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Spring game notes

mtgrizrule said:
Apparently, you and I were posting at the same time. We pretty much saw the same things. I completely agree with your summary.

Is Flowers upside enough for Hauck to throw him into the mix exiting spring camp? Meaning, entering fall camp, can the GRIZ realistically let 3 qbs battle it out the 1st week?

I don't know about you, but that kid's passing ability has me salivating at his upside. I'm thinking, he's a year away, due to not recognizing things yet. I just hope, he stays here long enough to get his time. I'd hate to lose him to any competition.
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I'm with you on Flowers. I, too, believe he is a top contender for 2026 and an emergency backup for this season. All the published reports on him hint at the upside you speak about.
 
To Brint & Mtgrizrule,

I want to thank both of you for your write-ups. Both captured the essence of what was "The Spring Game".
What you saw and then wrote were like old time "story tellers". Each position group such as QB, OL, CB was developed like a character in a mystery novel. Both of you told the story of each character (position group) from what they saw. The reader (fans) were left hanging to know the ending of the story after a thrilling development of the characters woven into the plot (Championship).

A reader will have to wait until the next book is published to know the ending.

I, understand, the next book will be published around August of 2025 and preorders are at record high numbers.
 
BWahlberg said:
Some expanded thoughts:

QB - has been discussed a lot, Jensen is the leader in the clubhouse right now. Ah Yat was in front of him up until a hammy pull. Lots to watch this portal season / summer to see how Jensen further fits in with these WRs, if Ah Yat snaps back into his role now that he's on the mend, if another transfer comes in, and if Flowers can find more of those insane highs and wash out the lows.

RB - My goodness an embarrassment of riches here. Fonoti has seemed to pick up some of Rocker's patience and both have a great blend of power and finesse. Eli should probably be named the pre-season MVP on offense. His game is so well rounded and his ongoing addition of strength while keeping his burst is something else. Loved how the crowd really got behind the young dudes in Reynolds and Running Rabbit too.

WR - We all know Bridges is fast, but last year he had a hard time completing catches once open in the few opportunities he had. He had a few tough contested catches last night. Brooks Davis is going to really jump onto the scene. Wortham as the secret weapon of the offense was generally kept under wraps - just you guys wait to see how Pease is going to snap him in. Deck is a solid / experienced slot WR and returner, he had a great juke to turn a 10 yard catch into 10 more YAC. Hendrix didn't play but I saw him a bit in practice, he's fast AF. The kid that's really stepped up this season that seems to be "getting it" to me, is Cameron Gurnsey. He had 2 or 3 catches in the game and was solid all spring camp. The biggest "mover" up the roster from last year. Don't be surprised if #11 starts in our home opener.

OL - It's... getting better? I just don't know who is going to snap in an play where. The OL blocked pretty well, the sacks came later in the night. Botner's snaps, if he truly will stay at center, need to get better. I have a theory that they know center is a need and will address it in the portal and slide Botner back to his natural position at tackle. Hard to read if the OL was really pass protecting so well or if there was a bit of a call for the D-line to back off.

TE - Our transfers I don't think played much if at all, nice TD pass and catch to Olson. Schaeffer doing what he does best, run blocking and reliable short yardage catches. I think the coaches believe they've got 3-4 guys they can rely on in this role.

DL - As just posted it was great to see Ramos wrecking some plays, we're going to need more of that from him this year. Bailey (99) was out there, but wasn't an impact, seemed to run out of gas fast. With the upcoming additions from USC and the kid from Carroll I think our D-line is again going to look very different come fall. In practices I saw some good stuff from RB Wilson, also Mata'afa had a TFL yesterday and keeps showing up and making plays. #57 Jake Mason has such a motor, he's only going to get better.

LB - A bit of a blind spot for me yesterday as I was really focused on offense more than anything. Tolbert had some good breakups and stops. Did Leonard play? He's my pick for 37. Otlewski injury has me concerned. #55 Dawson Johnson impressed me all spring and had a pick today, google says he was at Garden City Community College before? I think he makes the team, could be a solid ST guy right away.

CB/DB - Again, I'm a little fuzzy here and will have to revisit. Lawler had some good breakups. Was it Speer who had the game ending pick? Lots of new guys back there, Boyd had a good spring, Cutler I think did too. Didn't hear Rausch's name yesterday, did he play? Some of the new guys showing up on the field, Wolfe and Wilkinson.

