A look at a two-deep after one week of practice
Here's where things stand, in our estimation and after talking with folks, after the first week of fall training camp. Things will get more serious starting tonight, when the pads go on. There's a scrimmage tomorrow that will also be big. (Just in to be sure, the starters are the ones mentioned first; also, we're putting players in until we hear of any official status updates that would keep them out)
QB: Kyle Allen, Kyler Murray OR Jake Hubenak
RB: Tra Carson, James White
TE: Jordan Davis OR Brandon Alexander
WR1: Speedy Noil, Ed Pope
Slot1: Christian Kirk, Sabian Holmes
Slot2: RSJ, Boone Neiderhofer
WR2: Josh Reynolds, Jeremy Tabuyo
LT: Avery Gennesy, Koda Martin
LG: Jeremiah Stuckey OR Jermaine Eluemunor OR Keaton Sutherland
C: Mike Matthews, J.J. Gustafson
RG: Joe Cheek, Tank Davis
RT: Germain Ifedi, Martin
DE: Daeshon Hall, Jarrett Johnson
DT: Julien Obioha, Hardreck Walker
DT: Alonzo Williams, DeShawn Washington
DE: Myles Garrett, Qualen Cunningham
SAM: Otaro Alaka, Richard Moore
MIKE: A.J. Hilliard OR Josh Walker
WILL: Shaan Washington, Claude George
CB: Devante Harris, Alex Sezer
CB: Nick Harvey, Brandon Williams
FS: Armani Watts, Justin Dunning
SS: Justin Evans, Donovan Wilson
Nickel: Noel Ellis, Devonta Burns
P: Drew Kaser, Shane Tripuka
PK: Taylor Bertolet, Daniel LaCamera
PR: Speedy Noil, Christian Kirk
KR: Noil, Kirk
Other team notes:
The competition at left tackle, which we didn't think was a competition anyway, is officially closed. Avery Gennesy is the left tackle and Germain Ifedi is the right tackle. The move makes perfect sense: Gennesy has been preparing to play the position for more than a year, while Ifedi has become a solid right tackle while not getting much of a chance to make the switch. Gennesy's also got quicker feet than the even bigger Ifedi (315 for Gennesy, at least 325 for GI), making him a better fit on the left side.
If the season started today, it could well be Jeremiah Stuckey at left guard. That competition, however, is wide open. Joe Cheek is very close to locking down right guard again if he has not already.
You can toss the old defensive line designations out the window. There are no more "rush ends" or "quick tackles". John Chavis has two defensive ends and two defensive tackles, and he really doesn't differentiate much between them. The reason is pretty basic: there's no difference in assignments. The job for all four is to get upfield and attack, as opposed to having at least one tackle and end taking up space and/or playing read and react on every down. The change has been welcomed and greatly appreciated by the defensive linemen, who are looking forward to getting after running backs.
The coaching staff, and Chavis in particular, are very pleased with the development of Devante Harris at corner since the end of the spring. They feel he's significantly improved in all facets of his game and he's earned the trust of his new defensive coordinator. In fact, Chavis called him "a good place to start" when assembling a cornerback corps. Rob has more on Brandon Williams and his development in a moment.
Freshman RB Kendall Bussey is getting prepared in a hurry, because the absence of Jay Bradford and the move of Brandon Williams has increased his likely workload this year. Williams has not taken a single snap on offense this fall and there are no plans for him to do so.
Jeremy Tabuyo is ahead of both Frank Iheanacho and Damion Ratley for a real simple reason: He's doing a better job getting open and has been a more consistent receiver to date.
Josh Walker and A.J. Hilliard are about dead even for the starting job going into tomorrow's scrimmage. The coaches are being careful with Hilliard, as we said they would be, but they're going to have to figure out just what he can do soon.
Riley Garner has been one of the pleasant surprises of camp. He looks like he's the most physically ready to go of the freshman summer arrivals at linebacker, and he has had no limitations. Chavis said they intend to play him this year.
Obioha reached out to Spencer Nealy to pick his brain about playing as an undersized defensive tackle in the SEC. He told us again yesterday that he feels the move plays to his strengths, that his quickness will allow him to cause problems for larger interior linemen.
Chavis wasn't paying lip service when he said he thought he had the best defensive ends in the country yesterday. Garrett, of course, is elite, but both Daeshon Hall and Qualen Cunningham have been very impressive so far. Hall has benefitted immensely from having an injury-free offseason and has gotten stronger in his upper body.
'15 team appears to have some player leadership
One of the biggest problems with the 2014 team was there were very few players among the upperclassmen that were willing to stand up and address issues on the field or in the locker room. That was something Sumlin harped on in the offseason and it looks like a bunch of players, from seniors to underclassmen, have taken on the duties of leadership.
We've heard of several seniors that have become more vocal, with Obioha, Carson, Harris and Mike Matthews foremost among them. Obioha isn't a yeller, but he's very intense and highly respected because of his intelligence and the effort he brings. Matthews IS a yeller and will get in your face if you're not doing things right. All four players are attempting to set a tone and an example, which is a big step for Harris especially. Another player who is setting an example and holds the respect of everyone is a sophomore: Myles Garrett. Garrett is soft-spoken, but he's certainly a maximum effort guy and he's beginning to speak up more. And when he talks, everyone listens. Germain Ifedi is the same way, not to mention very physically imposing.
The greatest praise we got for a leader, however, went to quarterback Kyle Allen. Upperclassmen were very impressed at how he has taken on the role of a team leader and that he has gained the respect of the team.
"He's not just the leader of the offense, he's the leader of our team," one upperclassman told us yesterday. "That's what you want from your quarterback. He has really impressed me."
