http://www.emueagles.com/news/2013/8/5/F...h=football

And one of my 'bright' ideas isn't so bright.

I thought fans could go out with their handy smartphones and snap photos of the lineups (e.g., 1st team OL, 2nd team OL, 1st team DL, etc.) and could report back what they discovered.

Well, that isn't permitted.

I'm officially ready for a tailgate party now.

Still curious about status of guys like Qua Barnes, Moore-Young and any other new walk ons we may have on the team.

(08-05-2013 08:25 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  

Here is WMU and their new coach, P.J. Fleck, who loves to talk.

http://westernmichigan.rivals.com/conten...ID=1532256

It seems he'd answer any and all questions and then answer questions which weren't asked.

I don't know if the interviewers were members of the K'zoo media, maybe from Sports Info, maybe 'BroncoBlitz' (rivals.com site), etc.

I'd like to see English open up and talk, name names, etc. etc.

Which players are switching positions, who is looking good (I know yesterday was day #1), who is bigger, who is faster, who lost weight over the summer, etc. etc.

Worse thing as a fan is to come here and post: "I think player X has a chance to have a break through season. Looking forward to seeing him move up the depth chart for Howard."

Someone replies: "Nope, he has been on crutches with a high ankle sprain all summer..."

Ugh!

Few of my short notes:
QB: Benz looking good, Roback, Bosard and Iannatti are very close. (Freshman still learning routes/plays though) Parrish definitely a QB coach, relies on them and coaches them the most.
RB: Lewis the red-shirt freshman seems like a good power RB. Hill definitely at the top though.
LB: Spearman looking like a top MAC LB, maybe a all-MAC player.
DB's: RE stressed stripping the ball, since there is no pads to start, can't work on hitting/tackling.

A few bball players stopped by after their practice, Riley, Perry and I think Carnegie or Price

Excellent info!

(08-06-2013 06:12 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  LB: Spearman looking like a top MAC LB, maybe a all-MAC player.

EMU needs guys like that to step up. A quick glance of the roster and you'll see that the LB position is the thinnest on experience and depth.

Which is a well concern when we talk about whether the defense will improve this year. We will need all three freshmen LBs to step up and contribute immediately.

(08-07-2013 06:32 AM)emu79 Wrote:  We will need all three freshmen LBs to step up and contribute immediately.

Good luck on that one.

As we saw (are seeing) players (e.g., Hill, Spearman, Benz, etc.) seem to step up their second playing seasons.

I'm already expecting big things from Benz and Spearman. BTW, I consider Benz really a redshirt soph. Throwing one or two passes as a redshirt frosh means zilch to me. I consider that a non-seaon season.

It is hard to tell from a quick look in practice, but I'm hoping that Pipkins, O'Connor, etc. show that same 'growth spurt' as true sophs.

Tell me how Spearman, Pipkins, O'Connor, etc. play and I'll tell you how the defense will improve.

P.S. Hunter Matt too. But that kid needs to bulk up like Spearman. He didn't look thick at all last year.

Due to depth concerns Steve I can see the freshmen LBs pressed into service on special teams. I agree with you that second year players hold the key to the overall defense improving.

(08-06-2013 06:12 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  Few of my short notes:
QB: Benz looking good, Roback, Bosard and Iannatti are very close. (Freshman still learning routes/plays though) Parrish definitely a QB coach, relies on them and coaches them the most.
RB: Lewis the red-shirt freshman seems like a good power RB. Hill definitely at the top though.
LB: Spearman looking like a top MAC LB, maybe a all-MAC player.
DB's: RE stressed stripping the ball, since there is no pads to start, can't work on hitting/tackling.

A few bball players stopped by after their practice, Riley, Perry and I think Carnegie or Price

Just because I'm curious...
What is it specifically that you've seen in Spearman (without even putting on pads) that say "All MAC"? I want him to be great like the rest of us, but I'm curious to know what you're basing your assessment on.

(08-07-2013 07:59 AM)KPJ Wrote:  

(08-06-2013 06:12 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  Few of my short notes:
QB: Benz looking good, Roback, Bosard and Iannatti are very close. (Freshman still learning routes/plays though) Parrish definitely a QB coach, relies on them and coaches them the most.
RB: Lewis the red-shirt freshman seems like a good power RB. Hill definitely at the top though.
LB: Spearman looking like a top MAC LB, maybe a all-MAC player.
DB's: RE stressed stripping the ball, since there is no pads to start, can't work on hitting/tackling.

A few bball players stopped by after their practice, Riley, Perry and I think Carnegie or Price

Just because I'm curious...
What is it specifically that you've seen in Spearman (without even putting on pads) that say "All MAC"? I want him to be great like the rest of us, but I'm curious to know what you're basing your assessment on.

I'll let EMU'17 speak for himself, but get back to Spearman's 'before and after' photos from his freshman year and get back to a refrain of mine about freshman:

A true freshman is more like a high school senior than a college player.

I don't even think A-Rod, with illegal help, could turn a h.s. body into a collegiate body in two months (July and August of his upcoming frosh year).

This is why I rarely look for big things from TRUE FROSH. They are really high school athletes a couple months removed from high school.

Sure there are the Kevin Garnetts, Chris Webbers, etc. (bball examples) who didn't even need college but they are rare and Webber didn't go to a mid-major school.

Pivoting back to LB:

English needs to come up with say 5 who can play most of the snaps.

Kurtz has the experience. Spearman could be a big surprise. Matt needs to be bigger and maybe quicker. Robinson might be a frosh who CAN play as a true frosh if he does indeed have a collegiate body already. I could see either Houston or Cotton move to LB. Zappone is a redshirt frosh so if he has the ability he should get some playing time. Tim Brown (why was he redshirted as a JUCO)?

