepped his level of play, so they both may see playing time.
TE: The first three, right now, are Max Wright, Blake Smith and Jake Johnson. When it comes to route-running, Johnson is the smoothest of the three -- as long as he runs the right routes. Theo Ohrstrom has had trouble with drops. Donovan Green is still adapting and has shown really bright flashes, but is still getting used to the scheme.
OL: This group is set, barring injury: Zuhn/Moko/Foster/Robinson/Fatheree. Aki Ogunbiyi, however, is a critical piece to the puzzle because he's the primary backup at three positions: both tackle spots and left guard. Matthew Wykoff backs up at center and Kam Dewberry looks like he's taken over as the backup at right guard. Dametrious Crownover is the other backup tackle. I think the situation with Blake Trainor remains touch and go.
WR: Current starters are Evan Stewart, Chase Lane and Ainias Smith and it would not be a surprise if it stays that way. Moose Muhammad and Yulkeith Brown look like they're in for expanded playing time, and the reports on Chris Marshall and Noah Thomas are positive. The first couple of games could see a larger receiver rotation as things get narrowed down.
DE: Fadil Diggs is set as the starter at one end, and right now, Anthony Lucas looks like he's got the other side. Tunmise Adeleye has not been as consistent this summer as he was in the spring, while Lucas just keeps improving. Adeleye will likely back up if he can't get the starting job back --again, tomorrow will be big here. The other backup seems to be up for grabs, but LT Overton is seriously in that mix. Elijah Jeudy was also working with the twos yesterday. Shemar Stewart and Enai White have been working with the third team, but it doesn't seem like there's any reason they won't play as well. Both have shown off their impressive talent this summer.
DT: Three parts of the rotation are set: McKinnley Jackson, Isaiah Raikes and Shemar Turner. Jackson will start and I think Turner will too, but Raikes will play a lot. The remaining question is, who's the fourth guy? A lot of candidates have been banged up. We haven't seen Adarious Jones on the field all summer (he's been at practice), and Albert Regis has been out the past several days. So has Walter Nolen. If Nolen gets back and feels good, I think he'll be the guy. Again, the talent is just too great.
LB: You've got your starters, Andre White and Edgerrin Cooper. Chris Russell looks like he's the third linebacker at this point. Ish Harris and Martrell Harris are both really fast and could break through -- I've been especially impressed with Martrell Harris in what little we've seen this summer. All the same, White, Cooper and Russell look like they're the week 1 primary players.
S/Nickel: All three are set. Demani Richardson and Jardin Gilbert at safety and Antonio Johnson stays at nickel. Richardson, especially, has been impressive this summer. In spite of his size, his speed and agility seem improved. The backups seem to still be in question, but I'm thinking Deuce Harmon will backup at nickel and Bryce Anderson will be one of the backups at safety (and could still play nickel). Jacoby Mathews is still getting used to things. Jarred Kerr, who has shaken off two years of injuries, has looked pretty good of late and has taken snaps with the 2s.
CB: A three-player rotation looks like it's starting to appear, at least in part due to injuries. The big three right now are Jaylon Jones, Brian George and Tyreek Chappell, with Josh Moten and Smoke Bouie behind them. Myles Jones won't be in the mix for quite a while, it seems, and there's been no sighting of Denver Harris for a week -- never good. But having five guys who can play is a whole lot better than being stuck with only two.
Stewart continues to impress
Evan Stewart had a great spring, as everyone knows. He earned the trust of Jimbo Fisher and the coaching staff quickly, something that is tough to do for a wideout. But he continues to get better as the summer goes on. We've heard rave reviews about him, including his ability -- yes -- stretch the defense. He's so fluid and quick out of his breaks that he's extremely tough to cover. The coaches really hope Chris Marshall and/or Noah Thomas can be ready to go early in the season, but there's no question about Stewart. He's going to be out there.
Other players who have impressed this summer
Jardin Gilbert: he looks good, having added about 10 pounds of muscle, and can really run. He looks like he can be an impact player in the secondary.
Kam Dewberry: While the other freshmen have kind of floundered, which was expected, Dewberry has quickly moved up to the 2s. That's not a surprise, considering he was the most game-ready of the bunch, but his progression has been swift.
Anthony Lucas: That one is pretty obvious by now.
Shemar Stewart: Walter Nolen is THE freak of nature, but Stewart isn't far behind. He's got size, speed and power true freshmen rarely have.
LT Overton: I didn't expect to discuss him much this season, but he may be in the week 1 rotation. That's pretty remarkable for a player who should be getting ready for his senior year of high school.
McKinnley Jackson: He looks powerful. More importantly, he looks patient. He's been overly excitable in his first two seasons, which has led to false starts and getting out of position. This year, he looks calm, confident and has played at a high level.
Jordan Moko: He's not only a very likely starter now, but the coaches feel comfortable enough with him that they're willing to move him around when other players (Robinson) are out.
Aki Ogunbiyi: He's had a lot thrown at him, but he's been very good regardless of where he's played. That's a huge boost for the offensive line.
Phone: 281-971-3362
Email: paul@westhoustonsf.com
Not much going on the recruiting front right now as the focus is on training camp. So here's where everything stands, position by position:
QB: Haynes King is a little bit ahead of Max Johnson, by nearly all accounts. King knows the system, has performed better and brings the element of speed to the offense. Johnson is by no means out of it (I'm serious when I say it's close), which means tomorrow's scrimmage could be key to the chances for both of them. Conner Weigman is the third-stringer.
