BWahlberg said:
NDSU is now less than 2 weeks away and I wanted to put a post together about the progressions I’ve observed from the first scrimmage on Monday to yesterday’s scrimmage. There were quite few tweets from various reporters and observations from posters as well on here. I wasn’t able to post some thoughts after the scrimmage but wanted to do this instead. Here’s what this fan noticed between the two scrimmages.
QB: Gus is QB1 and is fitting into the system nicely. In his reps yesterday I think he had one 3 and out, the first series, and one pick that you really can’t fault too much to him – the ball was thrown a little high but went through Jones’s hands and bounced up in the air for an easy pick. While far from perfect Brady showed why Stitt likes him so much, attacking soft areas in the defense, especially when blitzed, stepping up in the pocket when pressured, and he even made a very nice read on a zone-read handoff and scrambled for a 1st and what I believe was a 4th and short. Brady still tends to throw a little high at times, he probably had a 2nd TD in the bag on a nice WR screen but he was just too high for the WR to get the ball (that was the drive that died on the 1). My guess is Simis is the backup, from being almost written off in the spring I’ve got to say Makena has made the most progression that I’ve seen. Chalich isn’t too far off, I just like Makena’s versatility and quickness as a running threat better.
RB: Tough to read honestly, the running game again wasn’t much of a factor, the Griz were unable to punch in a goal to go scenario on the 1 and had two rushing attempts. Nguyen is a great pass-catching back but not a power runner, it’s just not his style. Logwood & Counts were out – presumably your more power guys. Favors had just a few touches. Jeremy Calhoun got hit hard early (but returned) and didn’t do too much.
WR: Jones and Burke had a great scrimmage and that carries over from some success on Monday as well. These two are going to be main targets this season. Obviously we’ve got Ellis Henderson as our big play guy as well, he had long TD catches in each game. Ben Roberts bounced back from the Monday scrimmage with some drops (but a nice diving TD catch as well) and had one of the highlight catches on the sidelines yesterday. Carlson & Lyons have rotated with 1s and 2s and look to be guys that are going to be out there a lot. Of the younger/newer WRs Keenan Curran & Justin Calhoun have been the scrimmage stand-outs. Tyler Lucas as well seemed to sink a bit in the 1st scrimmage but bounced back yesterday. Naccarato remains an unknown as we’ve not seen him in either scrimmage.
OL: As AJ with the Missoulian reported they’re hoping Schmaing returns soon, in his stead though we saw David Reese go from a very shaky first scrimmage to a serviceable 2nd one. This opportunity presented to Reese may pay off well. While he still needs great improvement I liked the progression I’ve seen from him from scrimmage to scrimmage. The interior OL in pass and blitz protection got a little better too – yesterday Brady had more time and we saw what that resulted in – longer drives. Luke’s snaps seem to be fine now. Kelly and Dietrich appeared yesterday to have less confusion with blitzes. Thiebes as the RT got bullrushed repeatedly by Holmes, that’s one of the best DE’s he will see but it would be nice to see more consistency on that side of the line.
DL: We’ve got some known quantities in Kidder, Peevey, Crittenden, Holmes, and Bradley. What I’ve been nicely impressed with is the D-end depth which made a few observable plays against the 2nd string OL yesterday. The D-end transfer Bedell and converted TE Ralston had multiple pressures yesterday. Mertes had a sack yesterday and Ryan Johnson who had 2 sacks on Monday had 1 more yesterday. Schye has been interesting to watch in the scrimmages, I don’t recall any sacks but I believe he’ll be a heavy rotation guy. While the depth lacks any experience they’ve shown some good progression over the last two scrimmages. There’s no replacement for Holmes and DC in this group but they’ll be able to help keep our starters fresh.
