Ah, it feels good to be back at camp (besides, ya know, the heat). Its been a while! Nasty's Notes are back! To start off... I may or may not have gone out drinking last night, so I got there about 20min late, lol. And just my luck, my first training camp in a while was one with just t-shirts and shorts... OTA style. Needless to say, these are not the types of practices you can really take a lot of information away from. And on top of it, most of the work was done on the far field, making it hard to see. But I'll take what I can get! When I got there, they were doing offense on the close field, and defense on the far field. So, I got more look at the offense than the D. And to be honest... for practices without even shoulder pads... its pretty pointless to evaluate the big uglies. So I mainly focused on the skill positions. QBs: Henne seemed to play pretty well. Had pretty good control for the most part, however whever he missed, it was high/long. Was really pushing the ball with good zip, but every once in a while it would get away from him. Threw an absolute beautiful bomb to Marshall down the left sideline for what would be 6 since Marshall beat his man by around 4 yards. However, Marshall bobbled it (his only drop of practice). Marshall was really beating himself up over it. Henne had a georgous throw to Marshall a few reps later on a back 20-25 yard back shoulder throw along the sideline (on Nolan Carrol). Timing and accuracy were perfect. You cant stop that, nothing Carrol could do. As far as the others, Tom Brandstater... this guy is big. He really stands out when standing next to the other QBs. Had a few nice throws, but was inconsistent. Same with Pat Devlin. Would make some nice throws here and there, and some off throws. WRs: For the most part, the WRs had the upper hand today. That isnt too surprising though since they were in tshirts and shorts, where the DBs cant use much physicallity. We'll start with Marshall. The reports of him being in great shape were no lie. He looks really crisp out there, quick and good speed. Outside of the one drop I previously mentioned, he caught everything in his range, including a couple nice one handed catches. Was practicing hard too, selling out attempting a diving catch that was just out of his reach. H Bess runs such beautiful routes. His footwork and quickness in and out of his breaks is awesome to watch. And in practices like todays, where they are just wearing t-shirts and DBs cant get a hand on him... its really unfair. Poor Vincent Agnew got matched up with him once and he got killed (you might hear Agnew's name mentioned later as well). Bess absolutely killed it today, no one could stay with him, not even Vontae. Hartline was about the only one who didnt really do that well. Couldnt gain much seperation from anyone, except one play where he took it to Sapp (EVERYONE took it to Sapp today though). He looked like he may have been dealing with an injury like a hammy or ankle or something, so that may have been why. Moore was pretty disappointing. Had a few terrible drops that were just a case of looking to run before he caught it. Had did have a beautiful catch on a deep corner route tapping 2 feet inbounds before going out of bounds. Overall though he had a poor practice from what I saw. Gates - I think the coaches are really working with him on his route running. He wasnt rounding off his routes, but he was slow and deliberate getting in and out of his cuts, almost like he was thinking about them really hard while going through them. He did smoke Sean Smith for a 40 yard TD though on some drills, working inside and then taking it up field and turning on the jets. Smith had no shot once Gates got even with him... as he just blew by and pulled away. CAMP SLEEPER: Here it is. The annual WR that looks great in training camp with no pads but most likely doesnt end up panning out to be anything. Patrick Carter. He had a fantastic day out there today. I have no idea who this guy is or where he came from... but every time I was looking up it seemed like he was making a play. I was going through my notes and had "17" written in there a bunch. He absoltuely abused 41 Vincent Agnew on some cuts to the point where Agnew was falling (broken ankles style) and just had to grab ahold of Carter for a desperate PI. He smoked Reshard Jones too, and seemed to make numerous other plays. Just really stood out. He'll most likely disappear over time like they all do, but the kid really caught my eye. RBs: First... let me say that there is absolutely nothing more worthless than 11v11 running plays with zero sort of padding. I have trouble taking much away from it. I really only payed attention to our rookie Daniel Thomas. Its harder to evaluate RBs with no pads, but I did like what I saw. He seemed to have good quickness and short area burst. He doesnt seem to lose much speed or have to decelerate when cutting in the backfield and hitting a hole.... and seemed to pick his spots quickly. Didnt do much dancing in the backfield. And then right as I was writing all this stuff in my notes... Soliai ate him in the backfield almost untouched, lol. Overall though he looked good. Caught the ball well too. We'll see more of what he bring to the table when the pads come on. TEs: Anyone know Charles Clay's number? I tried asking everyone but no one knew. I would have really like to watch him. Dont really have much to write about the rest other than we were doing lots of drills with them either lined up out wide, or flexing them out wide onced lined up. Dont know if thats part of Daboll's system, in terms of flexing a TE? They were getting a lot of work outside today. Defense: As I said, I didnt watch the defense as much today, as they were pretty much exclusively on the far field today. Few quick notes: - Soliai looks like hes in great shape, and like Marshall, the reports werent lies either. Had good quickness and was very disruptive getting into the backfield today in the 11v11s (mind you, without pads though). Still, he looks in great shape, which is what we were most concerned about. - Vontae couldnt stay with Bess today, but no one could. He seemed to play well most the rest of the time. Had some good battles with Marshall. He also smothered Hartline on a play and would have had the INT had Hartline not jumped all over his back for offensive PI. - Jimmy Wilson had an interception today as well as Austin Spitler. - Alma-Francis had a nice pass breakup in coverage over the middle about 15 yards deep. - Wake was getting a good amount of work in coverage... droping into zones in the flats and running with TEs down the middle. - Benny Sapp should have got cut after today's practice. He was the worst defender on the field and was abused like a rag doll. - Vincent Agnew will not make the team if today is any indication. WRs changed directions on him and he was lost... Lastly, I have a few notes on the punt returners. Bess, Phillip Livas, Gates, and MARSHALL were returning punts today. Yes, I said Brandon Marshall was returning punts. Only got a few reps though. Gates is who I wanted to watch most. Fielded most of them well, however he sometimes let the ball drop a little to much in front of him so instead of sucking it into his chest and stomach he was scooping it up with his hands. He caught all of them though, and the advantage when doing that is that his momentum is moving fowarard when catching instead of being stuck and sucking the ball downwards (like Bess)... however this is obviously riskier, and I'd guess the coaches will try to coach that out of him. Thats all I got! Sorry about the delay, had to take care of some things for my first wedding anniversary. Thank my wife for at least allowing me some time to write this one up, lol! Gotta run though... but I'll be back on later tonight to answer any questions about things I may not have touched on... EDIT: I'm also going to go tomorrow (hopefully they wear pads and use the close field!), so any things you have in particular you'd like me to watch out for that I may not have been paying attention to this time, just let me know...