RB: Devon Achane starts, and Amari Daniels has taken the second-team snaps almost exclusively. But LJ Johnson has also stepped his level of play, so they both may see playing time.
TE: The first three, right now, are Max Wright, Blake Smith and Jake Johnson. When it comes to route-running, Johnson is the smoothest of the three -- as long as he runs the right routes. Theo Ohrstrom has had trouble with drops. Donovan Green is still adapting and has shown really bright flashes, but is still getting used to the scheme.
OL: This group is set, barring injury: Zuhn/Moko/Foster/Robinson/Fatheree. Aki Ogunbiyi, however, is a critical piece to the puzzle because he's the primary backup at three positions: both tackle spots and left guard. Matthew Wykoff backs up at center and Kam Dewberry looks like he's taken over as the backup at right guard. Dametrious Crownover is the other backup tackle. I think the situation with Blake Trainor remains touch and go.
WR: Current starters are Evan Stewart, Chase Lane and Ainias Smith and it would not be a surprise if it stays that way. Moose Muhammad and Yulkeith Brown look like they're in for expanded playing time, and the reports on Chris Marshall and Noah Thomas are positive. The first couple of games could see a larger receiver rotation as things get narrowed down.
DE: Fadil Diggs is set as the starter at one end, and right now, Anthony Lucas looks like he's got the other side. Tunmise Adeleye has not been as consistent this summer as he was in the spring, while Lucas just keeps improving. Adeleye will likely back up if he can't get the starting job back --again, tomorrow will be big here. The other backup seems to be up for grabs, but LT Overton is seriously in that mix. Elijah Jeudy was also working with the twos yesterday. Shemar Stewart and Enai White have been working with the third team, but it doesn't seem like there's any reason they won't play as well. Both have shown off their impressive talent this summer.
DT: Three parts of the rotation are set: McKinnley Jackson, Isaiah Raikes and Shemar Turner. Jackson will start and I think Turner will too, but Raikes will play a lot. The remaining question is, who's the fourth guy? A lot of candidates have been banged up. We haven't seen Adarious Jones on the field all summer (he's been at practice), and Albert Regis has been out the past several days. So has Walter Nolen. If Nolen gets back and feels good, I think he'll be the guy. Again, the talent is just too great.
LB: You've got your starters, Andre White and Edgerrin Cooper. Chris Russell looks like he's the third linebacker at this point. Ish Harris and Martrell Harris are both really fast and could break through -- I've been especially impressed with Martrell Harris in what little we've seen this summer. All the same, White, Cooper and Russell look like they're the week 1 primary players.
S/Nickel: All three are set. Demani Richardson and Jardin Gilbert at safety and Antonio Johnson stays at nickel. Richardson, especially, has been impressive this summer. In spite of his size, his speed and agility seem improved. The backups seem to still be in question, but I'm thinking Deuce Harmon will backup at nickel and Bryce Anderson will be one of the backups at safety (and could still play nickel). Jacoby Mathews is still getting used to things. Jarred Kerr, who has shaken off two years of injuries, has looked pretty good of late and has taken snaps with the 2s.
CB: A three-player rotation looks like it's starting to appear, at least in part due to injuries. The big three right now are Jaylon Jones, Brian George and Tyreek Chappell, with Josh Moten and Smoke Bouie behind them. Myles Jones won't be in the mix for quite a while, it seems, and there's been no sighting of Denver Harris for a week -- never good. But having five guys who can play is a whole lot better than being stuck with only two.
Stewart continues to impress
Evan Stewart had a great spring, as everyone knows. He earned the trust of Jimbo Fisher and the coaching staff quickly, something that is tough to do for a wideout. But he continues to get better as the summer goes on. We've heard rave reviews about him, including his ability -- yes -- stretch the defense. He's so fluid and quick out of his breaks that he's extremely tough to cover. The coaches really hope Chris Marshall and/or Noah Thomas can be ready to go early in the season, but there's no question about Stewart. He's going to be out there.
Other players who have impressed this summer
Jardin Gilbert: he looks good, having added about 10 pounds of muscle, and can really run. He looks like he can be an impact player in the secondary.
Kam Dewberry: While the other freshmen have kind of floundered, which was expected, Dewberry has quickly moved up to the 2s. That's not a surprise, considering he was the most game-ready of the bunch, but his progression has been swift.
Anthony Lucas: That one is pretty obvious by now.
Shemar Stewart: Walter Nolen is THE freak of nature, but Stewart isn't far behind. He's got size, speed and power true freshmen rarely have.
LT Overton: I didn't expect to discuss him much this season, but he may be in the week 1 rotation. That's pretty remarkable for a player who should be getting ready for his senior year of high school.
McKinnley Jackson: He looks powerful. More importantly, he looks patient. He's been overly excitable in his first two seasons, which has led to false starts and getting out of position. This year, he looks calm, confident and has played at a high level.
Jordan Moko: He's not only a very likely starter now, but the coaches feel comfortable enough with him that they're willing to move him around when other players (Robinson) are out.
Aki Ogunbiyi: He's had a lot thrown at him, but he's been very good regardless of where he's played. That's a huge boost for the offensive line.
