Saturday spring scrimmage notes
- By bucshon
- Grange Grove
- 21 Replies
Illinois held an open spring practice and controlled scrimmage at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. It included warmups, position drills, special teams work, and controlled scrimmage from 11 am. to approximately 1:20. The Coaches Clinic is also this weekend, so a big group of high school coaches were on hand to watch the practice. Weather conditions were rough. 40 degrees, gusting winds, and some drizzling rain near he end of the practice.
OFFENSE STARTERS / NOTES
QB Luke Altmyer
RB Reggie Love or Josh McCray
LT Julian Pearl
LG Isaiah Adams
C Josh Kreutz
RG Jordyn Slaughter
RT Josh Gesky
TE Tip Reiman
WR Isaiah Williams
WR Pat Bryant
WR Casey Washington
* Altmyer is the clear starter at QB. He was pretty sharp throwing the ball considering the weather conditions. He has a quick release and and throws a tight spiral and catchable ball. He's also a better athlete than I anticipated. You don't want him taking on tacklers, but he can tuck it and run with a good burst of speed. One concern is that he did not throw the ball well on the move. The ball didn't come out of his hand cleanly when he was flushed.
* A trio of backups got equal reps. Its unsettled right now. Ball State transfer John Paddock plays with the most confidence among the three, and he can run around a little bit and make a few plays. He also tends to be reckless and tries to fit the ball into tight windows. Kirkland Michauex is tall pocket passer with a good arms. He has limited mobility, and his accuracy is inconsistent. He didn't follow through and sailed a few throes. Donovan Leary is clearly improved. When he has time to set up and step into his throws, he can spin it. He's not ready to start Big Ten games, but the rest of spring and fall camp will do some good. Legit arm. Now it's about mastering the offense and learning better to read coverages so he can just go play and have to thimk too much.
* Tackle Brandon Henderson is one of the top freshmen on offense. He's in the two-deep at left tackle behind Pearl When he adds some strength, he's going to be a good one. Prototypical length and athleticism for a left tackle. He didn't look overmatched. When he got beat, it was fundamentals and not really speed or power.
* The situation at center is tenuous. There's still the option of going to the Portal. Kreutz starts backed up by Zach Barlev, who struggled. Kruetz was just okay. Freshman TJ McMillan is the most talented and took third team reps.
* There were some break down in pass pro, especially up the middle. Pear and Adams were pulled for about the half the practice, so the there wasn't much movement in the zone running game for much of the srimmage and no long runs.
* OL Zy Crisler is sitting out the spring with an injury. He could play either spot on the right side when he comes back, and I think that depends on who emerges as the strongest candidate to start between Slaughter and Gesky. They also add JUCO transfer Dez'mond Schuster this summer.
* The wide receivers made a few plays downfield. You still want to see them getting more separation. I think incoming freshman Malik Elzy has a great chance to step right into the rotation. He'll get here in June. The speed an elusiveness of freshman Kenari Wilcher really jumps out. He's quick-twitch and pretty solid in his route running. He does need to tighten things up a bit with his hands - he had a drop of touchdown throw in the back of the end zone. Talented kid, though.
* Griffin Moore comes in at H-back in certain packages. He's bigger, stronger. Transfer TE Tanner Arkin will be a rotational player. He's another flex guy / H-back.
* There's a lot of size in the running back room, but a lack of speed and quickness. I think that's the biggest concern with the offense. They really don't have a guy who can bounce runs to the outside or run away from anyone in the second tier. Love got the most carries. He's solid. With the OL not having a great day, an inside runner like Josh McCray didn't have much room to operate. He can run over guys, but his cutting was rather methodical.
* Illinois is in great shape at place kicker. Caleb Griffin and freshman David Olano were both consistent striking the football.
DEFENSE STARTERS / NOTES
NT TeRah Edwards
DT Jer'Zhan Newton
DT Keith Randolph
OLB Seth Coleman
ILB Tarique Barnes
ILB Kenenna Odeluga or Calvin Hart Jr.
OLB Gabe Jacas
CB Tahvion Nicholson
SS Prince Green
FS Nicario Harper
CB Tyler Strain
STAR (nickel) Xavier Scott
* The defense is ahead of the offense, which is to be expected this early in spring ball.
* There were a lot of moving parts in the secondary. Harper, Green, Kionte Curry, all got first team reps at multiple positions. Elijah Mc-Cantos and JUCO transfer Kaleb Patterson were with the two's at cornerback. There is good speed in the back end of the defense and they made the quarterbacks work.
* Matthew Bailey will be the starter at free safety. He's still out spring with an injury. His return could bump Harper to strong safety, where I think he's a better fit. Xavier Scott will likely be the STAR. Curry will be in the rotation, I'm just not sure what position fits best for him.
* Netwon and Randolph only went live for about half of the practice. They were a serious mismatch for the offensive line. I though TeRah Edwards had a nice day in the middle as well. The quickness of Sed McConnell stood out at the 5-tech. The second unit up front was McConnell and Evan Kirts on the outside, and transfer Denzel Daxon at nose.
* There's excellent depth at ILB/OLB. Like last year, they will rotate three guys at ILB. Odeluga started over Hart but both ran with the 1's. The 2's were Dylan Rosiek and James Kreutz. They are four-deep at OLB in Coleman, Jacas, Alec Bryant, and Jared Badie. They add one when Ezekiel Holmes is available coming off his knee injury.
