This was a better day for fans watching it, but not perfect. The coolest part for us, scrimmages and 2 minute drills etc happened on the opposite side of the field again. TE pass practice, 1 on 1 vs. various safeties was held on the near field as were a few other things and I kept my eyes in my binoculars for most of the session.
Anyway.. here are my thoughts on training camp today:
1) Jimmy Graham was unstoppable in practice 1 vs 1 on safeties. Dion Bailey and DeShawn Shead in particular at times had good coverage on him, but it didnt matter. The ball would come in high, Graham would box out and though theyd reach, hes too big to reach around to know the ball away. I felt bad sometimes. Bailey eventually was reduced to blatant defensive holding the entire route..and it didnt matter.
2) McCoy had a drop but other than that he and Willson both looked good as well. A 3 TE set I think would give the defense fits this coming season, because you could really dominate the run that way but still really threaten both unstoppable intermediate routes and fly routes. Run it back to back no huddle and you KNOW you will get a severe mismatch on at least one depending on the package the defense puts out to counter it.
3) Safety is our weakest area of depth. ET comes back tomorrow, but no one is rising, so far, to the opportunity Kams absence is providing. I was hoping his half brother would, despite being quite a bit shorter, because I thought it would be poetic..but neither he, nor Shead nor Ronald Martin have made any plays from the SS. Steven Terrell has been filling in at FS and been incredibly average there as well. Triston Wade hopefully will develop quickly.
4) After shining in earlier practices Kevin Smith did not practice today (WR, #17). Dont know why. Bruce Irvin also did not practice but was in uniform and on the field, sans helmet.
5) Theres an outside shot that that Cary Williams is this years Antoine Winfield. At the very least, use pencil when you write him in as the starting RCB. Seisay from Detroit looks the part and plays the part. Tye Smith also has looked good but on the left side so far.
6) Christine Michael today I think was trying to show effort by taking every carry to the house since theres no tackling, but it just looked silly and wasted time somes. There were plays that it was obvious he would have been stopped for 4 yards where he just ran the remaining 35 anyway. Im most likely projecting but I think he is feeling the pressure to perform.
7) Rawls got little work today, Turbin and Michael got most and Rod Smith got most of the rest.
8) Ricardo Lockette had the best catch of the day, judged by the amount of "ooohs" from us spectator in a nice deep route. Graham had a few "oooh...aaaaah!" inducers as well.
9) Kevin Norwood got a lot of looks today. There is significane to that, and to other heavy rotations of certain guys but without being in coaches meetings its hard to know what. Norwood got time at X and Y spots as well as the slot.
Today was my last practice... never got to see the type of drills that make judging line and linebacker play a little feasible..
Hope these were at least a bit of use to those who dont get to attend.
Anyway.. here are my thoughts on training camp today:
1) Jimmy Graham was unstoppable in practice 1 vs 1 on safeties. Dion Bailey and DeShawn Shead in particular at times had good coverage on him, but it didnt matter. The ball would come in high, Graham would box out and though theyd reach, hes too big to reach around to know the ball away. I felt bad sometimes. Bailey eventually was reduced to blatant defensive holding the entire route..and it didnt matter.
2) McCoy had a drop but other than that he and Willson both looked good as well. A 3 TE set I think would give the defense fits this coming season, because you could really dominate the run that way but still really threaten both unstoppable intermediate routes and fly routes. Run it back to back no huddle and you KNOW you will get a severe mismatch on at least one depending on the package the defense puts out to counter it.
3) Safety is our weakest area of depth. ET comes back tomorrow, but no one is rising, so far, to the opportunity Kams absence is providing. I was hoping his half brother would, despite being quite a bit shorter, because I thought it would be poetic..but neither he, nor Shead nor Ronald Martin have made any plays from the SS. Steven Terrell has been filling in at FS and been incredibly average there as well. Triston Wade hopefully will develop quickly.
4) After shining in earlier practices Kevin Smith did not practice today (WR, #17). Dont know why. Bruce Irvin also did not practice but was in uniform and on the field, sans helmet.
5) Theres an outside shot that that Cary Williams is this years Antoine Winfield. At the very least, use pencil when you write him in as the starting RCB. Seisay from Detroit looks the part and plays the part. Tye Smith also has looked good but on the left side so far.
6) Christine Michael today I think was trying to show effort by taking every carry to the house since theres no tackling, but it just looked silly and wasted time somes. There were plays that it was obvious he would have been stopped for 4 yards where he just ran the remaining 35 anyway. Im most likely projecting but I think he is feeling the pressure to perform.
7) Rawls got little work today, Turbin and Michael got most and Rod Smith got most of the rest.
8) Ricardo Lockette had the best catch of the day, judged by the amount of "ooohs" from us spectator in a nice deep route. Graham had a few "oooh...aaaaah!" inducers as well.
9) Kevin Norwood got a lot of looks today. There is significane to that, and to other heavy rotations of certain guys but without being in coaches meetings its hard to know what. Norwood got time at X and Y spots as well as the slot.
Today was my last practice... never got to see the type of drills that make judging line and linebacker play a little feasible..
Hope these were at least a bit of use to those who dont get to attend.
