Notes and observations from Thursday's practice:
Full pads today. Practice went for about two and a half hours.
11-on-11:
The run period was again in the far corner of Brian Kennedy Field, making it hard for us to see what was going on. This is when Kenny Bigelow went down.
I did catch Ronald Jones II run for a long gain up the left side. Once he gets a head of steam he looks like a galloping horse. Sam Darnold also completed a deep ball to Daniel Imatorbhebhe in this stretch. Imatorbhebhe primarily worked with the first team today and I thought he looked fantastic.
***
Special teams:
Today's period was designed for the defense to have an opportunity to block field goals. Leon McQuay and Biggie Marshall combined to block the first attempt. Biggie barely missed blocking three others. Jonathan Lockett blocked one too.
1-on-1:
Steven Mitchell Jr. is unable to shake Biggie and the pass falls incomplete.
Deontay Burnett beats Marvell Tell and catches a TD in the corner.
Mitchell gets another shot vs. Biggie and catches a slant.
7-on-7:
Max Browne completes a pass to D. Imatorbhebhe.
Browne throws a screen to Mitchell.
Browne throws over the middle to Taylor McNamara for a TD.
Browne connects with Ajene Harris on a crossing pattern.
Browne hits Burnett.
Browne hits De'Quan Hampton in the corner of the end zone for a TD.
***
Darnold hits Ajene Harris.
Darnold hits D. Imatorbhebhe.
Darnold connects with Dom Davis down the sideline.
Darnold hits Mitchell over the middle.
Darnold hits Isaac Whitney up the seam for a TD.
Darnold completes a pass to Darreus Rogers over the middle.
Really strong showing by both QBs here. As you see, they were spreading the ball around, from one rep to the next. It's probably to their benefit sometimes to not have JuJu in the mix.
11-on-11:
D. Imatorbhebhe catches a screen pass and is met immediately by Isaiah Langley, who stops him for a short gain.
Browne alertly sees a blown coverage and quickly fires to Rogers up the seam for a big gain.
Biggie sacks Browne and forces a fumble. Lockett was in on the play as well.
Biggie blitzes again but Browne gets rid of it in time for a short completion.
Browne goes downfield to Burnett. Biggie pops Burnett right after he catches it and forces a fumble. D. Imatorbhebhe picks up the loose ball.
***
Jabari Ruffin breaks up a pass from Darnold.
The pocket collapses on Darnold and he scrambles for a short gain.
Darnold completes a quick slant to Mitchell.
Rasheem Green runs past Chuma Edoga and sacks Browne.
D. Imatorbhebhe catches a screen.
***
Uchenna bull rushes Edoga to blow up the play.
Ruffin sacks Darnold.
Jones runs left for a nice gain.
Darnold completes a pass to Rogers.
***
Langley tackles Aca'Cedric Ware in the backfield. He was right on Ware as he received the handoff.
Ware takes the next carry right at Langley and stiff arms him to the floor.
Browne hits Whitney.
Wole Betiku sacks Darnold. Kevin Scott also applied pressure.
For those wondering, Michael Hutchings and Quinton Powell were the primary inside linebackers.
Final five:
Justin Davis runs to the right side for a first down. Zach Banner then yells toward the defense that the offense is going to run the same play and pick up the first down again.
Accordingly, Davis takes the handoff and is stuffed.
Davis runs the very next play and picks up a big chunk. Damien Mama flattened Powell on the play while Green came up lame before walking off.
Jones enters and runs to his right. He's initially stopped but he stays on his feet and picks up the first down after a strong second effort (with the help of the O-line). The offense wins.
***
Reminder: Saturday's practice is at the Coliseum at 10 a.m. and will include scrimmaging. It's open to the public.
Full pads today. Practice went for about two and a half hours.
11-on-11:
The run period was again in the far corner of Brian Kennedy Field, making it hard for us to see what was going on. This is when Kenny Bigelow went down.
I did catch Ronald Jones II run for a long gain up the left side. Once he gets a head of steam he looks like a galloping horse. Sam Darnold also completed a deep ball to Daniel Imatorbhebhe in this stretch. Imatorbhebhe primarily worked with the first team today and I thought he looked fantastic.
***
Special teams:
Today's period was designed for the defense to have an opportunity to block field goals. Leon McQuay and Biggie Marshall combined to block the first attempt. Biggie barely missed blocking three others. Jonathan Lockett blocked one too.
1-on-1:
Steven Mitchell Jr. is unable to shake Biggie and the pass falls incomplete.
Deontay Burnett beats Marvell Tell and catches a TD in the corner.
Mitchell gets another shot vs. Biggie and catches a slant.
7-on-7:
Max Browne completes a pass to D. Imatorbhebhe.
Browne throws a screen to Mitchell.
Browne throws over the middle to Taylor McNamara for a TD.
Browne connects with Ajene Harris on a crossing pattern.
Browne hits Burnett.
Browne hits De'Quan Hampton in the corner of the end zone for a TD.
***
Darnold hits Ajene Harris.
Darnold hits D. Imatorbhebhe.
Darnold connects with Dom Davis down the sideline.
Darnold hits Mitchell over the middle.
Darnold hits Isaac Whitney up the seam for a TD.
Darnold completes a pass to Darreus Rogers over the middle.
Really strong showing by both QBs here. As you see, they were spreading the ball around, from one rep to the next. It's probably to their benefit sometimes to not have JuJu in the mix.
11-on-11:
D. Imatorbhebhe catches a screen pass and is met immediately by Isaiah Langley, who stops him for a short gain.
Browne alertly sees a blown coverage and quickly fires to Rogers up the seam for a big gain.
Biggie sacks Browne and forces a fumble. Lockett was in on the play as well.
Biggie blitzes again but Browne gets rid of it in time for a short completion.
Browne goes downfield to Burnett. Biggie pops Burnett right after he catches it and forces a fumble. D. Imatorbhebhe picks up the loose ball.
***
Jabari Ruffin breaks up a pass from Darnold.
The pocket collapses on Darnold and he scrambles for a short gain.
Darnold completes a quick slant to Mitchell.
Rasheem Green runs past Chuma Edoga and sacks Browne.
D. Imatorbhebhe catches a screen.
***
Uchenna bull rushes Edoga to blow up the play.
Ruffin sacks Darnold.
Jones runs left for a nice gain.
Darnold completes a pass to Rogers.
***
Langley tackles Aca'Cedric Ware in the backfield. He was right on Ware as he received the handoff.
Ware takes the next carry right at Langley and stiff arms him to the floor.
Browne hits Whitney.
Wole Betiku sacks Darnold. Kevin Scott also applied pressure.
For those wondering, Michael Hutchings and Quinton Powell were the primary inside linebackers.
Final five:
Justin Davis runs to the right side for a first down. Zach Banner then yells toward the defense that the offense is going to run the same play and pick up the first down again.
Accordingly, Davis takes the handoff and is stuffed.
Davis runs the very next play and picks up a big chunk. Damien Mama flattened Powell on the play while Green came up lame before walking off.
Jones enters and runs to his right. He's initially stopped but he stays on his feet and picks up the first down after a strong second effort (with the help of the O-line). The offense wins.
***
Reminder: Saturday's practice is at the Coliseum at 10 a.m. and will include scrimmaging. It's open to the public.
