Courtesy of Izzy Gould https://twitter.com/IzzyGould/status/232495665723363328/photo/1/large Things to note: QB: Garrard, Moore, Tannehill Starting WR: Nanee, Johnson, Bess CB: Smith, Marshall
Thought so, he had all the "right" things being said about him, now whether he can pry bar his way to a roster slot in Sept remains to be seen and TBH, I'd like to see him take DBess's place on punt returns.
Interesting. Hard to tell what to consider significant. For instance, I tend to doubt Michael Egnew is tied for a roster spot with Les Brown. And for all the talk about Roberto Wallace, he's still behind Marlon Moore on the depth chart at the same WR position. Derrick Shelby the primary LDE backup behind Jared Odrick is interesting though. Also interesting they seem to have officially moved Jeff Fuller ahead of the other two rookies.
Bigger things to note! Wow. A staring fullback Javorskie Lane over Charles Clay, relegated to 2nd string TE (if ya drop passes and it's supposed to be your role, why put you on the field?) Clemons and Rashad (Wilson loses out... That's a playmaker sitting off the field man. Doyle needs to wake up to that one, but as I said, I think Wilson has to sit because Rashad can't call the coverages to the defense so they need Clemons the vet out there with him not Jimmy the greenhorn) Thigpen at KR!!!! What does that mean for the other RBs trying to make the roster? So we keep... Bush, Lane, Thigpen.... No way we keep more than two more of: Miller, Dthomas, Messam, etc. so I guess Miller and DTrain.
Hold on... They have Lamar Miller behind Bush Thomas AND Slaton, with Thigpen as the returner. Unthinkable but is Miller at ALL at risk of not making the team? I think they'd be insane to cut talent like him. Egnew fourth string has to be disappointing... I mean, behind Mastrud? Ugh.
Thing with Thigpen is he now has an opportunity, he literally has to wow the staff to open the door to stay on the roster. But that is all a player can ask for really, I've watched him play and he can be explosive but also can do some dumb dumb stuff in terms of hanging onto the football.
For now listing Matt Moore as second string and Tanny as third string. Shelby getting love as the second string pass rusher behind Odrick at LE! Nice.
It really leaps out at you how crappy our second team offense looks on paper... Though Moore and Hartline are great depth. If Naanee plays well before Hartline is healthy then Brian may ride the pines.
Thing with Egnew is he has had very very little being said about him by anyone who has attended camp, suspect he is hip deep in the learning curve. Lamar Miller is not going anywhere, at all, if he were smart he'd be out there with Reggie Bush after practice pushing the sled around after everyone else went home, that is the sort of competitiveness that impresses the Staff.
I think it is because they want him to be a TE only not a fullback/TE. Also I don't believe he has had a huge issue with drops, just that one bad day.
Great youtube video of him scoring td's six different ways in one CFL season, he is really explosive.
Interesting about Lamar Miller being so buried. Also, Marshall ahead of Davis? I too am gonna have to look more into Thigpen. Off to youtube for that vid Padre referenced.
I believe there are many "sublinimals" in that 1st depth chart...and yes if I'm Lamar I'm working with Reggie every chance I get.
Davis was the most glaring thing I saw, either they are pushing him to get better or he just really slacked off in the off season.
That Marshall / Davis one really surprised me. Perhaps its a schematic thing - Davis being the better tackler will be worked more in Nickle while Marshall is trusted more on an island in outside coverage situations? Not really sure what to think as I'm not the ultimate defensive mind, sadly. Anyone more knowledgeable / who was at practice and saw some looks have anything to add?
Well, like I said in another thread, we haven't exactly heard much of Davis in the camp reports, which for a DB, that seems to be a good thing. It's not like we are hearing of him getting beat. thisperishedmin, Vontae's strength is man/bump situations and on an Island from what I could tell. He especially showed that against Moss that one game he picked off Brady twice, one making an amazing play on Moss. Must be his consistency, which may be related to his effort or work ethic. If that is the case, Marshall being listed ahead of him may be to push him and send a message.
That was always my impression as well - but I was thinking perhaps they were looking to use his tackling skills or something new in Coyles scheme. I'm seeing in other threads that theyd expect hed still sit outside in nickle and marshall would move in, leaving davis to the man/island scenario. Seems like its moreso a motivational / fire under the *** move by the coaching staff. Again, I agree that not hearing his name from camp reports seems good, but maybe they just want MORE out of him. He certainly has the skillset if he can tie it all together consistently
On the sideline rehabbing his injury, you mean? Agreed, his medicine ball work could use improvement, and his footwork on sideways steps with the rubber bands on his ankles has definitely been sloppy.
I know nothing about Thigpen. I better start paying attention because it looks like he'll be involved. I'm not paying much attention to Lamar Miller being buried, as I think he'll get his looks anyway. Vontae being 2nd team is nothing more than a wake up call IMO.
One big preseason game from guys like Miller, Egnew and Tannehill can move them up very quickly. They just have to take advantage of opportunities
What injury though? Is it new CK? I thought he had an appendectomy, then the first days of camp hits, he looks like the rubber man...something doesn't quite add up no? Is it the calf injury he had in the very beginning?
That is what I'm leaning towards, and I like the idea personally. Sends a message to the entire team, not just Davis. This Thigpen guy must be good, didn't look extraordinary in the videos I've seen, because I had Miller pegged as our returner. Remember with the Thigpen videos, the CFL field wider than the NFL, and longer, so returners have it easier. However, he is the best in camp so far, so you have to give the guy credit.
I havent heard much about it, but maybe there is an issue with Vontae mentally? He did just lose a brother not long ago...
I think coaches sometimes use this first depth chart as a way to send a message to certain player and motivate them. SOme of the players we see lower than expected may simply be getting a wake-up call from the coaching staff. Now, if they don;t respond to it, they WILL find themselves down there.
Well, I had almost forgotten about it... but this reminds me of this report from November last season:
Well, it's gonna be harder for Vontae to bump or get his hands on guys in the slot. For one, they are usually off the line, no? For two, they are usually slipprier, quicker little ****ers.
I'd normally agree but this is a first year coaching staff... so we don't know WHAT they'll do. Philbin, as a first year head coach, may look to send a strong signal through a player. Sometimes doing one unexpected thing will have everyone fall in line and not mess with you all year.
A few wakeup calls in my opinion in this depth chart. Things can change a lot after 1 preseason game, 2nd and 3rd string players will see a lot of action in that game and some players can go up in the chart i.e, Egnew, Miller, Wallace, Tannehill, etc.
