http://www.huskiewire.com/blogs/entries/.../index.xml

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-footb...12aaa.html


I only caught the second half of today's scrimmage so take my comments for what they're worth.

-First, it was bizarre to watch the Huskies run around out there without Harnish and the rest of last year's senior class. It seems like those guys were there forever and larger than life. Today's squad took some getting used to.

-The defense looked great when I was there. The number 1 D lineup was all the usual suspects except for Frank Boenzi and Ken Bishop at tackle. Anthony Wells was suited up but not playing and Nabal Jefferson is done for the spring. Even without those guys the D line was exceptionally tough. Ken Bishop is really going to help. He did a great job of collapsing the pocket. Bishop is a very stout guy who moves well for his size and of course Frank the Tank is a load too. Our D is going to be filthy.

-I think our number 1 O-Line is going to be OK, especially when they add Jared Volk and/or Tyler Loos to the mix in fall camp. The number 1s today were Tyler Pitt, Logan Pegram, Mike Gegner, Matt Battaglia and Matt Krempel left to right. They were able to make some holes for the running game but could do a lot better in pass protection.

-Our number 2 O-line basically got their butts kicked today but that is to be expected. I mean our number 2 D-line had Joe Windsor and Jason Meehan at ends and Stephen O'Neal was working with the 3s, that's how deep and good our D-line is. Also our number 2 O-line has three freshmen across the middle in Aiden Conlon, Andrew Ness and Matt Killian. I wouldn't expect them to have a lot of success right off the bat.

-Lynch has a good presence and great zip on the ball. They weren't touching the quarterbacks today so you couldn't get a sense of how effectively he will run, and of course we expect him to run quite effectively. Lynch also did not have Martel Moore and Jayme Wells in the receiver lineup today. I am confident that Lynch will do well in the fall.

-McIntosh looks a lot like Harnish did as a freshman. He has quite a ways to go but looks like he can be very good down the road. McIntosh was running for his life on every pass play and that did not allow him to shine in the passing game. I was impressed on a few occasions that he was able to elude pressure and throw it out of bounds.

-Akeem Daniels and Leighton Settle looked real good and seem to be separating themselves from the rest. I'm very excited about those two. Daniels is lightning quick and Settle has great moves in the hole. I did not notice Womble out there. Hard to tell what Giorgio Bowers can do since he repeatedly got buried the instant he took the handoff. It was like the old days with the Bears when Walter Payton would drag three guys to get back to the line of scrimmage. Bowers looks like a strong kid, I'll give him that.

-Anthony Johnson made some nice plays as he continues to develop. He might be a breakout guy this fall. He certainly has all the tools. Tommylee Lewis looks like he can be a playmaker at wideout in addition to the return game. He's really fast of course but also shows good toughness in going after the ball in traffic. It sounds like he's had a great spring camp and it sure looked like it today. DeVonte Majors made some nice catches today. He's mobile and has nice hands.

-Dominique Ware is playing safety now. I guess he and Demetrius Stone switched positions. Ware and Tre Moore were the safeties in the #2 defense today. Courtney Stephen was not dressed.

-Mat Sims and Tyler Wedel worked on field goals today. Sims looked pretty good as usual. He hit the upright on a 52 yarder. Wedel has a really strong leg as a placekicker. The ball explodes off his foot although he's a little wild. I didn't get to see any kickoffs but if his field goals are any indication he's definitely bulked up.

Great report, 1981!

I was also really impressed with Ken Bishop. That guy is BIG and quick! Our Defense could be really special this fall. Too bad to see Devon Butler go down with the ankle injury; hopefully nothing major. Did you see Faustin playing at all today? Every time I saw the first team defense, Stone was lined up at CB, along with Melvin.

Agree that Lynch really looks like he has command of the Offense. That spin move of Settle's on his TD run was something! At WR, we've got so much talent, it's ridiculous! Ashford showed great speed when he got outside after catching that short ball. Daron Brown stood out to me today. Agree on the O-Line struggling with pass protection; the outside rush was causing problems for our OTs. Of course, our DEs are really good (and quick).