K - We're in great shape, Morrison smashing kicks and then Silver comes in and does the same.

------------

Does this feel like a Big Sky champion roster yet? No, to me it doesn't, but I also recognized that yesterday a lot of the game was pretty generic and a lot of the design the coaches have been working on wasn't put out there. The OL needs to get locked in. QB needs 1 guy to land the job. The defensive secondary can't get chopped up as much as they were yesterday. I think this team probably still has 2-3 portal needs and of course we need to see if we lose anyone else in the spring portal and what that'll do to the roster.

I like where the Griz are at, this is a younger team with A LOT of new faces. The expectations placed on the 2024 team will not be placed on the 2025 team and that could help these guys play with a little less pressure on them and sync together quickly.
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I was impressed with the wide receivers alot

Bridges looks to be a way better route runner with that spend and brooks is very well rounded receiver

Deck is a solid trustworthy receiver for underneath and gurnsey is maybe are secret weapon Mitch Roberts/sawyer step in (he stood out so much to me on a lot of plays last night)

Overall was a blast of a spring game and I hope we keep doing them, just fun seeing people, being in the stadium, having some drinks
 
Znelson15 said:
Hey all here is my spring game notes that mean nothing for how the season will go

-start of with the big thing qbs gave us nothing to show who is better.... ha but let's be honest ah yat played so his injury is ok and he will be the guy, flowers had a moment but than showed youth with two bad throw picks

-Gillman, fonoti, and wortham are leaps above everyone and they should collectively get 50 carries a game :) this may be our ticket to winning game as long as the d is strong and fast

-brooks, deck, and bridges are the wide with the most to see. Surprised by Cameron gurnsey as he got a lot of play and looked good also, didn't see Hendrix play which maybe I missed it but was looking forward to him, another note monte Gillman will make plays for the Griz weather it's this year or next

-Titus the big tight fork tennesse
end looked good on the o-line playing two tight end sets with Schafer

-I thought Jake Mason and mata'fa weee the best from the d-line but overall not impressed with the d-line... need the usc duo to get here

-Micah Harper, loud, and ford looked good in secondary, Harper played alot on the line also

- styles Goodman is young but looked fast and strong at linebacker

-overall happy with the o-line as they seems split with both squads but both squads seems clicking and together

-I didn't watch much with linebackers but the centar did get hurt at the end of the game which seemed like a bad ankle so hopefully that is all it is

-overall the spring game looked like a bunch of dudes working together hard. We don't have the crazy names and stars like we did last year and maybe that plays to our benefit as the depth and everyone working together looked good 👍

- oh also it's a spring game so it was fun to watch football and than break it down and everything he fully different and wrong come central Washington

GO GRIZ
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Thought the d-line improved as the game went on. RB Wilson V had a 4 or 5 play stretch where he couldn't be stopped, beat a double team, came all the way down the line as the play went away, and still got half tackle
 
stone010 said:
Thought the d-line improved as the game went on. RB Wilson V had a 4 or 5 play stretch where he couldn't be stopped, beat a double team, came all the way down the line as the play went away, and still got half tackle
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It was good to see him as he got a lot of praise last fall, but for whatever reason ended up not suiting up for the year. Hope
he can be a difference maker this year.
 
stonecrest said:
Did you not watch the scrimmage? It was refreshing to see a quarterback throw the ball down the field. If we have to rely on a passing game to win, we’re in big trouble with Ah Yat. Maybe he will get bettter?
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Unfortunately, AhYat has the minor injury bug. Really hard to know what is true capabilities are.

Both Jensen and Flowers impressed me with their passing. Jensen definitely wasn't erratic as a few reported earlier in spring camp.

All 3 moved the ball well.
 
mtgrizrule said:
Apparently, you and I were posting at the same time. We pretty much saw the same things. I completely agree with your summary.

Is Flowers upside enough for Hauck to throw him into the mix exiting spring camp? Meaning, entering fall camp, can the GRIZ realistically let 3 qbs battle it out the 1st week?

I don't know about you, but that kid's passing ability has me salivating at his upside. I'm thinking, he's a year away, due to not recognizing things yet. I just hope, he stays here long enough to get his time. I'd hate to lose him to any competition.
Click to expand...

Flowers takes too many risks for these coaches. I like what I see from the kid but this staff is scared of raw potential and wants the safe bet instead
 
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