(more in the next post)
Here's where things stand, in our estimation and after talking with folks, after the first week of fall training camp. Things will get more serious starting tonight, when the pads go on. There's a scrimmage tomorrow that will also be big. (Just in to be sure, the starters are the ones mentioned first; also, we're putting players in until we hear of any official status updates that would keep them out)
QB: Kyle Allen, Kyler Murray OR Jake Hubenak
RB: Tra Carson, James White
TE: Jordan Davis OR Brandon Alexander
WR1: Speedy Noil, Ed Pope
Slot1: Christian Kirk, Sabian Holmes
Slot2: RSJ, Boone Neiderhofer
WR2: Josh Reynolds, Jeremy Tabuyo
LT: Avery Gennesy, Koda Martin
LG: Jeremiah Stuckey OR Jermaine Eluemunor OR Keaton Sutherland
C: Mike Matthews, J.J. Gustafson
RG: Joe Cheek, Tank Davis
RT: Germain Ifedi, Martin
DE: Daeshon Hall, Jarrett Johnson
DT: Julien Obioha, Hardreck Walker
DT: Alonzo Williams, DeShawn Washington
DE: Myles Garrett, Qualen Cunningham
SAM: Otaro Alaka, Richard Moore
MIKE: A.J. Hilliard OR Josh Walker
WILL: Shaan Washington, Claude George
CB: Devante Harris, Alex Sezer
CB: Nick Harvey, Brandon Williams
FS: Armani Watts, Justin Dunning
SS: Justin Evans, Donovan Wilson
Nickel: Noel Ellis, Devonta Burns
P: Drew Kaser, Shane Tripuka
PK: Taylor Bertolet, Daniel LaCamera
PR: Speedy Noil, Christian Kirk
KR: Noil, Kirk
Other team notes:
The competition at left tackle, which we didn't think was a competition anyway, is officially closed. Avery Gennesy is the left tackle and Germain Ifedi is the right tackle. The move makes perfect sense: Gennesy has been preparing to play the position for more than a year, while Ifedi has become a solid right tackle while not getting much of a chance to make the switch. Gennesy's also got quicker feet than the even bigger Ifedi (315 for Gennesy, at least 325 for GI), making him a better fit on the left side.
If the season started today, it could well be Jeremiah Stuckey at left guard. That competition, however, is wide open. Joe Cheek is very close to locking down right guard again if he has not already.
You can toss the old defensive line designations out the window. There are no more "rush ends" or "quick tackles". John Chavis has two defensive ends and two defensive tackles, and he really doesn't differentiate much between them. The reason is pretty basic: there's no difference in assignments. The job for all four is to get upfield and attack, as opposed to having at least one tackle and end taking up space and/or playing read and react on every down. The change has been welcomed and greatly appreciated by the defensive linemen, who are looking forward to getting after running backs.
The coaching staff, and Chavis in particular, are very pleased with the development of Devante Harris at corner since the end of the spring. They feel he's significantly improved in all facets of his game and he's earned the trust of his new defensive coordinator. In fact, Chavis called him "a good place to start" when assembling a cornerback corps. Rob has more on Brandon Williams and his development in a moment.
Freshman RB Kendall Bussey is getting prepared in a hurry, because the absence of Jay Bradford and the move of Brandon Williams has increased his likely workload this year. Williams has not taken a single snap on offense this fall and there are no plans for him to do so.
Jeremy Tabuyo is ahead of both Frank Iheanacho and Damion Ratley for a real simple reason: He's doing a better job getting open and has been a more consistent receiver to date.
Josh Walker and A.J. Hilliard are about dead even for the starting job going into tomorrow's scrimmage. The coaches are being careful with Hilliard, as we said they would be, but they're going to have to figure out just what he can do soon.
Riley Garner has been one of the pleasant surprises of camp. He looks like he's the most physically ready to go of the freshman summer arrivals at linebacker, and he has had no limitations. Chavis said they intend to play him this year.
Obioha reached out to Spencer Nealy to pick his brain about playing as an undersized defensive tackle in the SEC. He told us again yesterday that he feels the move plays to his strengths, that his quickness will allow him to cause problems for larger interior linemen.
Chavis wasn't paying lip service when he said he thought he had the best defensive ends in the country yesterday. Garrett, of course, is elite, but both Daeshon Hall and Qualen Cunningham have been very impressive so far. Hall has benefitted immensely from having an injury-free offseason and has gotten stronger in his upper body.
'15 team appears to have some player leadership
One of the biggest problems with the 2014 team was there were very few players among the upperclassmen that were willing to stand up and address issues on the field or in the locker room. That was something Sumlin harped on in the offseason and it looks like a bunch of players, from seniors to underclassmen, have taken on the duties of leadership.
We've heard of several seniors that have become more vocal, with Obioha, Carson, Harris and Mike Matthews foremost among them. Obioha isn't a yeller, but he's very intense and highly respected because of his intelligence and the effort he brings. Matthews IS a yeller and will get in your face if you're not doing things right. All four players are attempting to set a tone and an example, which is a big step for Harris especially. Another player who is setting an example and holds the respect of everyone is a sophomore: Myles Garrett. Garrett is soft-spoken, but he's certainly a maximum effort guy and he's beginning to speak up more. And when he talks, everyone listens. Germain Ifedi is the same way, not to mention very physically imposing.
The greatest praise we got for a leader, however, went to quarterback Kyle Allen. Upperclassmen were very impressed at how he has taken on the role of a team leader and that he has gained the respect of the team.
"He's not just the leader of the offense, he's the leader of our team," one upperclassman told us yesterday. "That's what you want from your quarterback. He has really impressed me."
(more in the next post)
