I went to the coaching thing or whatever, here is what I saw

[steve dave]

Thanks Wabash, it was good seeing you over the weekend and catching up over some big beers at Rustys.

Here is my RB eval:

This is such a hard group to write about because Hubert was not there.  Barring injury Hubert will get most of the touches.  It will be interesting to see who they use to give him a break.  I do want to say that I love Hubert.  I know he's not the biggest, or the strongest, or the biggest game breaker.  As I've said before he is just really good at everything.  His blitz pick-ups are great, he is a willing blocker leading the QB, he catches the ball well, and he runs hard.  Think of how many plays last year he gained a few extra yards just through pure determination.

 

Jarvis Leverett ? Listed at 5'11 203 RS Freshman from Katy, TX  - I think he could be really good.  He is such a smooth runner.  They weren't tackling to the ground so it was hard to gauge how physical he runs.  He caught the ball well.  I see him at about 215 in a few years and having an NFL body.  You could tell he is a home run threat.

 

Robert Rose ? Has to be one of the smallest rb on any D1 roster.  Watching from the end zone at field level, he is really hard to find behind our huge OL.  I get the feeling the coaches, HCBS especially, really like Rose.

 

Demarcus Robinson ? I just don't see him contributing much.  It appears he is fourth string now.  He looks like a bowling ball out there.  He is so thick. When he has gotten carries I thought he looked good.  I just don't know what is keeping him off the field.  I hope he proves me wrong and turns into a contributor.

 

Charles Jones ? 5-10 197 Fr. Mandeville, LA - This kid looks good running the ball and horrible catching the ball.  He had multiple drops in 7 on 7.  He is really fast.  He needs to add a little size.  I'm sure he will probably redshirt this year.  He could be a player down the road.

 

As a group I feel they are about equal to last year's running backs.  Leverett probably has more upside as a game changer than Pease did.  Hubert will be solid.  Rose will get some relief carries.

[steve dave]

FB: I failed miserably in scouting out this group.  All I can tell you is that Gronkowski is running with the ones and it appeared Zach Nemechek was running with the twos.  As previously stated, I think we will use McDonald as a fullback/H back at times.

 

I didn't ever even watch the FB do drills.

 

Gronk could use to add a little weight in the lower body IMO.  His upper body is comparatively bigger than his lower body.  I wish I would have watched him catch balls a little so I could make some sort of a knowledgeable assessment.

 

If anyone else that was there has something to add I would appreciate hearing your opinion on the FB group

[steve dave]

WR: This will be one of the best units on the team.

 

Lockett and Thompson might have huge years.  I think both quarterbacks have stronger arms than Klein.  Waters throws a beautiful deep ball.  I think these two will be the main beneficiaries.  We were able to watch the WR do drills and it was very evident how quick these two are in and out of their breaks.  They have extremely quick feet.  IMO Thompson has slightly better hands and Lockett is faster.  Thompson has a little more wiggle after the catch.

 

Burton- Could be great.  He is long, fast, smooth, can jump and has hands.  Still needs to tighten up his route running and come all the way back to the ball on comebacks and curls.  I don't see any way that he doesn't play this year.  Andre Coleman was pretty critical of everything Burton did.  I think Coleman is trying to push him to be the best he can be.

 

Toe Miller ? Big target.  He runs well for his size.  He does a great job of shielding defenders on comeback routes.

 

Curry Sexton ? He was in the rehab center.  He did not participate in any drills.  I would like to see him and Waters together.  We know Curry runs great routes and has good hands.

 

Stanton Weber ? Wasn't believing the hype until I saw him practice.  He is a perfectionist.  He runs good routes. He doesn't drop balls.  The QB's trust him.  Weber and Waters were on the field 15 minutes longer than everybody else at the end of Friday's practice putting in extra time.

 

Stephen Johnson ? Not very big, but has really quick feet.  He runs really good routes.

 

Judah Jones ? I had forgotten about him and he caught my eye.  He is smaller than I had hoped.  His routes are still a little sloppy and he doesn't seem real assertive at this point.  But, there is no denying his talent.  He can fly.  I think he could emerge as a real threat in the next couple of years

 

Kyle Klein ? He is the first one to go pat a teammate on the head and encourage them after they drop a pass and Coleman chews their butt.  He is a big target that can catch.  I think he plays a little this year.

 

Cody Harrison ? He had a rough practice on Saturday.  He was running with the top 8 or so guys and didn't play well.  He had multiple drops and was visibly discouraged.  Heard Coleman say after one of the drops "Don't say we didn't give you a chance."  He is very short for a WR.

 

Vernon Vaughn ? Was told he has some sort of infection in one of his knees. I would like to see him play.  I hear good things about him, but he needs to get healthy.

 

Not many others caught my eye.  I mainly watched the wr that were working with Sams and Waters.

