Petrino Working More on Running Game,
QB Mitchell Not Excelling So Far in Preseason
By Bud Baldwin
Sorry guys I am getting lax in my duty. These evening practices last until about 8 p.m., and by the time I have eaten, get a talking to by my wife, and do my honey-do's, it is hard for me to get motivated at 10 p.m. to write. My bad. Here is what I saw at Monday and Tuesday full-pad practices.
First I need to mention that even though they were in full pads, there has yet to be a scrimmage where people were actually tackled or knocked to the ground. The linemen are hitting each other, but I had been hoping to see something more. So in other words, the practices have been pretty much the same as the pre-pad practices.
The one thing I have noticed is that there seems to be more of an emphasis on the running game this year. In the last two years, a greater majority of the time has been spent on the passing game – probably a 75 to 25 pass-run ratio. This year, it seems to be more 60/40. I think Bobby Petrino knows we are solid at running back with Knile Davis, Ronnie Wingo, and Dennis Johnston. All look bigger and quicker and they appear to be getting equal reps. They have been practicing some option drills. Never saw those with Ryan Mallett here. Kiero Small, the new fullback, besides being a great blocker, is getting some running plays and making catches in the flat as well, especially on the goal line. You all will get a kick when you see him – a fire plug if there ever was one.
I think the added emphasis on running is probably three-fold. Possibly Petrino knows that if our running game would have been better last year, we could have probably beaten Alabama, so he wants to start early. Secondly, the line is suspect so far – during the scrimmage portion the quarterbacks seem to have less time than normal to get their passes off. Possibly this is because our pass rush is better. Finally, the quarterbacks seem to be behind from where they were last year. Again, maybe it is the pass rush and they have less time.
Regarding the quarterbacks, Tyler Wilson is definitely ahead. Brandon Mitchell isn’t vocal and doesn’t seem to cheer people or pat their butts. Wilson is doing all that. Mitchell’s passing is either really good or just bad. He misses the receivers more often than any of the quarterbacks in the passing drills where there isn’t a defense. In the drills with defensive backs, he seems to have decided where he is going to pass it before he has gone through his options. However, having said all that, when he is throwing well he is as good as Mallett. Brandon Allen is definitely third at this point and almost gets as many reps as Mitchell. His passing motion is different, but he is very accurate and seems to have picked up the offense pretty well. Also, we have seen fewer bombs being thrown this year as compared to the last two.
Of the wide receivers, I am still very impressed with Marquel Wade. He is the quickest of the bunch. Greg Childs still continues to drop more than his share of passes. Not sure what is going on there. Joe Adams and Jarius Wright are doing well, as is Coby Hamilton. We are loaded at wide outs and they switch in and out all the time.
One of the newcomers that I wanted to see is Kody Walker, the running back from Missouri. He is built like Broderick Green. He seems a little unsure about what to do and possibly that is holding him back. Petrino jumps him about not cutting inside when he would pop to the outside. Same problem Wingo had. They are both big but want to head for the sidelines.
The other newcomer I wanted to see is Andrew Peterson, the tight end from Texas. He is huge by far the biggest of tight ends. He has a massive lower body but appears to be slow and a little soft. I believe he has an ankle or knee bothering him. In one drill he runs ahead and a manager pops him with a pad and he turns and catches the ball. The manager is not big and it looks like he is getting the best of Peterson.
Colton Milles-Nash seems to be getting the most reps at tight end, more than Chris Gragg, possibly because his blocking abilities are better and we are going to need more protection at least early on until the line develops.
The defense is looking very good from what I can tell. Byron Jones is playing the nose tackle, D.D. Jones is playing right tackle, Robert Thomas is at left tackle, Jake Bequette is next to him, and Tenarius Wright is on the other side. Bequette seems to be in pass coverage more than I have seen him the past. The linebackers are Jerry Franklin, Alonzo Highsmith, and Jerico Nelson. Corners are Darius Winston and Isaac Madison. Safetys are Tramain Thomas and Elton Ford. It is hard to keep track of the defense because defensive coordinator Willie Robinson is always alternating. Plus, it is hard to keep track of all the switches watching from 50 yards away at ground level.
They continue to work on special teams at least twice a practice -- punt or kickoff coverage, scoop and score, and returns. Adams and Wade are the best two on punt returns. Johnson and Wade will probably be the two deep guys on kickoffs. Both Dylan Breeding and Zach Hocker are doing very good as punter and kicker. Hocker is the back-up punter, and it is hard to believe that is where he thought his best chance to play was. Now as the back-up punter, he is far behind Breeding.
Well it is late and I need to sleep.
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