Pat Carter is a fmr highly recruited Qb from Florida who went on to one college, then transfered to another one to play Wr, he wound up being picked up by the Broncos in 08 (or 09) then went to the UFL last season, he is a large 4.3 guy who really has battled to play football. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=10843&draftyear=2008&genpos=WR Great read FN!
Well, it being padless, I'd appreciate it if you can keep an eye on #48, Quinton Spears, a 6'5 220 pd DE/OLB. BTW, C Clay is #31...weird, a Rb number. http://www.miamidolphins.com/team/roster
There aren't that many starting position battles this camp, but who starts opposite of Marshall is the best one imo.. Where the hell is sho?, you know hes got Bess winning that battle.
what are some other battles?? guard? can Garner beat richie rich or Jerry..def end?, can Odrick beat out Starks?, can Will Allen beat out Sapp?..is a frogs *** water tight?...hmmm what else?
Great stuff, Nasty...thanks for all of us fans who live out of the area... When they get pads on, watch out to see how the interior is doing, with Incognito, Pouncey and Jerry...
Sounds to me like you married the right girl. Congrats on the anny..........and thanks for the writeup. U DA MAN.
Damn, look at his pro day times! 1.44 in the ten? That's super human, especially for a guy as tall as him. Tiny little Livas had a 1.46 and when I scanned the top 50 WRs in this draft, none were under 1.50. Then a 4.38 forty too. This guy can run.
Good Job Nasty, I just hope your better half wont drug you and slice little Nasty off like that one crazy chick did a few weeks ago.
Wow, runs a 4.3? I'm not surprised. I thought he looked really quick out there for a guy that big. DBs were having trouble staying with him, and creating seperation didnt seem to be a problem for him. Now, he was going against guys like Agnew, Sapp, and RJones... but if he keeps smoking those guys they are going to start getting him reps against Vonate and Smith. We'll see what he looks like then. I really liked what I saw though. Hoping pads are on tomorrow! See if he can still run around as freely. You'd think with the size he'd be able to handle the physicality, but a big body can end up being a bigger target for contact from DBs. Thanks for Clay's number. Ya, I'm hoping to get a better look at the D. They spend almost all practice on the far field. Hoping they move to the close one tomorrow. If so, I'll definitely check out 48 for you.
Based on today... Hartline wouldnt even be the #3. But I think he has a hammy issue or something. Seemed to be stretching/working on his legs or lower body between drills. Didnt see him with a trainer, so I dont think its serious. Probably just a nagging strain or something.
Ya, didnt really watch the trench guys much. So hard to take anything away from those w/o any pads on. I'm hoping they will have at least shells on tomorrow at minimum. This is training camp! This OTA crap is non-sense. I really hope this CBA hasnt ruined camps... Really excited to see how Pouncey looks. Has a tough matcup right out of the gates against Soliai! Thats the battle I wanna watch this camp... Only thing I had written down about any of those linemen Larry is that Jerry had a false start during 11v11s... As far as can Will Allen beat out Sapp DJ? I honestly didnt see Allen out there (not noticing a CB is never a bad thing lol)... but Sapp had no business being on the field today. Bell was ok. Was late getting over on some deep corner routes. Think he was the Safety on Pat Carter's deep corner catch too...
Thing is FN, even with the shells Wake still showed some things in 09, so if they do run 1 on 1's then keep an eye out if you can?
Oh ya, I'll keep an eye out for him either way for ya. I'm hoping they at least wear shells tomorrow. Just t-shirts was a joke. This guy a pass rusher? 220lbs at 6'5 seems a little slim. He a quick guy?
By the way, went back and re-read and I had a typo that made a sentence about DThomas make no sense. What I meant to say was: "He doesnt seem to lose much speed or have to decelerate when cutting in the backfield and hitting a hole."
Smith tweeted that tomorrow will be the first day of pads. You know, I've thought about this a bit, with Crowder gone, would Le'Ron McClain make sense for us as the #2 running back?
lol... I had to write that thing quick man, wife had that foot tapping at me! Trying to clean it up a little bit now, although its a little late... lol
Sweet! Was he talking shells or full pads??? Please be full pads on the close field. They owe me... : prays :
Ha well it's appreciated. Any bit of tidbits about camp that isn't from Omar or Armando is always great to read!
lol... you're going to be in trouble killer if today was any indication. Marshall looks good... You may need to start throwing some crow in a bag of marinade to get it ready...
Ah ok. Was gunna say thats pretty skinny for that frame. I'll keep an eye out for him. Was he an UDFA? Out of where?