HawkeyeGameFilm: Open Practice Notebook

[hawkeyegamefilm]

Hawkeyegame film is an expert, and I'm not.

I'd really like him to explain out 1st team d line getting manhandled though. I think manhandled is a bit strong for what happened yesterday.

I rarely watch the ball on running plays and usually focus on DL vs OL match ups. When I say they were getting manhandled on those plays it refers more to the fact that early on nearly every double team was leaving the a DL on the ground after getting moved off the ball. I don't remember those running plays being real effective in terms of moving the sticks but it looked like LB play had a lot to do with it. Especially early on Hitchens was chasing down Bullock from his WLB spot very often. As the scrimmage session went on the DL starters made more plays and settled in a bit. Definitely struggled to generate a push on pass plays tho.

For the record while I don't see this DL being a strong point, they're likely to improve in a very high rate in the early season games. Some guys will emerge and start to flash early on. If they were still in Norm Parker's system I think they would be in big trouble. I think Phil will do a little more tinkering with the scheme to try and take advantage of the strength of his back 7.

 

[Golfer]

Got it. Thanks. Appreciate the insight.

 

[Johnnyhawkeye]

My take while watching this online yesterday:
1.) O line play is one of our strengths this season, or it could be our D Line is one of the worst in 25 years...I lean the O line is just more experienced and have had a couple years with Doyle.

2.) Our secondary is our biggest strength on defense, our cb combo may be one of the best in the conference this season..both have nfl potential. Nico Law shows he deserves to be a starter next season on sheer enforcer and closing speed..he just needs experience.

3.) Our linebackers look pretty good in coverage and will be good against most modern offenses we will see this year. They did get swallowed up on some run plays and cost us big gains..most likely a defensive line issue but someone has got to make a play.

4.) Our D Line shows it has some quickness but our still undersized and can be overpowered...I think the addition on Alvis and Davis can help this group, but I'm not convinced it will be quite enough.

5.)I did like what I saw from the defensive play calling..showing blitz, more press coverage and smaller cushion in cover 2. As a defense we are going to have be more aggressive to compensate for our d line but I think we have a very solid back 7 and enough talent to be effective in nickel packages.

6.) I came away pretty unimpressed with our wide receiver core, we lack speed big time. Coach Campell has got to work some McNutt like miracles with this bunch. We need our experienced players to step up big time this year if we want to make some big plays and if anybody does it will be KMM.

7.) I would like to end on a positive note so I'll end with the tight end position, CJF is a future pro bowler at the next level and if he stays healthy he could have a monster year. I thought all of our tight ends played well today except for some of the young guys getting moved around on run blocking...just need to get stronger is all, the technique is there.

 

[Foval21]

when i take a look at the depth chart for spring and factor in injuries i see the depth at dline looking like the following come fall:

de - gaglione, hardy/mcminn

dt - cooper/bigach, tsopanides

dt - davis, trinca-pasat

de - alvis, spears/mcminn

this line has probably gotten better throughout spring, but as a teacher i think of it like this a student that gets Ds raises to C-...that is improvement but they still have a long way to go. at least in past yrs when the line has been down we have had proven commodities...ie last yr with binns and daniels. this yr the most proven commodities are alvis (injured), davis (injured), bigach. none of which are actually proven.

alvis - was coming along last yr but he was an after thought to olines because of binns and daniels. can he do it when they are doubling him because he is the best guy.

davis - not sold on him has he has a slow first step and plays with bad leverage. things that can be improved but he has to show something early or i think that trinca-pasat, cooper, and even an undersized tsopanides will pass him up.

bigach - far from proven as he didnt play a lot of snaps last yr but he played alright when he got in. not sure what to expect from him or what the coaches think because they move him between de and dt. could be he isnt strong enough for dt and isnt fast enough for de (typical tweener) hopefully he finds a place and delivers.

gaglione - ok size for de but i dont think he has a good enough burst to edge pressure consistently. need him to step up especially if alvis is hurt longer than they predict. i could see him be a back up to younger guys to give them breaks with an 6-8 man rotation with the dline.

even less experience and young:

trinca-pasat - has put on lots of weight and he came in early last yr so this was his second spring. i think he could really surprise.

cooper - big time recruit but you never know about young dline because it is so easy for a lot of them in hs that they have to start from scratch a lot of times in college.

mcminn - incredible frame to work with. my question is if he will be quick enough with his height off the los? if he is then i like what he brings. though he still needs weight.

spears - the converted lb probably is quick considering he was a very good lb from what ive heard. and he has bulked up a lot to be a possible de even though he is still small he might be quick enough to keep olines off him.

hardy - good size so if he has speed it sounds good at de.

tsopanides - i dont expect much because he is so small at dt. probably needs 1 or 2 more yrs.

 

[DuffMan]

any word on ray Hamilton? he's put on some good weight, any chance he pushes Derby?

 

[BILLBUCKNER]

Good to hear that CJF is looking like a future NFL probowler. How has Hamilton looked? Sounds like TE will be a huge part of our offense this year given the lack of speed at WR.

 

[hawkeyegamefilm]

Good to hear that CJF is looking like a future NFL probowler. How has Hamilton looked? Sounds like TE will be a huge part of our offense this year given the lack of speed at WR.

Looked like the physical tools were there for Hamilton but he didn't seem to have a great grasp on the system. I would guess once he gets the system down he'll push Derby for time. Davis is a creative coach a well so don't be surprised if you see some 3 TE sets at some point.

 

[trj]

Imo, I thought Morris struggled at the point of attack last year not sure if it was a strength issue or if it was injuries or what. If they are going to keep Morris in the middle that has to improve. I realize it is 12 practices in, but it sounds like they are trying to get Morris more aggressive, attacking more.


As for the West coast offense principles I think of those 80's and 90's 49er teams I realize all 32 NFL teams and several D-1 teams implement portions of the West coast offense in their scheme, but when someone mentions West coast offense I think 49ers. Which means the short passing game and getting everyone involved. The point of this ramble is that Brad Rogers could be huge next year. Will he be a Tom Rathan? Probably not. But a 15 to 20 catch season and a 300 or 400 yd. rushing year would help the O a lot.