Day Four of training camp brought the same schedule as yesterday's: walk-throughs/position drills, 11v11 session, 7v7 and OL/DL 1v1s, and then wrapping with 11v11 3 minute drill. Today they did 11v11 at the goal line so that added a little bit more flair to practice at the end. Players were once again in shorts and shoulder pads. On Wednesday they'll be busting out the full pads.
Players that were out include DT Jamal Milan, DT Tymir Oliver, RB Mike Epstein, OT Jordyn Slaughter who were all on off days I believe. RB RaVon Bonner, DE Ayo Shogbonyo and SS Sydney Brown are still out with injuries. Shogbonyo is in a boot, but the others have minor injuries I think. Freshman CB Joseph Thompson still has been out of camp with an injury too.
S Stanley Green participated in his first day of camp. Didn't get many reps, but was suited up.
Offense:
This QB competition needs to get shrunk down to what we all expected to be, and that's Isaiah Williams against Brandon Peters. Matt Robinson had another rough day. He had a couple nice passes which included hitting WR Jordan Holmes down the sideline for a long gain (more of a better catch on Holmes' part), and he lead the offense to a TD during the 3 minute drill, but man does he throw some head-scratching passes. Two really bad picks today. FS Michael Marchese has been feasting on Robinson passes during camp and Marchese is hardly moving to pick off these balls. Robinson struggles heavily when going through a progression and gets happy feet in the pocket and usually ends of getting sacked because of it. Personally, I'm kind of over him getting first team reps, but I understand why he's getting them as he does deserve a shot at the job. I know it's also only Day 4, but he just hasn't done anything IMO that warrants him really having a shot at the gig.
Peters has been the most consistent QB at camp as he's been really the only guy that go through a progression efficiently. He can read the defense before the play and know where he should go with the ball before the snap. He hasn't made any big time plays or done anything really flashy, but he's been consistent and that's very noteworthy. Williams had a solid day that included those flashy plays Peters hasn't made. His one real bad ball (and it was bad) was an underthrow to Ricky Smalling down the field who was tightly covered by Nate Hobbs. Hobbs picked it off easily. Williams has the arm to make that throw, so he should know that an underthrow is that last thing you can do on that pass and should throw it long if anything.
Besides that, Williams looked way more comfortable in the pocket. He's slowly starting to go more through a progression and not just taking off when his first read isn't available. He went through his progression on one play and hit RB Reggie Corbin down the field on a wheel route. It was a nice ball, could've been lead better since Corbin immediately went out of bounds after the catch, but still solid regardless. Williams also threaded a TD pass through a couple defenders to WR Casey Washington on a deep post route. Nice catch by Washington and a really nice ball from Williams that had some zip on it. He also juked DE Oluwole Betiku out of his shoes on a scramble and picked up a first down. Things are slowly starting to come together for Williams, but still has plenty more to work on if he wants the starting job. Race is definitely between Peters and Williams now, not that anyone really expected Robinson to get the job.
The one disclaimer here is that Williams didn't see a lot of reps today. I think Rod and Lovie realized this because after everyone thought practice was over, they brought the team back and gave Williams more 11v11 reps against the 2nd and 3rd team which he did well during.
RB Dre Brown did his thing again today and took off for another long TD run. He just looks like a complete back and if he's healthy for the season, is a serious weapon. Corbin made some nice catches today which included the wheel route one from Williams, so good to see him catching balls.
Not a whole lot of passing plays today as the offense ran a lot of triple option, dual running back sets out of the backfield today. TEs didn't make any plays and the Holmes and Washington catches were really the only significant catches of practice. I would probably say the defense won practice today as the run defense was much better and more disciplined.
Defense:
No pass rush really at all today. Now like I said, offense did a lot of option plays and quick hitters on the RPO, so not much of an opportunity to get after the QB there, and the D-line was much better against the run. The few sacks that did happen today resulted from coverage, so nothing really noteworthy there. In D-line/O-line 1v1s today, the offensive line won again today, but the defense was mainly sticking to bull rushing, so the D-line didn't really have a chance to do much with 1v1s today. Freshman DE Keith Randolph repped well, boy he's strong. DT Lere Oladipo had a couple nice reps, when he gets his long arms extended, he'll push anyone back a little bit.
LB Milo Eifler saw a lot of first team reps today and performed really well I thought. Was good in coverage (locked up the TEs) and made a few nice tackles in the run game. He's been good in coverage all of camp I think (has one or two picks to his name). He made a huge tackle today on third down during the first team 3 minute drill. It was third down and short near the goal line and Peters tucked it on a read option and took off. Eifler was on him the whole way and "tackled" him just short of the first down. Players and coaches got a little excited about that. Him and Delano Ware have been solid after four days of camp, looks like the coaches will have a tough decision there.
CB Quan Martin had a day today. He probably had three to four PBUs today and should've picked one of those. He was shutdown today. The QBs hardly even think of throwing at CB Nate Hobbs and Williams learned why the hard way, another pick and dominant day from Hobbs. Freshman CB Marquez Beason recorded his first pick of practice, picking a throw from Robinson at the goal line. Play tight coverage on WR Caleb Reams and did a good job of turning his head and making the play. Another encouraging day from him as he tries to pick up on things.