* Hugh Robertson will be the punter again. He' still inconsistent. I'd like to see them find a transfer. Backups Frabrezio Pinton and freshman Duclan Duley don't really move the needle.
* Isaiah Williams is the punt returner. Hank Beatty and Keion Battle also caught a few punts.
What are your questions?
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OFFENSE STARTERS / NOTES
QB Luke Altmyer
RB Reggie Love or Josh McCray
LT Julian Pearl
LG Isaiah Adams
C Josh Kreutz
RG Jordyn Slaughter
RT Josh Gesky
TE Tip Reiman
WR Isaiah Williams
WR Pat Bryant
WR Casey Washington
* Altmyer is the clear starter at QB. He was pretty sharp throwing the ball considering the weather conditions. He has a quick release and and throws a tight spiral and catchable ball. He's also a better athlete than I anticipated. You don't want him taking on tacklers, but he can tuck it and run with a good burst of speed. One concern is that he did not throw the ball well on the move. The ball didn't come out of his hand cleanly when he was flushed.
* A trio of backups got equal reps. Its unsettled right now. Ball State transfer John Paddock plays with the most confidence among the three, and he can run around a little bit and make a few plays. He also tends to be reckless and tries to fit the ball into tight windows. Kirkland Michauex is tall pocket passer with a good arms. He has limited mobility, and his accuracy is inconsistent. He didn't follow through and sailed a few throes. Donovan Leary is clearly improved. When he has time to set up and step into his throws, he can spin it. He's not ready to start Big Ten games, but the rest of spring and fall camp will do some good. Legit arm. Now it's about mastering the offense and learning better to read coverages so he can just go play and have to thimk too much.
* Tackle Brandon Henderson is one of the top freshmen on offense. He's in the two-deep at left tackle behind Pearl When he adds some strength, he's going to be a good one. Prototypical length and athleticism for a left tackle. He didn't look overmatched. When he got beat, it was fundamentals and not really speed or power.
* The situation at center is tenuous. There's still the option of going to the Portal. Kreutz starts backed up by Zach Barlev, who struggled. Kruetz was just okay. Freshman TJ McMillan is the most talented and took third team reps.
* There were some break down in pass pro, especially up the middle. Pear and Adams were pulled for about the half the practice, so the there wasn't much movement in the zone running game for much of the srimmage and no long runs.
* OL Zy Crisler is sitting out the spring with an injury. He could play either spot on the right side when he comes back, and I think that depends on who emerges as the strongest candidate to start between Slaughter and Gesky. They also add JUCO transfer Dez'mond Schuster this summer.
* The wide receivers made a few plays downfield. You still want to see them getting more separation. I think incoming freshman Malik Elzy has a great chance to step right into the rotation. He'll get here in June. The speed an elusiveness of freshman Kenari Wilcher really jumps out. He's quick-twitch and pretty solid in his route running. He does need to tighten things up a bit with his hands - he had a drop of touchdown throw in the back of the end zone. Talented kid, though.
* Griffin Moore comes in at H-back in certain packages. He's bigger, stronger. Transfer TE Tanner Arkin will be a rotational player. He's another flex guy / H-back.
* There's a lot of size in the running back room, but a lack of speed and quickness. I think that's the biggest concern with the offense. They really don't have a guy who can bounce runs to the outside or run away from anyone in the second tier. Love got the most carries. He's solid. With the OL not having a great day, an inside runner like Josh McCray didn't have much room to operate. He can run over guys, but his cutting was rather methodical.
* Illinois is in great shape at place kicker. Caleb Griffin and freshman David Olano were both consistent striking the football.
DEFENSE STARTERS / NOTES
NT TeRah Edwards
DT Jer'Zhan Newton
DT Keith Randolph
OLB Seth Coleman
ILB Tarique Barnes
ILB Kenenna Odeluga or Calvin Hart Jr.
OLB Gabe Jacas
CB Tahvion Nicholson
SS Prince Green
FS Nicario Harper
CB Tyler Strain
STAR (nickel) Xavier Scott
* The defense is ahead of the offense, which is to be expected this early in spring ball.
* There were a lot of moving parts in the secondary. Harper, Green, Kionte Curry, all got first team reps at multiple positions. Elijah Mc-Cantos and JUCO transfer Kaleb Patterson were with the two's at cornerback. There is good speed in the back end of the defense and they made the quarterbacks work.
* Matthew Bailey will be the starter at free safety. He's still out spring with an injury. His return could bump Harper to strong safety, where I think he's a better fit. Xavier Scott will likely be the STAR. Curry will be in the rotation, I'm just not sure what position fits best for him.
* Netwon and Randolph only went live for about half of the practice. They were a serious mismatch for the offensive line. I though TeRah Edwards had a nice day in the middle as well. The quickness of Sed McConnell stood out at the 5-tech. The second unit up front was McConnell and Evan Kirts on the outside, and transfer Denzel Daxon at nose.
* There's excellent depth at ILB/OLB. Like last year, they will rotate three guys at ILB. Odeluga started over Hart but both ran with the 1's. The 2's were Dylan Rosiek and James Kreutz. They are four-deep at OLB in Coleman, Jacas, Alec Bryant, and Jared Badie. They add one when Ezekiel Holmes is available coming off his knee injury.
* Hugh Robertson will be the punter again. He' still inconsistent. I'd like to see them find a transfer. Backups Frabrezio Pinton and freshman Duclan Duley don't really move the needle.
* Isaiah Williams is the punt returner. Hank Beatty and Keion Battle also caught a few punts.
What are your questions?
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