Observations from Camp VIII
Another day, another summary from training camp. Thanks again to Vin for sharing with us his observations.
- Pardon me if my observations lack some scope today. The team practiced, for the most part, on the farther field away from the crowd. As a result, it was difficult to make out or concentrate on specific plays.
- As a result of the new field arrangement we did get to see a lot of Mike Singletary coaching the linebackers. If anyone remembers the article about the drill under the awning to help the LBs stay low, well, we had a chance to experience that first hand. I have to say, I was impressed with how intensely Singletary was working out that individual unit. The speed at which the LBs (Peterson, Winborn, Smith, and co.) conducted the drills (in which they shifted from one side of a football pad to another while ducking under the awning) was impressive, as was the level of focus on the individual unit.
- Singletary showed some fire while coaching those LBs. I'm not entirely sold on the man's Xs and Os (from what I saw of him in Baltimore), but as an inspiration and positional coach I think he will add a mentality to the LBs that we have been sorely missing for quite some time.
More from Camp...
- And LBs like Jamie Winborn, Julian Peterson, Derek Smith, and Jeff Ulbrich are well up to the task of capturing and unleashing that intensity. One word describes this unit: Fast. That's how they looked all day in drills today.
- Derek Smith has really added some bulk and looks like a real, mean LB.
- Yesterday I mentioned that the injuries were the sour spot of our team. Today I bring good news: Eric Johnson was out of that huge boot he was wearing yesterday and he was walking around. He did not practice, but at least it's a sign that the injury will improve.
- Marcus Maxwell was on crutches today again, but he seemed to be able to put more weight on his foot than yesterday. After practice, Maxwell was standing still in one position and catching some passes over his shoulder from Ken Dorsey. So it looks like he's anxious to comeback and start.
- I wish Maxwell's fire would be seen in Rashaun Woods. It was another camp that featured a complete lack of presence from Woods, who just doesn't seem to put any effort into camp like the other WRs on the roster who were NOT taken in the first round.
- One of the WRs is a guy named Fred Amey, and in the abscence of Marcus Maxwell, he's started to look good. Yesterday he hauled in a deep pass from Smith and showed his speed, and today he continued to look consistent out there, making several catches and looking quick. As I've said before, he'll probably find his way onto special teams.
- Where was Arnaz Battle?
- PJ Fleck is starting to look like a solid #3 or #4 type WR. He's quick (moreso than fast) and seems to sneak by on routes because of his size and quickness.
- Johnnie Morton has seen many more throws come his way in the past two practices and he's starting to develop a rythm. Today he caught a deep ball from Ken Dorsey and made it look easy, something a vetran WR of his calibre should do.
- Speaking of Ken Dorsey, it was nice to see him make a few throws and look more eager in practice than previous ones.
- But that INT he threw when he waited too long to throw was disturbing.
- As was Smith not reading Mike Rumph at all, and Rumph creeping in and intercepting a direct line from Smith. Rookie mistake.
- Tony Parrish looked solid in pass coverage today, swatting down a pass.
- Daven Holly has the edge over Derrick Johnson. So far, I haven't really been able to pin point or witness Johnson stand out, whereareas Holly has been a presence and looks like he could fill into the nickle and dime defenses. He had some nice pass defenses today.
- Terry Jackson displayed a ton of quickness and hip motion on his burst up the middle. It's nice to have his assurance around, as the guy has continously been an unheralded but valuable commodity to our team.
- Although I have been continously impressed by the improvement of our offense, our defense still has looked far better throughout training camp. This shouldn't come as a surprise to 49er fans as the offense has had to deal with a combination of youth and injury whereareas the defense has had vetran players who have been on the team like Peterson, Winborn, and Young.
Quote of the Day:
PJ Fleck during autograph sessions when someone asked "Who's Number 10?" -- "Who's number 10? Who just asked that? Awww man. It's okay though. Yesterday someone asked me if I was a kicker."
- Pardon me if my observations lack some scope today. The team practiced, for the most part, on the farther field away from the crowd. As a result, it was difficult to make out or concentrate on specific plays.
- As a result of the new field arrangement we did get to see a lot of Mike Singletary coaching the linebackers. If anyone remembers the article about the drill under the awning to help the LBs stay low, well, we had a chance to experience that first hand. I have to say, I was impressed with how intensely Singletary was working out that individual unit. The speed at which the LBs (Peterson, Winborn, Smith, and co.) conducted the drills (in which they shifted from one side of a football pad to another while ducking under the awning) was impressive, as was the level of focus on the individual unit.
- Singletary showed some fire while coaching those LBs. I'm not entirely sold on the man's Xs and Os (from what I saw of him in Baltimore), but as an inspiration and positional coach I think he will add a mentality to the LBs that we have been sorely missing for quite some time.
More from Camp...
- And LBs like Jamie Winborn, Julian Peterson, Derek Smith, and Jeff Ulbrich are well up to the task of capturing and unleashing that intensity. One word describes this unit: Fast. That's how they looked all day in drills today.
- Derek Smith has really added some bulk and looks like a real, mean LB.
- Yesterday I mentioned that the injuries were the sour spot of our team. Today I bring good news: Eric Johnson was out of that huge boot he was wearing yesterday and he was walking around. He did not practice, but at least it's a sign that the injury will improve.
- Marcus Maxwell was on crutches today again, but he seemed to be able to put more weight on his foot than yesterday. After practice, Maxwell was standing still in one position and catching some passes over his shoulder from Ken Dorsey. So it looks like he's anxious to comeback and start.
- I wish Maxwell's fire would be seen in Rashaun Woods. It was another camp that featured a complete lack of presence from Woods, who just doesn't seem to put any effort into camp like the other WRs on the roster who were NOT taken in the first round.
- One of the WRs is a guy named Fred Amey, and in the abscence of Marcus Maxwell, he's started to look good. Yesterday he hauled in a deep pass from Smith and showed his speed, and today he continued to look consistent out there, making several catches and looking quick. As I've said before, he'll probably find his way onto special teams.
- Where was Arnaz Battle?
- PJ Fleck is starting to look like a solid #3 or #4 type WR. He's quick (moreso than fast) and seems to sneak by on routes because of his size and quickness.
- Johnnie Morton has seen many more throws come his way in the past two practices and he's starting to develop a rythm. Today he caught a deep ball from Ken Dorsey and made it look easy, something a vetran WR of his calibre should do.
- Speaking of Ken Dorsey, it was nice to see him make a few throws and look more eager in practice than previous ones.
- But that INT he threw when he waited too long to throw was disturbing.
- As was Smith not reading Mike Rumph at all, and Rumph creeping in and intercepting a direct line from Smith. Rookie mistake.
- Tony Parrish looked solid in pass coverage today, swatting down a pass.
- Daven Holly has the edge over Derrick Johnson. So far, I haven't really been able to pin point or witness Johnson stand out, whereareas Holly has been a presence and looks like he could fill into the nickle and dime defenses. He had some nice pass defenses today.
- Terry Jackson displayed a ton of quickness and hip motion on his burst up the middle. It's nice to have his assurance around, as the guy has continously been an unheralded but valuable commodity to our team.
- Although I have been continously impressed by the improvement of our offense, our defense still has looked far better throughout training camp. This shouldn't come as a surprise to 49er fans as the offense has had to deal with a combination of youth and injury whereareas the defense has had vetran players who have been on the team like Peterson, Winborn, and Young.
Quote of the Day:
PJ Fleck during autograph sessions when someone asked "Who's Number 10?" -- "Who's number 10? Who just asked that? Awww man. It's okay though. Yesterday someone asked me if I was a kicker."
Post a Comment