Just as the heat was the news yesterday, it wasn't today because rainstorms hit southeast Texas from College Station to south of Houston and pushed the Aggies indoors. I'm sure they were devastated by this turn of events, considering it was 107 before the rains came.
We have our first nicked up player: Christian Kirk wasn't taking part today, but he didn't look like he was seriously hurt at all. I doubt it's worth worrying about, but he was sitting out. Priest Willis may be on the roster and have a number, but he's not here yet.
One of the few good things about the bubble is that you can see everyone. I didn't get a look at the O-line yesterday, but did today. A few things of interest: J.J. Gustafson is now working at center. In fact, he was snapping today like he was the backup to Mike Matthews. Jeremiah Stuckey took some snaps as well, but he was mostly with the guards. Gustafson was out in the spring, but it's the first time I can remember him playing center. If he sticks, he'll be huge for the position.
One thing that was interesting (to me, at least) is that all the freshmen linemen were being crosstrained, doing drills for both guards and tackles. It got my attention when I saw Connor Lanfear over with Germain Ifedi and company and stopped to watch. But then he and all the other freshmen moved over and did guard drills. Koda Martin is doing that as well, but I think that's more in order to get him ready to play immediately than anything else. Martin is developing into a freakish kind of talent.
Today, we got the first, "Ok, THAT'S what the fuss is about" with Daylon Mack. He was doing the high step drill where you step in between the padded barriers on the ground and several DTs actually tripped and fell doing it. Mack went through it just a bit slower than Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson, who are about 100 pounds lighter than he is. During the rip drill, where the lineman grabs the guy across from him and pulls through and past him, Mack grabbed Julien Obioha and threw him to the ground. He wasn't trying, he was just that strong.
Mack has been partnered with Obioha the first two days. I think that's a great idea. Julien may be the smartest guy on the team and he's not going to be jealous or intimidated by working with Mack. He'll get him better. Obioha, by the way, looks substantially bigger himself.
Got a chance to watch Brandon Williams do some agility drills and he looked pretty darned good changing directions. I have no idea how he'll cover, but I feel better about his ability to cut and move now. He was better than both freshman corners, for instance, in what I saw.
The Aggies now have some safety looking safeties. Armani Watts looks impressive -- 10 pounds bigger at least. Justin Evans also has gotten bigger. Justin Dunning is ridiculous, and Larry Pryor is still good-sized by dwarfed by Dunning. More importantly, you've got some athletes with those guys and Donovan Wilson.
Jayln Judkins, who I've been watching since he was in Angleton, has moved to tight end. I think that's a good move, because he's already 6'2", 225 and pretty athletic. He's got the frame to get up to 250 or so and could be a contributor next year. Brandon Alexander has looked pretty good so far, and is even catching the football well.
Justin Manning has gotten some early props. Hopefully that'll keep up.
Oh, Myles Garrett's burst is better than last year. Which is ridiculous to even type.
We have our first nicked up player: Christian Kirk wasn't taking part today, but he didn't look like he was seriously hurt at all. I doubt it's worth worrying about, but he was sitting out. Priest Willis may be on the roster and have a number, but he's not here yet.
One of the few good things about the bubble is that you can see everyone. I didn't get a look at the O-line yesterday, but did today. A few things of interest: J.J. Gustafson is now working at center. In fact, he was snapping today like he was the backup to Mike Matthews. Jeremiah Stuckey took some snaps as well, but he was mostly with the guards. Gustafson was out in the spring, but it's the first time I can remember him playing center. If he sticks, he'll be huge for the position.
One thing that was interesting (to me, at least) is that all the freshmen linemen were being crosstrained, doing drills for both guards and tackles. It got my attention when I saw Connor Lanfear over with Germain Ifedi and company and stopped to watch. But then he and all the other freshmen moved over and did guard drills. Koda Martin is doing that as well, but I think that's more in order to get him ready to play immediately than anything else. Martin is developing into a freakish kind of talent.
Today, we got the first, "Ok, THAT'S what the fuss is about" with Daylon Mack. He was doing the high step drill where you step in between the padded barriers on the ground and several DTs actually tripped and fell doing it. Mack went through it just a bit slower than Qualen Cunningham and Jarrett Johnson, who are about 100 pounds lighter than he is. During the rip drill, where the lineman grabs the guy across from him and pulls through and past him, Mack grabbed Julien Obioha and threw him to the ground. He wasn't trying, he was just that strong.
Mack has been partnered with Obioha the first two days. I think that's a great idea. Julien may be the smartest guy on the team and he's not going to be jealous or intimidated by working with Mack. He'll get him better. Obioha, by the way, looks substantially bigger himself.
Got a chance to watch Brandon Williams do some agility drills and he looked pretty darned good changing directions. I have no idea how he'll cover, but I feel better about his ability to cut and move now. He was better than both freshman corners, for instance, in what I saw.
The Aggies now have some safety looking safeties. Armani Watts looks impressive -- 10 pounds bigger at least. Justin Evans also has gotten bigger. Justin Dunning is ridiculous, and Larry Pryor is still good-sized by dwarfed by Dunning. More importantly, you've got some athletes with those guys and Donovan Wilson.
Jayln Judkins, who I've been watching since he was in Angleton, has moved to tight end. I think that's a good move, because he's already 6'2", 225 and pretty athletic. He's got the frame to get up to 250 or so and could be a contributor next year. Brandon Alexander has looked pretty good so far, and is even catching the football well.
Justin Manning has gotten some early props. Hopefully that'll keep up.
Oh, Myles Garrett's burst is better than last year. Which is ridiculous to even type.
