Illinois was back on the practice field on Tuesday from 2:30 - approximately 5:15. After walk-thrus and some position drills, the practice was moved to the Irwin indoor facilities due to weather. Unfortunately, fans can't watch when they practice inside.
The defense ruled the day today. They were flying around, turning the ball over, and playing with a lot of confidence. They can't get much pass rush when they aren't in pads, but the back seven covered well and ran to the ball in both 7v7 and team.
Out: Jaylen Dunlap - ankle. Vederian Lowe - knee. Nate Hobbs - illness. Dre Brown - knee rehab. Ricky Smalling - personal reasons. Reggie Corbin wore a green jersey and was limited. He looks like he's about ready to come back.
OFFENSE NOTES
* Rough day for the quarterbacks, with 5 INT's including two pick-sixes. Chayce Crouch throws into a crowd and gets tipped balls for INTs. The ball sails on Jeff George at times, and two were overthrown and intercepted by safeties. Cam Thomas continues to show a really good skill package, but things were moving pretty fast for him today. When he tucks and runs, he's a weapon, but can he take hits?
* Freshman running back Mike Epstein was probably the player of the practice on offense. The kid has some jets. They aren't tackling, but he had two long runs when he wasn't touched. I talked to Thad Ward after practice and he thinks Epstein will help them this year. Epstein was also catching punts today. Epstein and Ra'von Bonner make a nice pair. Epstein is really good in space, and Bonner is a physical, one-cut back who is best running off tackle.
* The biggest surprise of camp so far is freshman offensive lineman Alex Palczewski. We knew Larry Boyd was a stud and would probably play early. But Palczewski is already in the two-deep. He can play either guard or center. He's long, quick, and plays with a mean streak. Likely a future NFL lineman. When Chrisitan DiLauro got a little dinged today, Palczewski ran with the 1's at guard, bumping Nick Allegretti to center and Gabe Megginson to tackle.
* More OL stuff: Adam Solomon is playing guard. That's his best spot. He doesn't have the feet to play on the outside. Former starter Jordan Fagan is a 3rd string tackle right now.
* Mike Dudek went through warmups but he took the day off today, as was the plan. He will be back tomorrow. Among the wide receiver corps, Malik Turner and Sam Mays are both playing well. Dominic Theiman had a long receptions over the top on a go route. Carmoni Green shows flashes.
DEFENSE NOTES
* Big day for the linebackers. 2 interceptions for Julian Jones, and 1 for Ayo Shogbonyo. Both guys can move and they got deep drops and disrupted the intermediate routes. Also interceptions from safeties Stanley Green and freshman Bennett Williams. The one by Green was an bad overthrow by Crouch. Bennett Williams got his on a tipped ball. I like what I see from Williams. Really confident safety with attitude and some physical tools.
* Three freshman are in the second unit on the defensive line. Ends Owen Carney and Bobby Roundtree, and tackle Kendrick Green. Lere Oladipo and Deon Pate are both playing defensive tackle right now. R-Fr. Chrisitan Abercrombie is playing weak-side defensive end.
* He has to figure things out, but I think it's just a matter of time before JUCO transfer Del'Shawn Phillips cracks the starting lineup at one of the linebacker spots. I like a starting group of Watson, Jones, and Phillips. There are some good position battles going on at LB, though.
* I heard the plan for James Crawford may be to play him as a situational pass rusher. He's getting the reps as the No. 1 right defensive end, but I just don't see enough size there to be able to stop the run. I wouldn't be shocked if a freshmen ends up playing a lot of snaps, either Carney or Roundtree.
FRESHMEN NOTES
True freshmen who will play this year? These are the ones that I think will play, and some others might see the field as well.
WR Ricky Smalling
WR Carmoni Green
WR Kendall Smith
RB Mike Epstein
RB Ra'Von Bonner
DT Kendrick Green
OL Alex Palczewski
OL Larry Boyd
DE Bobby Roundtree
DE Owen Carney
Punter Blake Hayes
* Practice on Wednesday is at 5pm. Full pads.
