Practice was much more intense yesterday from the coaches viewpoint. All the position coaches including Rocky were really getting on the players, more so than any other practices up until this point. Rocky said that this is because the season is getting closer and the nerves are starting to hit the coaching staff. Players usually don't get those sort of nerves until game week.
Another reason for this is that SDSU will likely start doing less scrimmage and more scout team work following tomorrow night's scrimmage. Coaches expect the players to bring more energy on the field when they're not bruised and banged up following intense scrimmages. So when they are just coasting, like they did at the start of yesterday's practice, the coaches started to get a little louder and use a little more colorful language.
Moving on...
Not show shocking news here: I think Ryan Agnew had a better practice than Chris Laviano.
Agnew was getting the ball out quick like Chapman and he threw some ropes like Laviano during 7v7s.
Prediction for tomorrow: Laviano will have the better scrimmage. The back and forth is going to go on and on at this rate...
Call me crazy but Juwan Washington's running style is starting to look a lot like DJ Pumphrey's. He's a fearless guy who hits the hole hard while also maintaining his speed through hard, quick cuts into the second level. I can actually see him being more effective than Penny on power plays.
Trenton Thompson is just a sick athlete. He's at that Nat Berhe level in terms of backpedal, breaking speed and closing speed with more size on him. Thompson still does have those moments where he looks lost pre-snap and asks for help figuring out his assignment when the offense shifts/motions.
Quest Truxton had one of his better practices since returning from injury. He was much more loose and confident during his reps yesterday.
Mikah Holder still dominates corners on short routes. The only guy that can really get in his grill is Woods. Everyone else struggles to keep square against him. His acceleration from a standstill makes him the best receiver in terms of turning short pass completions into 10-25 yard gains too.
One of the things going for Trevillion and Wilson to contend for reps over Mikah Holder is their blocking. Holder's just not big enough to wipe out safeties on crack down blocks, whereas Trevillion and Wilson can take safeties and even LBs out of the play.
Even though WR Isaiah Richardson was on the scout team again, I am still not counting him out of earning playing time his season.
Keith Ismael and Dominic Gudino have been switching back and forth at right guard and center but just to be clear, I don't see a way where Ismael doesn't start over him at center. Gudino at this point is better suited for guard because he's physically capable. At center, he's still missing some blitzes at times. Ismael may be better at guard long term but he will help this specific o-line the most this year at center.
As practices have gone on, Kyle Spaulding is looking more and more comfortable at left tackle. I initially thought it would be as long as a two year process for him, but he's looking like a guy that can be the third swing tackle as soon as next year.
Derrick Achayo is still in the running to be one of the backup interior lineman, where as Dominic O'Brien and Douglas Tucker are inching their way more toward the scout team.
I feel like JonDarius Gardner may lose his No. 2 job soon. He hasn't been all that effective following the first week of camp and Rocky has been playing musical chairs with the d-line the past few practices. I believe Gardner has not once been with the first team since Sergio Phillips began sitting out with a concussion and guys like Cheatum and Moore have been getting more and more reps at tackle.
Speaking of Damon Moore, I feel like a raved about him a lot more last spring and fall camp but I haven't mentioned him enough so far this fall. He's still one of the leaner d-linemen out there but he's definitely one of the quickest. He could be effective this year if the injury issues continue in the expected two-deep.
Freshman DE Mark Brown pulled up a bit toward the middle of practice but I'm not quite sure what it was. Either a lower back issue are something on his left upper leg. Either way, he's another true freshman that's starting to lean more toward the scout team.
With David Wells and Parker Houston limited, freshman Shane Coleman now has a better chance to make the two deep.
No. 2 FB Isaac Lessard was still out and wearing a boot.
Another reason for this is that SDSU will likely start doing less scrimmage and more scout team work following tomorrow night's scrimmage. Coaches expect the players to bring more energy on the field when they're not bruised and banged up following intense scrimmages. So when they are just coasting, like they did at the start of yesterday's practice, the coaches started to get a little louder and use a little more colorful language.
Moving on...
Not show shocking news here: I think Ryan Agnew had a better practice than Chris Laviano.
Agnew was getting the ball out quick like Chapman and he threw some ropes like Laviano during 7v7s.
Prediction for tomorrow: Laviano will have the better scrimmage. The back and forth is going to go on and on at this rate...
Call me crazy but Juwan Washington's running style is starting to look a lot like DJ Pumphrey's. He's a fearless guy who hits the hole hard while also maintaining his speed through hard, quick cuts into the second level. I can actually see him being more effective than Penny on power plays.
Trenton Thompson is just a sick athlete. He's at that Nat Berhe level in terms of backpedal, breaking speed and closing speed with more size on him. Thompson still does have those moments where he looks lost pre-snap and asks for help figuring out his assignment when the offense shifts/motions.
Quest Truxton had one of his better practices since returning from injury. He was much more loose and confident during his reps yesterday.
Mikah Holder still dominates corners on short routes. The only guy that can really get in his grill is Woods. Everyone else struggles to keep square against him. His acceleration from a standstill makes him the best receiver in terms of turning short pass completions into 10-25 yard gains too.
One of the things going for Trevillion and Wilson to contend for reps over Mikah Holder is their blocking. Holder's just not big enough to wipe out safeties on crack down blocks, whereas Trevillion and Wilson can take safeties and even LBs out of the play.
Even though WR Isaiah Richardson was on the scout team again, I am still not counting him out of earning playing time his season.
Keith Ismael and Dominic Gudino have been switching back and forth at right guard and center but just to be clear, I don't see a way where Ismael doesn't start over him at center. Gudino at this point is better suited for guard because he's physically capable. At center, he's still missing some blitzes at times. Ismael may be better at guard long term but he will help this specific o-line the most this year at center.
As practices have gone on, Kyle Spaulding is looking more and more comfortable at left tackle. I initially thought it would be as long as a two year process for him, but he's looking like a guy that can be the third swing tackle as soon as next year.
Derrick Achayo is still in the running to be one of the backup interior lineman, where as Dominic O'Brien and Douglas Tucker are inching their way more toward the scout team.
I feel like JonDarius Gardner may lose his No. 2 job soon. He hasn't been all that effective following the first week of camp and Rocky has been playing musical chairs with the d-line the past few practices. I believe Gardner has not once been with the first team since Sergio Phillips began sitting out with a concussion and guys like Cheatum and Moore have been getting more and more reps at tackle.
Speaking of Damon Moore, I feel like a raved about him a lot more last spring and fall camp but I haven't mentioned him enough so far this fall. He's still one of the leaner d-linemen out there but he's definitely one of the quickest. He could be effective this year if the injury issues continue in the expected two-deep.
Freshman DE Mark Brown pulled up a bit toward the middle of practice but I'm not quite sure what it was. Either a lower back issue are something on his left upper leg. Either way, he's another true freshman that's starting to lean more toward the scout team.
With David Wells and Parker Houston limited, freshman Shane Coleman now has a better chance to make the two deep.
No. 2 FB Isaac Lessard was still out and wearing a boot.
