Just got back from camp.
You know everything about football is practice, even watching it. Every time I go to camp I have a plan on what to watch and concentrated on that small area and report on that and let the pro's give everyone the big picture.
Well I got there in time to get a seat in the back row of the 10 ydline. Not the best seat, but better than I expected when I saw the crowd going in. I usually like to stand the the back row is the highest vantage point and I don't get in anyone's way. The plan was to take a close look at JJWilliams, Vinovich, Wynn, and Bennett. Well you know what they say about one's "best laid plans" I'm ashamed to say it was almost until the last half hour of the real practice before my eyes could follow what I wanted to see.
So since I sucked early on, I decided my observations wouldn't be worth a separate thread. But I did get better as the practice went on and I DO have a few idle thoughts.
1, Let the Dan Skipper era begin - This is a guy who, to his credit, Bedard pointed out as his biggest camp surprise only to get laughed out of the studio by Mazz. This is what I can tell you. He is TALL. In the huddle he makes Thuney seem like his little brother, and when he stands next to Mason, Mason looks like a midget. But more importantly I started to watch him closely and I can tell you he has quick feet and a decent knee bend. He seemed to get excellent position on his blocks and protections. The only weakness I saw was was a bull rush by JCollins that walked him back to Brady. Bottom line: he didn't look out of place.
2. Mike Pennell is a BEAST. I haven't seen someone just shut down the middle since Vince's heyday. This was an underrated signing that is gong to pay big dividends this season. Between he an Guty it will be very tough to run in the middle against the Pats.
I'll be interested in seeing how well he does pushing the middle on passing downs. It was just one practice, but Pennell is giving us what we EXPECTED to see from Shelton last season.
2. Here's the good news and bad news on our receivers. First the good news. EVERY has EXCELLENT hand that goes from Harry down to Olesheski. They were doing a passing/route runniong drill where 2 pass are thrown on every play and out of about 50 throws only 2 hit the ground and they were overthrows.
The bad news is that NO one stood out. Not even Harry. There was ZERO wow factor out there. That being said, we have one of the top OC's in the league who has created separation by design. And we have a bunch of decent guy who will run their routes and catch balls. Kind of like we have seen every non-Randy Moss year.
3. I was hoping to see Harry working with Brady on back shoulder fades, but on the whole Harry saw very few targets while I was there. BTW- the same can be said of all the TE's. If its thrown to them, they'll catch it, but no one stood out to me.
4. I watched JJ Williams when I could find him. Once when he was with the scout team while the rest of the CB's were working on some CB Drill I wonder why he wasn't with the rest of his guys.. He was the 2nd team outside man, but never made me think he was better than JMac, Crossen, JJones, Gillmre or Jackson. Let me say he didn't do anything really badly, but he'd not close to the level of the rest of the other CB's who all look very sharp. BTW- I didn't see him on any close man to man drills. I want the guy we traded UP to get and pass on all my TE binkies to stand out. He didn't.
He's tall all right, but that's about it right now. (BTW- played some FS at one point)
5. Obi got a lot of run and had his 3rd pick of TC. More importantly he looks a LOT more comfortable out there. I'm getting the feeling that Ebner is going to be a gonner as his snaps will be taken by Obi and Brooks,
6. Finally an observation on Stidham. VERY live arm, pretty accurate from what I saw, and hasn't a clue when he's playing 11-11. He isn't processing what he's seeing as fast as he needs to. No surprise there of course, but for the most part he's showing enough thus far to probably earn a roster spot and a place on the inactive list all year. Better than I expected.
Hope I will do better the next time I go.
