Any info on how spring practice is going?

I haven't watched any practices personally, but I've read some reports in various places and I've listened to the interviews.

Coaching
Hoke says he likes all the coaches, and the coaches say they like him, it's what you would expect. They've been focusing more on tempo and speed of play on defense. They've been running 1 coverage until they get it right and then introducing another. Coach Wharton is already up an running as a QC with the OL. He's going to be reporting to Coach Elliott in the scheme of things, watching tape, providing feedback to Elliott, on what he sees the players doing, etc.... Coach Brown is helping out with the CB's, Hoke is with the Safety's, Botkin is with the LB's and Nickle/Formerly Spur, and Ward and Adams are spending more time with the DL.

QB
It's the Mitch show right now, and he knows that this is his chance. He worked hard in the off season and has been working on his mechanics. He's supposedly faster and more agile than Thompson. Orth has been doing well and throws it with nice tough. Scarnecchia has put on some good weight and he already came in a decent height for a QB. The QB's have been doing well, but they are only playing against a few coverages from the defense, so they aren't being overly challenged.

RB
Wilds got ripped over the past 3 months, he added a lot of strength in the lower body. He's really explosive in the workouts. David Williams is still really fast. Shon Carson is getting more looks at WR. Expect Wilds and Williams to battle it out for 1st team carries as long as both are healthy.

WR
Cooper catches everything, he's really confident in his routes and cuts, he looks like the 1st Team All SEC WR he is. Deebo is coming on really strong and has separated himself the most from the other WR's. Jeffery is still here, he's made some good plays so far, hopefully he can start making them in the games. Googer has no fear of going across the middle. Christian Owens lost some weight, but he's still got to work on his speed. Shaq Davidson looks great, when he knows the route, but he's still learning the playbook at this point and not confident on everything he's supposed to be doing.

TE
Adams is the man, Jacob August is getting in some work. KC Crosby now is 2nd place All Time for the Football Team Power Clean, ad 365 lbs, he's a RS Fr, so yeah, that's pretty good. The record is 375 lbs set by Chaz Sutton. Crosby and August have to work on their blocking, but Adams is pretty complete.

OL
We have a lot of injuries right now. DJ Park is getting a look at Tackle right now. We just have a lot of guys injured. Malik Young is getting a look at tackle as well. When Matulis, Zandi and Shell are healthy, we'll get a better look at the OL.

DL
Lewis walked on the practice field and became a starter. He's more like a fully grown Cliff Matthews than a Clowney. When Sawyer gets here though, everything is going to fall into place with the pass rush. Wideman is now almost 300 lbs, they want to keep him at DT. He gained about 40 lbs since September. He ran a hand timed 4.8 second 40 yd, so they may use him as part of a rabbit package/rushing DL's. Stallworth is hurt, he popped his shoulder benching 445 lbs, he's out for the spring.

LB
Larenz Bryant was tackled by his own teammate, Chris Moody, in a non-contact drill. The force actually bruised his liver and he's done for the spring. It was the hardest hit Chris Moody has ever given....

Shaq Wilson is still helping with QC.
Right now Walton is WLB, Moore is MLB and BAW is SAM.We're going to do more 4-3 this year. BAW is known as a pass rusher though, and has some quickness, so it will be interesting to see the blitzes we come up with. Hoke is known to like to blitz a lot from disguised coverages. Bryant was starting at SAM until the injury.

Moore said that the practices are really intense. Guys feel like they have something to prove. The coaches are being very vocal about doing things the right way and setting the tone.

TJ Gurley is now the starting Nickle when we bring in that 4-2-5 package. Hoke made this move. Diggs moved to Safety and Bryant to SAM. Hoke feels Gurley has the right mixture of size/speed to play the Nickle.

DB
Rico and Lammons are doing well. Lammons has put on a lot of muscle. Rico is over his concussion. Diggs and DJ Smith are the starting Safeties. DJ is said to look the most impressive of all the DB's right now. He came into school ripped, but he's really fast and only been developing more as an athlete. Hoke is spending time with the Safeties, Grady is spending more time with the CB's (as much as a QC can do....)

PR/KR/Spec Team
Lammons and Cooper are gettting the most looks. Davidson is also getting some reps.

Shon Carson will probably be the KR, unless someone else takes in in the fall camp.

We have no Punter right now, just some guy who shanks it a lot named Kelly. Charlton is going to get here and start in the fall. He avg'd over 45 yards per punt in HS, that was better than the guy we had this past year who was a RS Sr.

Fry is back, he still really good from inside 45 yards. He's not gaining any weight, people refuse to buy him cheeseburgers, people are selfish.

We will have a long snapper...your guess is as good as mine.


TL/DR Summary:
Mitch working hard. 4-3 is here to stay, we will run some Nickle though. Diggs moved to Safety. We are young at DB still, but now experienced. Lewis gonna murk e'rybody. We are fast at WR, that will matter if the OL can block. We look good at RB, have options. Coaches getting vocal, more QC's are really helping out, there is a sense of urgency at practice.


Also, most practices are now closed.... Spring game and Saturday scrimmages will be open.

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CockInYourEar

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