[steve dave]

TE: Andre McDonald - The coaches are absolutely thrilled to have Andre McDonald back.  Dana Dimel seemed especially giddy.  They showed lots of clips of how they run seam routes to the TE and Dimel was really excited to have the big 6'8 280 tight end back.  I think the coaches are going to try to use him a lot.  They moved him around a lot on offense.  He was lining up at H back, going in motion etc…  He had a couple of catches and safeties were coming up on him and it was just crazy to see a guy that big running that fast with the ball.  I think he will almost play a fullback role at times.

  I was talking to Jordy Nelson towards the end of Saturday's practice.  I did my student teaching at Riley County Junior High when Jordy was a 7th grader.  We were standing by each other when McDonald made a great catch.  Jordy said even in the NFL you don't see guys that big move like that.  Jordy was also pretty stoked about the new west side addition.

 

Zach Trujillo was not participating in drills.  When we toured the weight room I think I saw him on a stationary bike in the rehab area.

 

Cody Small was playing with the #2 unit.  He had a cast on his left hand and I don't recall seeing him catch balls.  He does run well and is a big kid.  Could probably still add quite a bit of weight and not sacrifice speed.  He is only a freshman.

 

Andre Jackson ? He is listed as a redshirt Jr. transfer from West Hills CC.  Miami, Fl.  He is tall and pretty lean for a TE.  Listed at 6-5 225.  He was also getting reps with the #2 unit.  He is pretty fast for a TE.  I imagine he is kind of an in between WR and TE player that they are listing as a TE.

 

William Green ? He is the only other TE listed on the roster and I didn't really notice him. He might not have gotten reps with the ones or twos.

 

I'm excited about McDonald as both a blocker and a receiving target.  I hope we use him to his full potential.

[jc_jax]

  I was talking to Jordy Nelson towards the end of Saturday's practice. 

Is this one of the most low-key statements about a big-time event you've ever heard?

Just hanging out, talking football with big-time football guys..you know, no big deal...what did you do on Saturday?

[scottwildcat]

T-Y sd

[OlatheWildcat]

Happy you could do this for us Steve Dave. Maybe gE should buy a gift card or something for you, to maybe NFM or Bass Pro?

[slobber]

Thanks sd! Did you drive back and forth to Omaha both both days or did you make a w/e out of it? What does your wife do while you are rubbing elbows with former emaw greats?

[steve dave]

Thanks sd! Did you drive back and forth to Omaha both both days or did you make a w/e out of it? What does your wife do while you are rubbing elbows with former emaw greats?

I have no idea. I guess so!

[steve dave]

Happy you could do this for us Steve Dave. Maybe gE should buy a gift card or something for you, to maybe NFM or Bass Pro?

buffalo wild wings please. tia.

[steve dave]

T-Y sd

yw

['taterblast]

all about the defensive front 7 from here on out, imho

[wabash909]

Thanks Wabash, it was good seeing you over the weekend and catching up over some big beers at Rustys.

Great seeing you too, steve dave.

It was fun taking the tour of the WSC on Sunday with the group before heading out.  Hopefully you and your wife can make it up to a game this fall and join us in the ConAgra suite like last season.  Maybe she could drink a little less this time, though.  Just kidding, buddy.  She can drink all she wants.

[bubbles4ksu]

all about the defensive front 7 from here on out, imho

agreed. the offense is pretty much studs on studs. hopefully teams aren't satisfied running all over us and pass enough to turn the ball over.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

I just looked at our offensive line again... and just like the first time I saw it, I got a boner.

[SabiNation]

Thanks for all of this best friend sd.  Loved reading it

[PurpleSleezyE]

Anyone else find themselves wanting the other posters to STFU with their weak opinions and just let SD do his thing in this thread?

SD's posts were like an ice cold beer at the lake on a sunny July day.  The other posters adding their stupid thoughts were like gnats falling in that cold SD beer. 

[meow meow]

great stuff as always steve dave, you deserve a free gE premium membership for that work.  if i catch you at Rusty's sometime this fall, a tall, ice cold Coors Light is on me. 

[bubbles4ksu]

Anyone else find themselves wanting the other posters to STFU with their weak opinions and just let SD do his thing in this thread?

SD's posts were like an ice cold beer at the lake on a sunny July day.  The other posters adding their stupid thoughts were like gnats falling in that cold SD beer.

my apologies for mucking up the thread. maybe you could take it easy with the PI next time?

[meow meow]

It's the kind of insider info that many of us come to this board for. Thanks man!!!

[kslim]

guys we have said this for a week now, waters is # 1. people in the program agree. the problem with him is the playbook(believe that if you want i really don't care). I am still on team #life and wont waiver from that but its hard to argue over what is being shown on the field

[GoodForAnother]

great info on McDonald sd, thanks again. Susan and the kids say hi.

[420seriouscat69]

Good job, sd. I'm happy you got to spend some time in mhk this weekend & watch our cats.

[Pete]

We are very lucky to have guys like SD and Wabash to bring us these amazing first hand accounts. 

[pissclams]

We are very lucky to have guys like SD and Wabash to bring us these amazing first hand accounts. 

yes, and given my in-depth football IQ, i agree with most everything that they've typed up.  which means, we're going to be great next season.