And that's it for Day 4 of camp, will have a fun offensive line story coming later today so be on the look out for that. Or don't. You do you. Will be back at it tomorrow for Media Day, so we'll be grabbing all the freshmen and have lots of content coming your way from that.
So lastly of course, any questions?
Players that were out include DT Jamal Milan, DT Tymir Oliver, RB Mike Epstein, OT Jordyn Slaughter who were all on off days I believe. RB RaVon Bonner, DE Ayo Shogbonyo and SS Sydney Brown are still out with injuries. Shogbonyo is in a boot, but the others have minor injuries I think. Freshman CB Joseph Thompson still has been out of camp with an injury too.
S Stanley Green participated in his first day of camp. Didn't get many reps, but was suited up.
Offense:
This QB competition needs to get shrunk down to what we all expected to be, and that's Isaiah Williams against Brandon Peters. Matt Robinson had another rough day. He had a couple nice passes which included hitting WR Jordan Holmes down the sideline for a long gain (more of a better catch on Holmes' part), and he lead the offense to a TD during the 3 minute drill, but man does he throw some head-scratching passes. Two really bad picks today. FS Michael Marchese has been feasting on Robinson passes during camp and Marchese is hardly moving to pick off these balls. Robinson struggles heavily when going through a progression and gets happy feet in the pocket and usually ends of getting sacked because of it. Personally, I'm kind of over him getting first team reps, but I understand why he's getting them as he does deserve a shot at the job. I know it's also only Day 4, but he just hasn't done anything IMO that warrants him really having a shot at the gig.
Peters has been the most consistent QB at camp as he's been really the only guy that go through a progression efficiently. He can read the defense before the play and know where he should go with the ball before the snap. He hasn't made any big time plays or done anything really flashy, but he's been consistent and that's very noteworthy. Williams had a solid day that included those flashy plays Peters hasn't made. His one real bad ball (and it was bad) was an underthrow to Ricky Smalling down the field who was tightly covered by Nate Hobbs. Hobbs picked it off easily. Williams has the arm to make that throw, so he should know that an underthrow is that last thing you can do on that pass and should throw it long if anything.
Besides that, Williams looked way more comfortable in the pocket. He's slowly starting to go more through a progression and not just taking off when his first read isn't available. He went through his progression on one play and hit RB Reggie Corbin down the field on a wheel route. It was a nice ball, could've been lead better since Corbin immediately went out of bounds after the catch, but still solid regardless. Williams also threaded a TD pass through a couple defenders to WR Casey Washington on a deep post route. Nice catch by Washington and a really nice ball from Williams that had some zip on it. He also juked DE Oluwole Betiku out of his shoes on a scramble and picked up a first down. Things are slowly starting to come together for Williams, but still has plenty more to work on if he wants the starting job. Race is definitely between Peters and Williams now, not that anyone really expected Robinson to get the job.
The one disclaimer here is that Williams didn't see a lot of reps today. I think Rod and Lovie realized this because after everyone thought practice was over, they brought the team back and gave Williams more 11v11 reps against the 2nd and 3rd team which he did well during.
RB Dre Brown did his thing again today and took off for another long TD run. He just looks like a complete back and if he's healthy for the season, is a serious weapon. Corbin made some nice catches today which included the wheel route one from Williams, so good to see him catching balls.
Not a whole lot of passing plays today as the offense ran a lot of triple option, dual running back sets out of the backfield today. TEs didn't make any plays and the Holmes and Washington catches were really the only significant catches of practice. I would probably say the defense won practice today as the run defense was much better and more disciplined.
Defense:
No pass rush really at all today. Now like I said, offense did a lot of option plays and quick hitters on the RPO, so not much of an opportunity to get after the QB there, and the D-line was much better against the run. The few sacks that did happen today resulted from coverage, so nothing really noteworthy there. In D-line/O-line 1v1s today, the offensive line won again today, but the defense was mainly sticking to bull rushing, so the D-line didn't really have a chance to do much with 1v1s today. Freshman DE Keith Randolph repped well, boy he's strong. DT Lere Oladipo had a couple nice reps, when he gets his long arms extended, he'll push anyone back a little bit.
LB Milo Eifler saw a lot of first team reps today and performed really well I thought. Was good in coverage (locked up the TEs) and made a few nice tackles in the run game. He's been good in coverage all of camp I think (has one or two picks to his name). He made a huge tackle today on third down during the first team 3 minute drill. It was third down and short near the goal line and Peters tucked it on a read option and took off. Eifler was on him the whole way and "tackled" him just short of the first down. Players and coaches got a little excited about that. Him and Delano Ware have been solid after four days of camp, looks like the coaches will have a tough decision there.
CB Quan Martin had a day today. He probably had three to four PBUs today and should've picked one of those. He was shutdown today. The QBs hardly even think of throwing at CB Nate Hobbs and Williams learned why the hard way, another pick and dominant day from Hobbs. Freshman CB Marquez Beason recorded his first pick of practice, picking a throw from Robinson at the goal line. Play tight coverage on WR Caleb Reams and did a good job of turning his head and making the play. Another encouraging day from him as he tries to pick up on things.
And that's it for Day 4 of camp, will have a fun offensive line story coming later today so be on the look out for that. Or don't. You do you. Will be back at it tomorrow for Media Day, so we'll be grabbing all the freshmen and have lots of content coming your way from that.
So lastly of course, any questions?