RB race heating up.

http://www.huskiewire.com/articles/2012/.../index.xml

Quote:But on offense, junior running back Leighton Settle distinguished himself with a pair of touchdowns and several yards after contact on runs and catches throughout the scrimmage.

"I'm always looking to make one guy miss and just keep things going from there," Settle said. "But it starts from the [offensive] line."

Doeren said he thought Settle shined and helped his cause in the search for a starting running back.

"The guy makes plays after the first touch and that's what you've got to do," Doeren said. "It's not going to be perfect all of the time. There's going to be a defender there. He had a couple of runs today that I think put him ahead in the race right now."

Quote:Defensive back Jimmie Ward made a couple of nice pass breakups, but the junior wanted more and punished himself with pushups after not hauling in an interception.

"I'm getting better," Ward said. "But there are still some mistakes. I need to finish, like I had a couple of interceptions that I dropped, so I need to start finishing."

Channeling his inner Samurai-Mike.


"I'm Samurai Mike I stop'em cold.
Part of the defense, big and bold,
I've been jammin' for quite a while,
Doin' what's right and settin' the style,
Give me a chance, I'll rock you good,
Nobody messin' in my neighborhood.
I didn't come here lookin' for trouble,
I just came to do The [FIESTA] Bowl Shuffle."

'85 Bears Super Bowl Shuffle Video

(04-07-2012 07:51 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  Great report, 1981!

I was also really impressed with Ken Bishop. That guy is BIG and quick! Our Defense could be really special this fall. Too bad to see Devon Butler go down with the ankle injury; hopefully nothing major. Did you see Faustin playing at all today? Every time I saw the first team defense, Stone was lined up at CB, along with Melvin.

Agree that Lynch really looks like he has command of the Offense. That spin move of Settle's on his TD run was something! At WR, we've got so much talent, it's ridiculous! Ashford showed great speed when he got outside after catching that short ball. Daron Brown stood out to me today. Agree on the O-Line struggling with pass protection; the outside rush was causing problems for our OTs. Of course, our DEs are really good (and quick).

I think you're right about Stone and Faustin now that you mention it. And that was a sweet play by Ashford when he took it down the sideline. I don't think it's a lock that Charlie Miller plays this fall, we just have so many good receivers. Can't wait to see Sebastiano again, he looked great last fall.

Please just post the link. That way we have to visit our awesome huskiewire.com site and we support our sponsors. Thanks! :)

81 did post the link. He posted his observations. That's why he wrote "... My comments for what they're worth."

Great stuff, 81 - thanks

Doeren on how Lynch looked from HuskieWire:

Quote:"I just liked the swag the guy has," Doeren said. "He's really confident. He's talking to the guys the right way. He's bouncing around, I just really like that about them. The plays and the mistakes are going to improve with repetition, but I just really like the way he's acting."

Does Doeren's use of "swag" mean that word is now dead as slang? Or do we have to wait until I start using it?

(04-08-2012 02:09 PM)DogTracks Wrote:  Doeren on how Lynch looked from HuskieWire:

Quote:"I just liked the swag the guy has," Doeren said. "He's really confident. He's talking to the guys the right way. He's bouncing around, I just really like that about them. The plays and the mistakes are going to improve with repetition, but I just really like the way he's acting."

Does Doeren's use of "swag" mean that word is now dead as slang? Or do we have to wait until I start using it?

It takes a combination of Cyberdawg and Bill Cubit using it before it gets retired.

hey. i rezembalate that remark.

What time is practice tomorrow (April 14)? It seemed like they moved it up last Saturday.

(04-13-2012 09:53 AM)NIU1981 Wrote:  What time is practice tomorrow (April 14)? It seemed like they moved it up last Saturday.

I think it's still 12:15. They moved up last Saturday's time because the Friday practice was cut short.