Astrobot Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Team 1 was Kolb, Chandler, Woods, Stevie, Graham, and Spiller, with Wood, Brown, Pears, Urbik, and Glenn. Team 2 subbed in EJ, Marquise, Woods, and Smith. Team 3 subbed in Da'Rick, Gragg, Brandon Kaufman or Easley, and/or Dickerson. ----- RB--If I had to put the RBs in order of performance tonight it would be Spiller, Jackson, Choice, Zach Brown, Kendall Gaskins, then Drew Smith. Smith is the lankiest and tallest but is not a blocker or receiver. Brown is hustling all over the place, and Gaskins made a sweet catch in traffic. Our fullback is Fran Summers--5'9" 248. You won't see him until it's too late. He's a bowling ball out there but I doubt he makes the team. WR's in order of performance tonight were Stevie (a diving catch that brought the crowd to the loudest cheer of the night), TJ Graham (2 TDs and a drop), Brandon Kaufman (6'5" is nice but his catches in tight quarters were nicer and had 3 catches on 3 successive plays), Marcus Easley (gets open often and caught 3 in traffic, and was impressive as gunner), Woods (some exquisite routes and gets open consistently but also 2 drops--one would have been a TD), Marquise Goodwin (always open by 5 yards, one time went over the middle and had all the room in the world, but wasn't thrown to), Da'Rick Rogers (made a good gunner and had some good separation), then Dorin Dickerson (he's a man without a position but made a couple of nice moves as a WR). Our weakness at WR is now our strength. TE Scott Chandler is BACK! He made a few nice catches and they didn't seem to limit him. Gragg can separate but EJ overthrew him. Gragg is smaller than I thought but only relatively as we have 3 tall TEs. Smith isn't giving up his spot easily; known for blocking, he made 2 fine catches and one ugly catch. Caussin made a couple good catches but wasn't ready for one pass to him. We won't miss Mickey Schuler. QB- Kolb is still ahead, but he telegraphs his throws at times. EJ had a fumble and 2 overthrows to open guys. EJ is showing command under center. The D-Line is unpredictable even without Mario. I think Branch (definitely) and Jay Ross (maybe)can add something. Troup would have had 2 sacks tonight. LB-Alonso looks like Spielman and has a nose for the ball. Likely first string. Moats isn't far behind and showed the most hustle of the group. Bryan Scott still has "it" in his 11th year. Dowtin is a great match for this system. Jerry Hughes is going to contribute on 3rd down. I watched these guys less, so I'll watch more Monday. S -Searcy and Aaron Williams got their INT with Williams' INT coming on the first 11 on 11 play. Jairus who? CB-Gilmore vs Stevie is a thing of beauty. Both will have a huge year. Gilmore is less obvious with his interference. McKelvin looked improved and in great shape but I would have called him on his interference twice. Nobody else was noticeable except TJ Heath, who's on his man quick and blanketed him, and Ron Brooks who had a couple nice PBUs. Meeks was good against the gunner but he's very tiny. Random-The pace of practice is BRISK (50% more work in the same amount of time). At one point I timed the hikes of the ball at 14 seconds, then 16 seconds, then 14. Nobody seems gassed. Stevie got stretched by a trainer on the sidelines for about 5 minutes (hammys, groin, quad, sartorius)--then bounded off. Don't like using Woods or McKelvin as a KR as both will be starters. DraftTek Positional Analysis-I'm less concerned about LB and S than I was before practice. I'm WAY less concerned about WR and TE. I'm concerned about the same as I was about CB--love Gilmore but need a shutdown guy. May increase need at Guard That's it. Going again at 2:00 today--let me know if you're going. ---Astro
WhitewalkerInPhilly Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 This is great to see Thanks for mentioning EJ's fumble and overthrows, they weren't mentioned in the highlights. Still, listening to talk, and some of the highlights it does look like he's showing why he was drafted so high.
Astrobot Posted July 29, 2013 Author Posted July 29, 2013 Yes WM, you can see the future in EJ. He didn't look "deer in the headlights" overwhelmed like Losman or Trent. He looks unflappable, smooth, occasionally making the rookie mistake (not getting rid of the ball, fumbling). When protected, EJ throws a great ball. You also see the command already.
mrags Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Thanks Astro. As someone that was there I can probably agree with all of this. On EJs fumble, from my point of view, it looked like a botched handoff. Couldn't tell as I had the line surrounding the play. But it looked that way to me. Who's fault it was...... Now that's another one I couldn't tell you. Just an observation from where I was though. Might have been his fault, but I'm not ready to throw him under the bus on it yet. Very easily could have been one of the scrub RBs that won't be on the team in 3 weeks. I wonder if you were sitting near me. Right around 42 yard line, closer to the concessions, about 10+ rows up, on the end of the row, with a note pad in your lap?
26CornerBlitz Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Ranks, Rastro! Tralfaz? Thanks for the report in either case.
Gavin in Va Beach Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Very much appreciate the post Astro, thanks!
JohnC Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 (edited) Astro, Your efforts are appreciated. As an expression of my appreciation I sent you a large check that can only be cashed at the Bank of Sicily located in Palermo, Sicily. The only requirement is you have to hand deliver the check to the female teller with a mustache. There is also a time limit on the check. You have to get it cashed by noon July 30. So hurry up and make arrangements. Edited July 29, 2013 by JohnC
jaybee Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Very good review. Many thanks. Should be able to make it today. Will likely ride the scoot. I'll be wearing black leather and have a Canon SLR camera.
boyst Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Thanks astro When you watch the LB's, watch their first step. I am curoius if Alonso will have the good first step, stay on the backs of his feet a second to long, etc. Not just him, but others. With Alonso I also want to see his angles to meet the ball. Will he catch up to the speed quickly enough? A lot of young MLB's get thrown off course or lost in space. How does he fill space? How does he get in to position? Very good review. Many thanks. Should be able to make it today. Will likely ride the scoot. I'll be wearing black leather and have a Canon SLR camera. so your camera will cost more then your ride?
FluffHead Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Very good review. Many thanks. Should be able to make it today. Will likely ride the scoot. I'll be wearing black leather and have a Canon SLR camera. Hey! I was planning on wearing that outfit today!!
BuffaloBaumer Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Love reading the notes - thanks for the effort
eball Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Yes WM, you can see the future in EJ. He didn't look "deer in the headlights" overwhelmed like Losman or Trent. He looks unflappable, smooth, occasionally making the rookie mistake (not getting rid of the ball, fumbling). When protected, EJ throws a great ball. You also see the command already. This is exciting. Think about it, folks -- not since the Bills acquired Bledsoe prior to the 2002 season have we seen a true "franchise QB" behind center, at training camp or otherwise.
BuffaloWings Posted July 29, 2013 Posted July 29, 2013 Thanks, Astro! I understand why they may not want to use McKelvin & Woods as PR/KR, but if they're the best returners on the team, I think they should still use them.
Recommended Posts