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A couple of observations from me...
Rodney Wright should make this team. He is the best kick/punt returner on the team to date, and makes a big play in the passing game nearly every practice. He is also a solid gunner on special teams. He is small, but amazingly quick. If he can turn in a good preseason, he is on the roster...but the spot will come as a return man first and foremost. Quentin Lawrence has a tough time handling punts, and is not picking up the offense very well, lining up wrong on numerous occasions. A practice squad guy in my opinion with some potential.
Jackie Battle has looked very good, and needs a chance to see the field. I would like to see Battle used as a FB because he has great hands, good speed, and is a tank for any LB to handle. He is running as a tailback right now, and is beating the hell out of the 2nd and 3rd team defenders.
Matt Cassel is having a good camp, and is making an impact as a leader with this young team. He is energetic, and fiery. The O goes as he goes, and it's good to see. He has made some mistakes and bad throws....but you can tell that it bothers him, and that he can't wait for the chance to get that next snap to rectify the mistake. It is refreshing to finally have a young QB with a boatload of potential.
All of the WR's are being driven hard by Todd Haley in individual drills...especially Dwayne Bowe. Bowe can't do anything quote unquote "right" in Haley's eyes. He is all over DBowe, and you can tell he is not going to let up. He has dropped his fair share of balls, but some is because of a different ball being thrown by Cassel. Bowe is working hard...there is no doubt about that.
Tamba Hali is the surprise of camp for me. He looks great out OLB, and isn't being asked to do too much. He gets after the passer, and Pendergast is doing a great job of moving him around to create havoc. If the first week of camp is indicitive of how Tamba will be used, he should have a very productive season.
Cassel is clearly the #1, but the spot for #2 is interesting. Thigpen is up and down. He looks like a completely different QB from one practice to the next. When Thigpen is up, he does some really good things. When he is down...it's BAD! It's very comparable to his first/second half struggles from last season. Croyle has been very consistent in his efforts. He has done a decent job of not turning the ball over, and throws a tight spiral. The talent is and always will be there. The question is can he get through Preseason without getting injured. If he can, he may be the #2 QB. The seperation between Cassel and the other QB's on the roster is night and day.
Dorsey had a very good practive tonight, and should have a chance to get after it a bit more. His first practice back looked rough. He hobbled around like his leg was really bothering him, and didn't get much pressure. Tonight's practice looked completely the opposite. He was active, looked quick off the ball, and drove Waters and Albert into the backfield on numerous plays.
That's it for now...I will post more when I have time. The Saturday intersquad scrimmage should be interesting!
Quotes from Haley...
"We're not going to beat ourselves....We aren't good enough!"
"That's your life story Cottam...That's your life story" ~ After Cottam's ankle sprain.
"Get back and do the drill again Bowe...and don't laugh about dropping the ball...IT'S NOT FUNNY!"
"Don't bring the ball down Wright...your like 5'2 what do you think the DB is going to do when you bring the ball down?" ~ After a fade pass completion.
"A WR on the ground does us no good...We can't win with WR's falling down all over the place!"
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