LB: Much like D-line there’s guys that we know we’re set with, Gamboa, KVA, Kose, Lebsock, and Strahm. Gotta say I’m really impressed with Strahm’s work – he was the 2nd string MLB in the 1st scrimmage and was promoted to 1st string after Stitt got frustrated with Kose who drilled Ryan Burke. Strahm opened this scrimmage the starter and did well again. Kose halfway through took the starting role again, as expected, but Strahm showed in both scrimmages that he can come in and contribute right away. Buss and Vis with the 2nd string as OLBs made some plays in both scrimmages as well – again more good signs of depth development.
DB/CB: JR Nelson had a pretty big scrimmage yesterday and it looks like he may have won a starting job. Nate Harris and Ryan McKinley in both scrimmages were also 1st string rotation guys. Parker and Markell Sanders at corner showed they’re coming along over the two scrimmages – they were in on most special teams snaps in both scrimmages as well. The safeties we saw that Whitted yesterday can make great plays on passes – batting down a 4th and goal pass. Rasmussen had a quiet 2nd scrimmage – did get caught once on his heels but was bailed by a dropped pass that would’ve been a TD. Yamen Sanders and Johnson as the prime backups right now have been serviceable – of the 4 scrimmage TDs thrown all have been deep passes and in situations where safety help might’ve made a difference. However I didn’t take not of which safety was in on each play there so no specific guy to hang that on.
Special Teams: A concern for sure. 3 missed PAT’s over two scrimmages (one in the first and two in the 2nd). Muffed punts from Henderson in both scrimmages and Jeremy Calhoun yesterday. The kick returns and punt returns have looked good but its 1st string vs scout team – tough to read of effectiveness.
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As I’d mentioned yesterday, I’m really impressed with how Stitt and the coaching staff have brought his team along in just 5 days between the two scrimmages. We saw this same progression in the spring scrimmages as well where the first one wasn’t pretty for the offense, the 2nd got better, and the 3rd was pretty exciting.
Moving forward from the two scrimmages it would seem that the O-line in edge pass protection and run blocking as well as overall special teams need to take the biggest steps. For all of our worry about QB… I think we’re in good shape. I would love to see some of the guys in sweats from one or both of scrimmages get back out there as well, a few key guys would be great to have back.
Go Griz!
From what I've seen, I'd agree that Simis is the back-up. Simis is looking good. Strong pocket presence, strong arm, and can run. And Chalich not far behind. And Gustafson is the GUNSLINGER i said he was back in spring ball (March) :!: The Griz are loaded at QB.
As far as the receivers go in scrim #2, production wise: Jamaal Jones 5-82, Josh Janssen 5-34, Ben Roberts 4-39, Justin Calhoun 3-4, Ellis Henderson 2-43, Keenan Curran 2-29, Ryan Burke 2-20, Reese Carlson 2-15, Josh Horner 2-13, Nguyen 2-10, Tyler Lucas 1-28, Caleb Lyons 1-2, Johnson 1-(1).
It's nice to see someone else point out the Griz's weakness at RT. #60 Thiebes and #69 Clark both got beaten (wiffed) badly by the Griz DE's for sacks. And then one of them even got knocked backwards and landed on his ass on the goal line. I couldn't tell which one because when he got up his jersey was pushed up to his chest (he got abused). The heavier O-lineman is supposed to pancake the defender, not the other way around. The Griz are weak at RT. That has GOT to improve.
For those that haven't seen LB Buss as of yet, be prepared to be impressed. He is fast, aggressive and a play-maker. He is the one that stopped the RB on the outside at the goal-line. Rassmussan came in to help finish it off. Rassmussan's new nick-name, from me, is BLOOD BATH. Because everytime he arrives, there is a potential for a blood bath. We've got 4 years with this mutha fudder! :clap:
I like that Griz are going deep when on the defense's 35-40. They know they can't run it in (manhandle the D) at this point in time, so they throw over the defense into the endzone, allowing their play-makers to make plays in space. (#6, #7, #86) Smart move, Gus!
IF the OLINE plays great, the GRIZ will beat ndsu. The Griz are that talented.