For anyone in the area and having the afternoon off this little bit of info:

""The players will don shoulder pads for the first time on Wednesday before graduating to full pads on Friday."

Spearman takes everything seriously and everything the coaches say to hart. He has high expectations, which is great.

Also saw someone post on Q. Barnes, he's really fast, if anything he could be a Kick returner.

Short Notes from today:
Team had upper body pads on and shorts.
QB: Benz took most of the snaps in 7 on 7, this style offense fits him so much better. Roback was putting the ball right in the WR's hands on deep routes, squeezed a deep pass down the middle to Q. Jones in between 3 DB's. Also ran a few trick plays putting some QB's at WR. Parrish spends 90% of the time with the QB's, a little time with the RB's as well.
RB: Darius Jackson (#6) has got moves, good footwork. Took a short pass 50 yards for a touchdown reception with the help of good blocking.
WR: Caught the ball very well when it was thrown within reason. Saw a couple diving catches. Most times if the ball hits the ground it's an overthrow.
DB/CB: Very aggressive, they wanted to tackle but players didn't have full pads on. Coaches like Parrish did not want these guys getting physical this early. Still lot's of work needed with a blown coverage here and there, missing TE's as they go out for a pass. They did have some great moments getting a couple INT's. But they look much more improved then last season.
Special Teams: Was scary (bad) the first couple of days. They did much better today on the game field. Long snapper will likely be freshman O'Risky. Still tons to work on here with....... well everything.

Only day 3 so still lot's can happen, lot's to be done.

(08-07-2013 09:41 AM)emu steve Wrote:  For anyone in the area and having the afternoon off this little bit of info:

""The players will don shoulder pads for the first time on Wednesday before graduating to full pads on Friday."

Don Shoulder is a helluva prospect. Can't wait to see him play.

(08-07-2013 07:50 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  

(08-07-2013 09:41 AM)emu steve Wrote:  For anyone in the area and having the afternoon off this little bit of info:

""The players will don shoulder pads for the first time on Wednesday before graduating to full pads on Friday."

Don Shoulder is a helluva prospect. Can't wait to see him play.

? Your joke fell flat. It is good English (like in English language) although 'wear' might be preferable.

(08-07-2013 07:16 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  Spearman takes everything seriously and everything the coaches say to hart. He has high expectations, which is great.

Also saw someone post on Q. Barnes, he's really fast, if anything he could be a Kick returner.

Short Notes from today:
Team had upper body pads on and shorts.
QB: Benz took most of the snaps in 7 on 7, this style offense fits him so much better. Roback was putting the ball right in the WR's hands on deep routes, squeezed a deep pass down the middle to Q. Jones in between 3 DB's. Also ran a few trick plays putting some QB's at WR. Parrish spends 90% of the time with the QB's, a little time with the RB's as well.
RB: Darius Jackson (#6) has got moves, good footwork. Took a short pass 50 yards for a touchdown reception with the help of good blocking.
WR: Caught the ball very well when it was thrown within reason. Saw a couple diving catches. Most times if the ball hits the ground it's an overthrow.
DB/CB: Very aggressive, they wanted to tackle but players didn't have full pads on. Coaches like Parrish did not want these guys getting physical this early. Still lot's of work needed with a blown coverage here and there, missing TE's as they go out for a pass. They did have some great moments getting a couple INT's. But they look much more improved then last season.
Special Teams: Was scary (bad) the first couple of days. They did much better today on the game field. Long snapper will likely be freshman O'Risky. Still tons to work on here with....... well everything.

Only day 3 so still lot's can happen, lot's to be done.

Did you watch any fall practice last year?

Does this year seem 100% different?

Looks like we have the RBs, QBs and just maybe the WRs, too.

Maybe we needed the QBs to step up to make the WRs look better too.

(08-07-2013 11:13 PM)emu steve Wrote:  

(08-07-2013 07:16 PM)EMUEagle17 Wrote:  Spearman takes everything seriously and everything the coaches say to hart. He has high expectations, which is great.

Also saw someone post on Q. Barnes, he's really fast, if anything he could be a Kick returner.

Short Notes from today:
Team had upper body pads on and shorts.
QB: Benz took most of the snaps in 7 on 7, this style offense fits him so much better. Roback was putting the ball right in the WR's hands on deep routes, squeezed a deep pass down the middle to Q. Jones in between 3 DB's. Also ran a few trick plays putting some QB's at WR. Parrish spends 90% of the time with the QB's, a little time with the RB's as well.
RB: Darius Jackson (#6) has got moves, good footwork. Took a short pass 50 yards for a touchdown reception with the help of good blocking.
WR: Caught the ball very well when it was thrown within reason. Saw a couple diving catches. Most times if the ball hits the ground it's an overthrow.
DB/CB: Very aggressive, they wanted to tackle but players didn't have full pads on. Coaches like Parrish did not want these guys getting physical this early. Still lot's of work needed with a blown coverage here and there, missing TE's as they go out for a pass. They did have some great moments getting a couple INT's. But they look much more improved then last season.
Special Teams: Was scary (bad) the first couple of days. They did much better today on the game field. Long snapper will likely be freshman O'Risky. Still tons to work on here with....... well everything.

Only day 3 so still lot's can happen, lot's to be done.

Did you watch any fall practice last year?

Does this year seem 100% different?

Looks like we have the RBs, QBs and just maybe the WRs, too.

Maybe we needed the QBs to step up to make the WRs look better too.

Not as many 2-a-days this year as last year. Also I think last years offense was harder to learn so maybe that's why they're looking better now. Also players have Ipads now to see plays and coaches can send them updates and film to them etc. Instead of having binders. But I do like this coaching staff a lot at all positions.

I haven't seen much of the D-Line or O-Line because you can't really judge them without pads on.