re: IM looking forward to the A-Day game - Will we win?

I wouldn’t expect anything more from Byrum than was expected going into year 2 for Nick Marshall. Very good runner poor passer but a playmaker. So protecting the football is essential.

With our WRs and Byrum slow release I don’t expect a 3000 yard passer. Hope I’m wrong. He will get close because the sheer number of plays we will run per game but this team needs to be about 60-40 run/pass ratio.

Yea as I said earlier, offense definitely looked like it was still installing itself and really didn’t do very much other than a lot of base stuff. Byrum’s very first drive he missed one throw down the seam, was a difficult throw/window and he missed safely. Then overthrew Nimrod on a deep sideline route that he abused the CB. Looked like he may have checked up at first. First drive was cooking until then. He had some really dumb throws but had some good placement on others. If he was allowed to run, he would have had some very big plays too. He can just flat out move.

Ti’a didn’t take a lot of deep shots, but he was decisive and efficient with the ball. Showed good mobility as well. He looks like a solid backup and could develop into a decent QB.

RB’s o really don’t have any complaints with. All had some good play and not many TFL’s. Saw some good blitz pickup form a number of guys, even when the OL got whipped or massively outnumbered. One of Brown’s longer passes to Singleton only happens because I think Mabson just lit up a rusher.

WR’s I think were my biggest pleasant surprise, mostly with how physical they were blocking and how much they attacked the ball. Saw a good variety of routes get catches, even some slants and crossing routes on third down with a blitz in the qb’s face. Guys caught the balls with their hands and were looking to get yards.

OL - not sure how to judge yet with guys out. I thought run blocking was okay, guys had holes and blockers onto the second level decent. Pass plays had some breakdowns but had some good play as well. They were dealing with a lot of pressure from Durkin, stunts, backside LB and DB blitzes, and hard rushing the ends because the QB wasn’t running. They definitely need to improve, no question, but having watched most of Florida and Bama’s spring games, theirs didn’t look comparatively much more impressive either.

Defense - we definitely have some talent. I thought our Ends played well, Jared Smith will be a problem. His Interception was a fantastic play, even if it was a very bad throw from Brown. LB’s I thought played well and attacked. Deas is going to be real good as he keeps developing.

DB’s seemed to play the ball pretty well when they were in position. Had two tip interceptions (though one called off because of penalty elsewhere) I can’t remember the last time we had one of those. The one the holding penalty erased where Fegans tipped the ball up and Woodby picked it was just impressive.

Overall, it very much looked like a practice. Definitely have a ways to go but there was for sure a lot of glimpses of what the good can be and look like.

Oh forgot, McPherson looked solid, much stronger than last year. If he can keep getting healthier, that will be a great sign.

I’m glad we are wearing the extra padding on the helmets but man makes our players look tiny especially the skill players

Ti’a is a very good backup for us. The freshmen Spencer is going to be a good one in the future.