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My thoughts:

1. The offensive line lacks depth. The first team played pretty well with some occasional miscues. The backups really struggled. I don't like to call players out, but there are a few that I wonder if they are ever going to see the field.
2. Defense has a lot more depth. New guys like Bernard, Miskel, Brickhouse and Wilder are going to help out. Its a shame that Denzel Williams didn't get to play because Wilder has been raving about him. I really think that Anthony Wilson and Justin Noye looked like they have greatly improved.
3. Its good to see Melvin Vaughn back again. He's a step slow but still has his quickness. I'm not sure where he is in the recovery process but he had one nice cutback that turned into a big gain.
4. All the QBs had good plays but struggled as well. Its difficult to be successful without better protection. Arnold looked really good out there and completed a lucky 90 yard TD pass. Had one of our better safeties been out there, they would have picked off that throw. Jermain Williamson (#22) got picked on a bit today.
5. Punting is still weak. I'm really hoping that Bailey Cate is as good as advertised.

I don't really think you can take anything away from these games, but last year i thought LaRussa looked better than Bentley. This year was not even close. Bentley looked really solid today, and this from one of the biggest "we can't win with Bentley" people on the board. The fact that we have two qbs that may be able to be solid starters opens up the ability for them to run more since injuries will not be devastating, and I think that is a very good thing... Ohh, and we have really good running backs.

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Don't recall seeing any passes tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Jeremy Cox is an absolute stud.
Defense is ready to go
QB situation with Washington back and healthy is good.
Only think keeping this team from 7 wins is the O line and I expect them to improve during the year.

I couldn't make it. But those saying the d is so much better is that due to the youth on the o line making them seem that much better?

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(04-16-2016 04:27 PM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  My quick thoughts:
1. Bentley much improved, quicker release and better play recognition
2. LaRussa is at best the scout team QB...one read and run for his life...to be fair his OL was the 2nd/3rd string
3. Arnold will RS, but will be in the running for 2017, great arm, pretty short in stature
4. lots and lots of good RBs
5. the defense, if Addison and Holley can be trusted to be on islands, will be scary good...lots of depth, lots of playmakers in the front 7
6. the OL is very average...Hunter Sosebee played RT for both squads and looked good in tandem with DGarcia...the left side of the 1st string OL struggled...very little depth
7. Kirtley has a great kicking leg, the special teams will be better just because of his work PK/P
8. Melvin Vaughan at WR on certain plays was intriguing...Vaughan at 252 lbs on 180 lb CBs and a 6-5 Verheagh at slot TE will create wild matchups
if the OL can get to middle of the pack in the conference, we could get to 7 wins, if they struggle 5 wins is more likely

With so many good RB's, do you think we will run some Triple Options.
If our RB's legs are always fresh, come the 4rd Quarter the other D will be winded.

Bentley did run one option play and made the pitch to (I forget who). The play went for a reasonable gain. I was also happy to see us run a successful jet sweep for a good gain with Harper carrying the ball. Seems to me he got 10/12 yards on the play.

We are not running triple option. I don't think they put 2 running backs in the formation very often, if any.

We are missing probably 2 starters along the OL. It may actually be good that these young guys are getting extended action. And our defensive line should be one of the better ones in the conference.

(04-17-2016 01:24 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  We are not running triple option. I don't think they put 2 running backs in the formation very often, if any.

We are missing probably 2 starters along the OL. It may actually be good that these young guys are getting extended action. And our defensive line should be one of the better ones in the conference.

I didn't make it to the game sadly.
I had concerns about the O-line last year and somewhat disappointed to see that the issue might return. There is some time to improve before the season starts. I still feel that was the key last year outside the QB issue that kept us from winning 1 maybe 2 more games.

(04-17-2016 03:23 PM)GhentFan Wrote:  

(04-17-2016 01:24 PM)Gilesfan Wrote:  We are not running triple option. I don't think they put 2 running backs in the formation very often, if any.

We are missing probably 2 starters along the OL. It may actually be good that these young guys are getting extended action. And our defensive line should be one of the better ones in the conference.

I didn't make it to the game sadly.
I had concerns about the O-line last year and somewhat disappointed to see that the issue might return. There is some time to improve before the season starts. I still feel that was the key last year outside the QB issue that kept us from winning 1 maybe 2 more games.

Its an issue, but we have hands tied. We have 3 guys, including Fisher that were projected as starters that are either injured now or wont play at all (Fisher). Just too young behind those guys right now.

(04-16-2016 09:00 PM)Old Dominion Wrote:  Don't recall seeing any passes tipped at the line of scrimmage.
Jeremy Cox is an absolute stud.
Defense is ready to go
QB situation with Washington back and healthy is good.
Only think keeping this team from 7 wins is the O line and I expect them to improve during the year.

I hope you are correct.

The physical demands on offensive linemen are often extreme.
As thin as we are it wouldn't be out of the question to actually see a decline, rather than an improvement, throughout the season.

We were indeed down two O linemen starters Troy Butler and Tyler Compton, both should be back for fall. We will still be thin up front though. Verhaegh at 6-3 is a good target but not much of a blocker. Vaughn and Cox, though, are / can be; and that will help. There was actually a good bit of 2 TE formations. This really will look like a different O this year.

The D should really look different too this year...in a really good way.

The claimed 4,500 attendance at the spring game, in perspective: http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...ecord-2016

More than Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Cal and Georgia Southern, somewhat less than Ohio State and Georgia

Here is the final wrap up on the final practice of Spring Football. All in all some good things to hear about and give us a little optimism for the Fall.

(04-23-2016 06:56 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Here is the final wrap up on the final practice of Spring Football. All in all some good things to hear about and give us a little optimism for the Fall.

ummm What?

(04-25-2016 07:32 AM)757ODU Wrote:  

(04-23-2016 06:56 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Here is the final wrap up on the final practice of Spring Football. All in all some good things to hear about and give us a little optimism for the Fall.

ummm What?

Well for one there were no major injuries during the Spring Football that I'm aware of. If so then this is the first season in a while where we've gone injury free.

(04-25-2016 07:32 AM)757ODU Wrote:  

(04-23-2016 06:56 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Here is the final wrap up on the final practice of Spring Football. All in all some good things to hear about and give us a little optimism for the Fall.

ummm What?

Maybe this?

http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=210908309

(04-25-2016 08:22 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 07:32 AM)757ODU Wrote:  

(04-23-2016 06:56 PM)ETSUDB8-79 Wrote:  Here is the final wrap up on the final practice of Spring Football. All in all some good things to hear about and give us a little optimism for the Fall.

ummm What?

Maybe this?

http://www.odusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=210908309

I know some have said SB is slow, but the third paragraph has me very concerned. LOL

"The Blue Team got on the board first with a 60-yard touchdown drive capped off with an eight year touchdown run from Shuler Bentley.

I thought I had heard that Bentley was more fleett of foot this year. ....Apparently not. .. "The Blue Team got on the board first with a 60-yard touchdown drive capped off with an eight year touchdown run from Shuler Bentley"

That's ball control!

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Really glad they're working on time management this year. If Bentley can have a couple of those touchdown runs this year the other team might not ever get the ball!