Notes and observations from practice ...
11-on-11:
Rasheem Green, Greg Townsend and Kenny Bigelow take the first reps and generate pressure on the first snap.
A few plays later the defense records a coverage sack.
Ronald Jones II makes something out of nothing with a cutback in the backfield. Something I notice about him is that he doesn't try to reverse field much, especially near the line of scrimmage. He makes smart decisions to ensure positive yards.
***
The second defensive line group: Noah Jefferson, Jacob Daniel and Malik Dorton.
The final group: Townsend again, Delvon Simmons and Claude Pelon.
Scott Felix, Cam Smith and Anthony Sarao were the primary first-team linebackers, obviously along with Su'a Cravens.
Both the coverage from the secondary and the blocking from the offensive line were strong in this particular period.
***
Townsend, Pelon and Simmons, the expected starters, are the first unit again.
Dominic Davis gets to the edge and, after a nasty cut, shoots up the sideline and beats John Plattenburg in a foot race for a TD. Dom got more carries than usual.
Justin Davis breaks off a pair of long runs. Davis got a lot of work today with Tre Madden still only participating in scout periods. I could be reading into things too much, but I get the feeling Jones will be the third back this weekend (behind Madden and J. Davis). The carries have been about even the past two games.
7-on-7:
JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a ball near the sideline and is popped by Leon McQuay. JuJu gave him this look right after, like, I've been waiting for that. I mentioned yesterday JuJu was pretty demonstrative at the end of several of his catches. McQuay gave him a good lick and I think JuJu appreciated it.
Dom Davis catches a crossing route and scores again. Yet another playmaker in this offense that might be underused. Sark after practice half-jokingly noted the need to run more plays on offense.
Cody Kessler hits Jones on a wheel route. The key there is that it was forward (unlike the sideways pass to Madden at the beginning of the third quarter that went for a 5-yard loss).
***
A couple plays stood out in 1-on-1s:
Kessler completes a pass to JuJu, though the play would have been dead because Quinton Powell was there for the sack.
Kessler goes deep to Steven Mitchell.
Jalen Greene pulls off a nice hesitation move near the sideline and tacks on several yards to his catch.
***
Sark spends the final scout period analyzing the defense.
Justin Davis runs for another big gain.
Jonathan Lockett picks off Sam Darnold.
Pelon crushes a walk-on tailback.
***
Practice went about 10 minutes longer today.
11-on-11:
Rasheem Green, Greg Townsend and Kenny Bigelow take the first reps and generate pressure on the first snap.
A few plays later the defense records a coverage sack.
Ronald Jones II makes something out of nothing with a cutback in the backfield. Something I notice about him is that he doesn't try to reverse field much, especially near the line of scrimmage. He makes smart decisions to ensure positive yards.
***
The second defensive line group: Noah Jefferson, Jacob Daniel and Malik Dorton.
The final group: Townsend again, Delvon Simmons and Claude Pelon.
Scott Felix, Cam Smith and Anthony Sarao were the primary first-team linebackers, obviously along with Su'a Cravens.
Both the coverage from the secondary and the blocking from the offensive line were strong in this particular period.
***
Townsend, Pelon and Simmons, the expected starters, are the first unit again.
Dominic Davis gets to the edge and, after a nasty cut, shoots up the sideline and beats John Plattenburg in a foot race for a TD. Dom got more carries than usual.
Justin Davis breaks off a pair of long runs. Davis got a lot of work today with Tre Madden still only participating in scout periods. I could be reading into things too much, but I get the feeling Jones will be the third back this weekend (behind Madden and J. Davis). The carries have been about even the past two games.
7-on-7:
JuJu Smith-Schuster catches a ball near the sideline and is popped by Leon McQuay. JuJu gave him this look right after, like, I've been waiting for that. I mentioned yesterday JuJu was pretty demonstrative at the end of several of his catches. McQuay gave him a good lick and I think JuJu appreciated it.
Dom Davis catches a crossing route and scores again. Yet another playmaker in this offense that might be underused. Sark after practice half-jokingly noted the need to run more plays on offense.
Cody Kessler hits Jones on a wheel route. The key there is that it was forward (unlike the sideways pass to Madden at the beginning of the third quarter that went for a 5-yard loss).
***
A couple plays stood out in 1-on-1s:
- With Biggie Marshall in tight coverage, JuJu secured a long pass down the sideline. Very reminiscent of what happened vs. Stanford. Biggie was in great position; he just needs to learn to finish at the so-called moment of truth.
- Adoree' Jackson caught a deep post for a TD. AJax has consistently been a playmaker on offense and spends half of every Wednesday on that side of the ball. Of course, he also practiced exclusively on offense for several days in training camp. He's got a great handle on things and is prepared to contribute more than he's been called on.
Kessler completes a pass to JuJu, though the play would have been dead because Quinton Powell was there for the sack.
Kessler goes deep to Steven Mitchell.
Jalen Greene pulls off a nice hesitation move near the sideline and tacks on several yards to his catch.
***
Sark spends the final scout period analyzing the defense.
Justin Davis runs for another big gain.
Jonathan Lockett picks off Sam Darnold.
Pelon crushes a walk-on tailback.
***
Practice went about 10 minutes longer today.
