Notes and observations from Saturday's practice:
The team was in full pads but there was less contact than we've seen. Practice went for two solid hours.
I know some of you were there today and probably have better takeaways than I do. Our view from the penalty box was totally obstructed for much of practice. I took a photo to demonstrate:
On the other side of that human wall are football players going through a lengthy 11-on-11 period. Coach Clay Helton said the quarterbacks were sharp and I heard Josh Imatorbhebhe had some issues catching the ball. Our vantage point isn't always this bad but now you have an idea what we're up against sometimes.
Here's what I was able to see ...
7-on-7:
Max Browne hits JuJu Smith-Schuster over the middle.
Browne connects with Darreus Rogers on a deep out.
Browne has to eat it after not finding an open receiver. (Marvell Tell was playing tight D on Rogers. We also saw Tell defending Steven Mitchell Jr. later. He's doing a bit of everything at free safety.)
Browne takes another sack.
Sam Darnold completes a short pass over the middle to Deontay Burnett, who's quickly thudded by Olajuwon Tucker.
***
De'Quan Hampton goes down and gets a low throw form Darnold.
Ajene Harris dives and catches a bullet from Darnold. Ajene showing off the hands there.
Darnold hits JuJu.
Darnold finds Rogers on a deep out.
Browne has Ajene wide open down the middle and misses him.
Browne tries for Isaac Whitney down the sideline but Biggie Marshall breaks it up.
11-on-11:
Browne is sacked. Rasheem Green and Malik Dorton were both there.
Darnold finds Whitney open but he drops it.
Browne completes it to Rogers.
Browne hits Burnett deep.
Darnold hits Whitney on a curl and Whitney breaks a tackle and picks up another 25 yards or so.
***
Aca'Cedric Ware scores from a few yards out.
Browne runs for a short gain.
Mitchell drops a short pass from Browne and it's picked off by walk-on safety Deion Hart. That's Hart;s third INT of spring.
Uchenna Nwosu sacks Browne.
Darnold goes deep to Rogers.
***
Darnold throws a bomb to JuJu, who makes a tumbling catch just in front of the goal line.
Ronald Jones II scores on the next play.
Dominic Davis takes a rare handoff (with the third team) for a nice gain.
Jalen Greene fires a strong pass to Whitney on the sideline and Whitney scores.
Final challenge:
Justin Davis runs off tackle for a handful of yards. He appeared to fumble but the refs ruled him down. Biggie and Uchenna were involved in the turnover that wasn't.
Browne hits Mitchell on a slant.
Davis runs up the middle for a first down. The offense wins, the defense runs.
***
Darnold again had the better day. The caveat (and it's a significant one) is that it primarily came against a defense featuring reserves and walk-ons. He still isn't getting first-team reps, which should tell you where this competition ultimately stands. Until we see Darnold face the first team it's hard to judge where he's at.
I'll post Standouts from Week 3 later this weekend.
The team was in full pads but there was less contact than we've seen. Practice went for two solid hours.
I know some of you were there today and probably have better takeaways than I do. Our view from the penalty box was totally obstructed for much of practice. I took a photo to demonstrate:
On the other side of that human wall are football players going through a lengthy 11-on-11 period. Coach Clay Helton said the quarterbacks were sharp and I heard Josh Imatorbhebhe had some issues catching the ball. Our vantage point isn't always this bad but now you have an idea what we're up against sometimes.
Here's what I was able to see ...
7-on-7:
Max Browne hits JuJu Smith-Schuster over the middle.
Browne connects with Darreus Rogers on a deep out.
Browne has to eat it after not finding an open receiver. (Marvell Tell was playing tight D on Rogers. We also saw Tell defending Steven Mitchell Jr. later. He's doing a bit of everything at free safety.)
Browne takes another sack.
Sam Darnold completes a short pass over the middle to Deontay Burnett, who's quickly thudded by Olajuwon Tucker.
***
De'Quan Hampton goes down and gets a low throw form Darnold.
Ajene Harris dives and catches a bullet from Darnold. Ajene showing off the hands there.
Darnold hits JuJu.
Darnold finds Rogers on a deep out.
Browne has Ajene wide open down the middle and misses him.
Browne tries for Isaac Whitney down the sideline but Biggie Marshall breaks it up.
11-on-11:
Browne is sacked. Rasheem Green and Malik Dorton were both there.
Darnold finds Whitney open but he drops it.
Browne completes it to Rogers.
Browne hits Burnett deep.
Darnold hits Whitney on a curl and Whitney breaks a tackle and picks up another 25 yards or so.
***
Aca'Cedric Ware scores from a few yards out.
Browne runs for a short gain.
Mitchell drops a short pass from Browne and it's picked off by walk-on safety Deion Hart. That's Hart;s third INT of spring.
Uchenna Nwosu sacks Browne.
Darnold goes deep to Rogers.
***
Darnold throws a bomb to JuJu, who makes a tumbling catch just in front of the goal line.
Ronald Jones II scores on the next play.
Dominic Davis takes a rare handoff (with the third team) for a nice gain.
Jalen Greene fires a strong pass to Whitney on the sideline and Whitney scores.
Final challenge:
Justin Davis runs off tackle for a handful of yards. He appeared to fumble but the refs ruled him down. Biggie and Uchenna were involved in the turnover that wasn't.
Browne hits Mitchell on a slant.
Davis runs up the middle for a first down. The offense wins, the defense runs.
***
Darnold again had the better day. The caveat (and it's a significant one) is that it primarily came against a defense featuring reserves and walk-ons. He still isn't getting first-team reps, which should tell you where this competition ultimately stands. Until we see Darnold face the first team it's hard to judge where he's at.
I'll post Standouts from Week 3 later this weekend.
