UMBig11 Week 1 Practice Notes
UMBig11 posted some notes from fall camp going into week 2. I won't post them and take away hits from TTB but here's the link.
http://touch-the-banner.com/forum/topic/some-football-notes-heading-in-to-week-2/
August 6th, 2017 at 12:20 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
"I thought one of Speight's biggest issues last year was his inability to anticipate and lead his receivers."
This is false.
See UCF game, Illnois game, Maryland game, etc.
Even at Ohio State, he made some excellent anticipation throws.
The selective, fragmented memories people are using to justify some narratives is equal parts amusing and frustrating.
if Greise says it, then...
Good point. There is some emotion involved in assessing both Speight AND Peters because as fans, we want whomever is holding that position to excel, and hope may be clouding some rational judgements.
Wilton Speight is what he is. He's got protypical size for a pro-style offense, when he has time to step up in the pocket and into his throws, he can make every throw despite a bit of an unorthodox delivery. But he has his limitations; he doesn't seem to have the high ceiling a lot of people HOPE Brandon Peters has, understandable because Speight came in an unheralded guy with a very limited list of offers, and he was recruited by the previous regime and OC who sucked, whereas "Harbaugh's guy" is a much more heralded and widely regarded recruit with a presumed higher ceiling.
When the play breaks down, Speight has shown an ability to move in and out of the pocket to extend the play, but when he throws without the benefit of time to step up and/or set his feet, he's wildly inaccurate. Some have compared him to Roethlisberger, but Roethlisberger consistently makes good throws even when under pressure or when his feet arent' set. Speight's yet to develop that, though I was glad to read about the emphasis on the quick passing game where presumably he'd be making more of the throws he's better at.
August 6th, 2017 at 11:05 PM ^
Lost me there at the end. I agree that he can't make every throw; that's a major tool, and one that he clearly misses. But Rudock did not have a superior arm.
Note that "superior arm" is not the same thing as "superior accuracy." Jay Cutler has a superior arm to Tom Brady. Guess which one is an all-timer?
Over the past several weeks, I've also watched many of the wins, but I've also DVRed ESPNU's replays of the three losses, where Speight was dreadful at far too many times against better competition.
In football, it's impossible to pin a loss on just one guy, but if you were to try to do that in the Iowa game, Speight would be your first target.
One of the compliments of Speight was that while he wasn't a tremendous play-maker who was going to win games all by himself, he was going to avoid the big mistake to lose the game. Then came the Ohio State loss. Pick 6, pick to set up a touchdown, fumble on the goal line, etc.
In the first half against FSU, that offensive line was embarrasingly bad, and I put very little blame for those pathetic 30 minutes of football on Speight. But once the ship was righted a bit, he both made some great throws and showed signs of happy feet even when there wasn't pressure.
If we get that Speight AND that opposing defense for 12 straight weeks, we got a shot at a National Championship!
August 6th, 2017 at 12:19 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:21 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^
I thought he was locked up by Rivals now that fall camp has started.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:37 PM ^
I thought it's called "red locked" these days
August 6th, 2017 at 12:49 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:50 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:27 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 6th, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
These updates are great. Cat-nip for football fans.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
At least since spring practice when he put some notes together over there.
Sounds like things are falling into place except at CB, which is starting to become worrying. They are still talking about players needing to step up rather than guys locked in. I haven't lost confidence in Long / Hill but would be nice if the chatter started to confirm that.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:39 PM ^
I agree. I think this is what lets a Don Brown defense play so aggressively without getting burned too often. I'm craving positive updates on CBs.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:41 PM ^
The bad, Florida has a solid set of Wrs
The good, Floridas QB will be running for his life
who will be their best QB since Tim Tebow (who happen to be overrated but still a great college player).
August 6th, 2017 at 11:04 PM ^
chatter doesnt mean shit. let the coaches do their jobs. you are this concerned after just a couple fall practices?
August 6th, 2017 at 10:30 PM ^
Just last week he posted a short Fall Camp update.
In that update he also mentions having a deal with Rivals so he won't be able to post here during the season.
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/fall-camp-0
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/fall-camp-0#comment-4547897
Some well known intel to kick it off. Speight will start fall camp as QB1. His spot to lose. RB order will be Evans, Higdon, Isaac. Honestly, Higdon is much closer to RB1 than expected. He may take it away altogether with a strong camp. 5 Fr. in the two deep. Two OL getting a huge opportunity and WR is pretty obvious. 4 plus WR sets are in the works.
I have an agreement with Rivals. So, this weekend is more than likely it until the end of the season.
they have had 5 practices. You are expecting the CB positions to be "locked in"?
Wait until after 14 practices before you start to worry.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:39 PM ^
We are on the outside looking into the playoffs until we have a QB who is a consistent real threat to thrown down the field. That Speight is still struggling with this and Peters isn't pushing him don't bode well for us to be playing on December 2, I'm afraid.
August 6th, 2017 at 12:55 PM ^
August 6th, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^