What are your questions?
The defense ruled the day today. They were flying around, turning the ball over, and playing with a lot of confidence. They can't get much pass rush when they aren't in pads, but the back seven covered well and ran to the ball in both 7v7 and team.
Out: Jaylen Dunlap - ankle. Vederian Lowe - knee. Nate Hobbs - illness. Dre Brown - knee rehab. Ricky Smalling - personal reasons. Reggie Corbin wore a green jersey and was limited. He looks like he's about ready to come back.
OFFENSE NOTES
* Rough day for the quarterbacks, with 5 INT's including two pick-sixes. Chayce Crouch throws into a crowd and gets tipped balls for INTs. The ball sails on Jeff George at times, and two were overthrown and intercepted by safeties. Cam Thomas continues to show a really good skill package, but things were moving pretty fast for him today. When he tucks and runs, he's a weapon, but can he take hits?
* Freshman running back Mike Epstein was probably the player of the practice on offense. The kid has some jets. They aren't tackling, but he had two long runs when he wasn't touched. I talked to Thad Ward after practice and he thinks Epstein will help them this year. Epstein was also catching punts today. Epstein and Ra'von Bonner make a nice pair. Epstein is really good in space, and Bonner is a physical, one-cut back who is best running off tackle.
* The biggest surprise of camp so far is freshman offensive lineman Alex Palczewski. We knew Larry Boyd was a stud and would probably play early. But Palczewski is already in the two-deep. He can play either guard or center. He's long, quick, and plays with a mean streak. Likely a future NFL lineman. When Chrisitan DiLauro got a little dinged today, Palczewski ran with the 1's at guard, bumping Nick Allegretti to center and Gabe Megginson to tackle.
* More OL stuff: Adam Solomon is playing guard. That's his best spot. He doesn't have the feet to play on the outside. Former starter Jordan Fagan is a 3rd string tackle right now.
* Mike Dudek went through warmups but he took the day off today, as was the plan. He will be back tomorrow. Among the wide receiver corps, Malik Turner and Sam Mays are both playing well. Dominic Theiman had a long receptions over the top on a go route. Carmoni Green shows flashes.
DEFENSE NOTES
* Big day for the linebackers. 2 interceptions for Julian Jones, and 1 for Ayo Shogbonyo. Both guys can move and they got deep drops and disrupted the intermediate routes. Also interceptions from safeties Stanley Green and freshman Bennett Williams. The one by Green was an bad overthrow by Crouch. Bennett Williams got his on a tipped ball. I like what I see from Williams. Really confident safety with attitude and some physical tools.
* Three freshman are in the second unit on the defensive line. Ends Owen Carney and Bobby Roundtree, and tackle Kendrick Green. Lere Oladipo and Deon Pate are both playing defensive tackle right now. R-Fr. Chrisitan Abercrombie is playing weak-side defensive end.
* He has to figure things out, but I think it's just a matter of time before JUCO transfer Del'Shawn Phillips cracks the starting lineup at one of the linebacker spots. I like a starting group of Watson, Jones, and Phillips. There are some good position battles going on at LB, though.
* I heard the plan for James Crawford may be to play him as a situational pass rusher. He's getting the reps as the No. 1 right defensive end, but I just don't see enough size there to be able to stop the run. I wouldn't be shocked if a freshmen ends up playing a lot of snaps, either Carney or Roundtree.
FRESHMEN NOTES
True freshmen who will play this year? These are the ones that I think will play, and some others might see the field as well.
WR Ricky Smalling
WR Carmoni Green
WR Kendall Smith
RB Mike Epstein
RB Ra'Von Bonner
DT Kendrick Green
OL Alex Palczewski
OL Larry Boyd
DE Bobby Roundtree
DE Owen Carney
Punter Blake Hayes
* Practice on Wednesday is at 5pm. Full pads.
What are your questions?
