I'm a rabid fan like most of you. I visit the site often but dont comment or post really. Visited training camp again this year and thought I'd share my opinions on what I saw. I'll be curious to see how it compares to what Levi and Jerry (and others who see them everyday) have to say. And if anyone else has any feedback or thoughts.
So my overall impression today was that the defense was impressive. In all of the team sessions they appeared to outplay the offense, particularly in the passing game. All 3 QBs had a rough day in my opinion and there were several guys in the secondary who played particularly well. Charles Woodson looked like what we've all come to know. He showed good range, had back to back picks at one point, and came up just late in a couple of sneaky anticipation plays (in live action he may have sold out and not been late). Chimdi Chekwa had a great day. I don't recall seeing a pass complete on him and he was in the pocket of a lot of guys and had a couple really nice pass defenses. He got most of the first team reps opposite T. Brown, who was pretty quiet. Tyvon spent a lot of the time in the box shadowing Tight Ends, with Woodson playing a lot of single high. Most of the completions the offense mustered were short (5 yards or less) or check downs. Downfield passing was pretty minimal, and it really wasn't an impressive day for any of the QBs in my opinion.
The offense did look decent in the running game. They opened a few good holes in team sessions, were consistently getting the RB to the second level, and only got blown up in the backfield a couple of times.
A few observations:
I think the team is going to have a really tough time figuring the running back situation out. MJD and DMC both looked good, I think we all know Murray is going to stick around (he looked solid as well) and both Atkinson and Sheets were impressive. Atkinson did have some drops (passing and returning), but he is a really explosive guy and looks scary when he breaks into the secondary (but then again we heard the same thing about T. Jones). Sheets looks pretty smooth and decisive, appears to have good vision and good body control from what I saw of him, just an overall solid back. Jeremy Stewart didnt get much work in the offense, and I dont know if his ST contributions will be enough to keep him around.
Andre Holmes is a stud (not really news anymore). The guy simply cannot be pressed. He HANDILY beat every guy they put in front of him in the press drill. I pray every team we play tries to bump him. He also had a couple good high point grabs, another thing we're coming to expect.
Dowling looks solid. ST coach seemed to like his work there, he had a nice pick in 7v7, and looks like a decent athlete. He's very long and tall, which he seems to use well.
Watson had a good day. Didn't see him get beat (not that he didnt at some point) and saw him handle Woodley, Mack and others.
Derek Carr had a rough day and was audibly frustrated a couple of times. Much of his completions were check downs, although he had a few good completions down the middle as well.
Watching Marquette King punt is a thing to behold. Saw one that I'm pretty sure went close to 80 yards in the air.
Brice Butler had the grab of the day for me. 10 yard hitch towards the sideline, made a diving grab back to the middle of the field that drew cheers.
Denarius continues to struggle with drops and concentration. Had one drop, one pass broken up by Chekwa that he could have caught, and another going across the middle that he almost dropped because he wasn't paying attention (looked back for the ball very late)
Brandian Ross had a nice pick. Not sure that's a good thing...
Neiko Thorpe looked solid in the second team sessions I saw him in and got some praise from the ST coach during drills. Probably still a longshot though.
Tyvon Branch spent A LOT of time at or near the line or scrimmage bumping and covering tight ends.
Marcel Reece didnt see much action. Mostly flat routes out of the backfield.
Khalil Mack has also been spending a lot of time on the line of scrimmage. They are running a "4-3 Over" a lot, with the Mack at the end of the DL, usually lined face up on the tight end. He had some good plays in the run, but didnt make much noise in the pass rush from what I saw.
Sio Moore appears to be locking up the weakside spot. He took about 90% of the 1st team reps, and Burris got a lot of work with the 2nd team at middle as well.
I like Ryan Robinson. Good burst off the line, solid pash rusher.
Gabe Jackson got MAULED by Pat Sims during the Pass Pro period. Sims got under his pads, nearly lifted him off the ground and flatbacked him. There was so much force that Sims fell forward because Jackson went to his back so fast.
Austin Howard is ENORMOUS.
Rod Streater had some solid grabs and continues to be consistent.
Very quiet day from the tight ends with most of the completions to TEs going to J. Murphy and S. Simonson from Carr and McGloin.
Justin Tuck didnt finish practice. Didnt look serious, but he called it quits about 45 mins early.
Sorry it was so long, but how often do you go to training camp, get to see the whole team, and get a first person impression of them (albeit for only one practice).
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