Notes and observations from Monday ...
Shoulder pads and shorts today.
The first hour of practice was all individual work.
Darreus Rogers is looking a lot more athletic than a year ago. Bigger, too, in the chest and shoulders.
Team-period highlights:
The first group of linebackers were mostly observers. Don Hill, Olajuwon Tucker, Michael Hutchings and Uchenna Nwosu filled in.
Chad Wheeler took some first-team reps at left tackle. Toa Lobendahn was at right guard for the first time in his life. Lobendahn also worked at left tackle. (I'll have more on this in "They Said It.")
The second-team O-linemen: Roy Hemsley, Chris Brown, Khaliel Rodgers, Nico Falah, Chuma Edoga.
We then saw Clayton Johnston get some work at left tackle. He and Jordan Austin were the third-team tackles on this day.
***
Cody Kessler overthrows JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was closely defended by Chris Hawkins.
Kessler completes a checkdown to Soma Vainuku.
Max Browne throws a TD to De'Quan Hampton. Isaiah Langley fell on the play.
Browne then forces a ball into the end zone and it's nearly picked off by Ykili Ross. One thing about Browne, he doesn't always let go if the play isn't there. He wants to make a play, perhaps sometimes to his detriment.
1-on-1s:
11-on-11s:
Kessler doesn't put enough on an intermediate throw to Steven Mitchell Jr. and it leads to Mitchell and Adoree' colliding a bit hard. Both players got up and were fine.
David Mellstrom makes an excellent adjustment on a deep ball from Kessler for a long catch.
Marshall's tight coverage on Hampton forces an incompletion.
Uchenna Nwosu made a nice run stop.
Sam Darnold had a very athletic sequence where he rolled left, pivoted and fired to the opposite side. He knew he had a receiver in single coverage in the flat and got it to him.
***
Deontay Burnett has some really nice speed. He reminds me of Ajene Harris in how he's come into training camp and has been so well-adjusted. He looks comfortable.
Greg Townsend showed great sense of urgency today.
Dom Davis got his first carries today and didn't hesitate to put his shoulder down.
1-on-1s between WRs and DBs:
Dom Davis and Langley alternate on punt returns. There was an earlier period that included Davis, Kevon Seymour and Adoree'.
Matt Boermeester connects on field goals from 32, 40 and 45 yards out. He missed one from 45. Alex Wood connected from 32 and 40 yards out and missed his lone 45-yard attempt.
11s red zone:
Connor Spears, who's typically been the first-team tight end, catches a quick out.
Kessler finds Rogers in a small pocket in the zone.
JuJu catches TD over the middle in front of McQuay.
Porter Gustin sacks Browne.
Hampton catches a first down.
Tucker hits Hampton and the ball pops in the air, and Tell dives for the interception. Good instincts from Tell.
Marshall stifles Whitney on an incompletion.
***
Madden beats Lamar Dawson on a reception in the flat
Kessler finds Rogers, who ran a great route to get open
Kessler makes a strong throw to Tyler Petite in the back of the end zone. It took him out of bounds but it's a safe attempt. Highly unlikely to be picked off. Rogers was open in the back of he end zone.
Aca'Cedric Ware runs through a fairly tight hole and scores from about 7 yards out. He has a nice gait.
Cameron Smith tightly defends Madden for an incompletion.
Kessler hits Vainuku on a wheel route for a touchdown. Great start to camp for Vainuku.
Rogers can't hang on to a high throw. It was probably too high but Rogers' hand are so good you expect him to come down with it.
***
Final challenge:
Kessler completes consecutive passes to Mitchell to give the offense a quick 2-0 lead.
Gustin stops Madden for a TFL.
Townsend records a coverage sack on Kessler.
Kessler finds an open Madden over the middle for a TD.
That's three straight two-and-a-half-hour practices.
The Tuesday and Wednesday practices, both open to the public, have been moved from 7 p.m. to 5:30.
Shoulder pads and shorts today.
The first hour of practice was all individual work.
Darreus Rogers is looking a lot more athletic than a year ago. Bigger, too, in the chest and shoulders.
Team-period highlights:
The first group of linebackers were mostly observers. Don Hill, Olajuwon Tucker, Michael Hutchings and Uchenna Nwosu filled in.
Chad Wheeler took some first-team reps at left tackle. Toa Lobendahn was at right guard for the first time in his life. Lobendahn also worked at left tackle. (I'll have more on this in "They Said It.")
The second-team O-linemen: Roy Hemsley, Chris Brown, Khaliel Rodgers, Nico Falah, Chuma Edoga.
We then saw Clayton Johnston get some work at left tackle. He and Jordan Austin were the third-team tackles on this day.
***
Cody Kessler overthrows JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was closely defended by Chris Hawkins.
Kessler completes a checkdown to Soma Vainuku.
Max Browne throws a TD to De'Quan Hampton. Isaiah Langley fell on the play.
Browne then forces a ball into the end zone and it's nearly picked off by Ykili Ross. One thing about Browne, he doesn't always let go if the play isn't there. He wants to make a play, perhaps sometimes to his detriment.
1-on-1s:
- Rogers beats Jonathan Lockett.
- Seymour deflects a pass vs. JuJu.
- Whitney pushes off on Adoree' Jackson but it falls incomplete.
- Biggie Marshall is tight on Hampton and it falls incomplete.
- Jalen Greene makes a good move to beat Leon McQuay.
11-on-11s:
Kessler doesn't put enough on an intermediate throw to Steven Mitchell Jr. and it leads to Mitchell and Adoree' colliding a bit hard. Both players got up and were fine.
David Mellstrom makes an excellent adjustment on a deep ball from Kessler for a long catch.
Marshall's tight coverage on Hampton forces an incompletion.
Uchenna Nwosu made a nice run stop.
Sam Darnold had a very athletic sequence where he rolled left, pivoted and fired to the opposite side. He knew he had a receiver in single coverage in the flat and got it to him.
***
Deontay Burnett has some really nice speed. He reminds me of Ajene Harris in how he's come into training camp and has been so well-adjusted. He looks comfortable.
Greg Townsend showed great sense of urgency today.
Dom Davis got his first carries today and didn't hesitate to put his shoulder down.
1-on-1s between WRs and DBs:
- JuJu beat Kevon but Browne misses him
- Adoree' tight on Rogers
- Hampton bobbles a pass as Marshall tries to bat it away and holds on
- Rogers catches a slant in front of Adoree'
- Aaron Minor beats Langley down the sideline
- Burnett makes a leaping grab vs Ross
- Hampton uses his body to beat Seymour
- Rogers beats Marshall
- Lockett deflects a pass to Whitney
- JuJu can't hang on after separating from Seymour
- Burnett cuts sharply to create space and catch a pass on Marvell Tell
- Zach Banner stopped Claude Pelon twice
- Temple beat Falah
- Christian Rector beat Chuma Edoga
- Toa stopped Townsend
- Rodgers stopped Kenny Bigelow
- Jacob Daniel beat Chris Brown
- Malik Dorton beat Roy Hemsley
- Banner stopped Pelon twice again
- Edoga stopped Townsend
- Townsend beat Falah
- Banner stopped Delvon
- Pelon beat Brown, then Brown stopped Pelon
- Rector beat Falah
Dom Davis and Langley alternate on punt returns. There was an earlier period that included Davis, Kevon Seymour and Adoree'.
Matt Boermeester connects on field goals from 32, 40 and 45 yards out. He missed one from 45. Alex Wood connected from 32 and 40 yards out and missed his lone 45-yard attempt.
11s red zone:
Connor Spears, who's typically been the first-team tight end, catches a quick out.
Kessler finds Rogers in a small pocket in the zone.
JuJu catches TD over the middle in front of McQuay.
Porter Gustin sacks Browne.
Hampton catches a first down.
Tucker hits Hampton and the ball pops in the air, and Tell dives for the interception. Good instincts from Tell.
Marshall stifles Whitney on an incompletion.
***
Madden beats Lamar Dawson on a reception in the flat
Kessler finds Rogers, who ran a great route to get open
Kessler makes a strong throw to Tyler Petite in the back of the end zone. It took him out of bounds but it's a safe attempt. Highly unlikely to be picked off. Rogers was open in the back of he end zone.
Aca'Cedric Ware runs through a fairly tight hole and scores from about 7 yards out. He has a nice gait.
Cameron Smith tightly defends Madden for an incompletion.
Kessler hits Vainuku on a wheel route for a touchdown. Great start to camp for Vainuku.
Rogers can't hang on to a high throw. It was probably too high but Rogers' hand are so good you expect him to come down with it.
***
Final challenge:
Kessler completes consecutive passes to Mitchell to give the offense a quick 2-0 lead.
Gustin stops Madden for a TFL.
Townsend records a coverage sack on Kessler.
Kessler finds an open Madden over the middle for a TD.
That's three straight two-and-a-half-hour practices.
The Tuesday and Wednesday practices, both open to the public, have been moved from 7 p.m. to 5:30.
