I missed most of practice due to radio obligations, but managed to see a small amount and talk to some players and coaches afterwards. Here's some stuff I thought was worth passing along.
McCrary still running No. 1
To no real surprise, Johnny McCrary seemed to be the team’s No. 1 option at quarterback, with Wade Freebeck getting the second-most snaps. McCrary seems to be the best at helping move the chains and avoiding mistakes, and that’s exactly what coach Derek Mason wants.
“You’re always trying to make sure we can extend drives. That’s what it’s all about. A year ago, as we all know, we struggled to stay on the field. If the defense gives you check-downs, take the check-down,” Mason said after Monday’s practice.
“Our mentality is touchdown to check-down, if it’s there. If it’s not, we’ll take the five (yard gain), give it to Ralph [Webb], give it to Dallas [Rivers], whoever’s back there. We’ve got a pretty good run game to go along with the pass game.”
McCrary took over as the team’s starter midway through last season, and held onto his starter’s job through the end of the year.
Mason likes what he sees from receivers
A big question is whether or not those quarterbacks have adequate targets. Certainly, the team is in good shape at tight end with All-Southeastern Conference candidate Steven Scheu and perhaps even Nathan Marcus, who’s shown flashes of developing into an excellent pass-catching tight end.
The forecast at receiver hasn’t been quite as rosy entering camp. There’s C.J. Duncan, who had a nice year as a freshman in 2014, and Trent Sherfield, who’s shown flashes at times. Latevius Rayford and Kris Kentera have flashed signs of being able to contribute, as has redshirt freshman Ronald Monroe.
But a problem has been getting consistent separation. On Monday night, Mason was asked whether he was happy about what he’s seen in that area.
“We are. Our guys are still young but they’ve learned how to create separation. … It takes [time]. We’re really on Day 5 of a 21-day journey. Each day, a guy like Trent Sherfield, Ronald Monroe, C.J. Duncan touches the grass, those guys get better. I saw Latevius [Rayford] make a great catch yesterday and get separated on the post route. These guys are getting better as our quarterbacks get more accurate and consistent in reading,” he said.
Developing depth
One hallmark of James Franklin’s successful teams was that they were able to develop depth, particularly along the defensive line. I asked Mason specifically about that on Monday, and while he seemed optimistic, he seemed to hedge his bets a bit.
“We’re creating it,” he responded. “If you look at practices, we’re probably going about three-deep on the defensive line. You’ve got to manufacture that. We’ve got to go 28, 30 guys (deep), and the same thing offensively. You see the rotations. It’s all about making sure we grow the young guys. Everyone’s got a top 11. But the teams we play on our schedule… we’ve got to make sure we can manufacture good depth, play fast, play physical, make sure we can spread the reps around today and everyone’s going at a high speed all the time.”
Do they have it now?
“It’s camp. It’s always a work in progress during camp,” Mason smiled. “During the season, that wording will change a little bit. But right now, you can’t let these guys think we’ve arrived. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I like our mindset, I like our mentality, our offense, our defense, the way our special teams is now. We’ve just got to keep putting money in the bank. Pretty soon, we’ll be making some withdrawals. It’s coming fast.”
So far, the Commodores seem to be strongest at linebacker, where Zach Cunningham and Nigel Bowden return after nice freshman years, Stephen Weatherly seems poised to become a star as a junior, and Darreon Herring is back inside. JUCO transfer Nehemiah Mitchell will certainly make an impact, and freshman Josh Smith, one of the team’s most talented signees in years, is poised to contribute also.
New year, new beginning for Herring
If there was a player who suffered most in the first year of the 3-4, it was probably Herring. In the second half of 2013, he looked like a guy on the verge of becoming an All-SEC player at outside linebacker.
Last year, Herring had a different role in the defense as he moved inside. At times, he saw his snaps cut, got switched to nickel for some games, and generally had no consistency in his role from week to week.
A year later, Herring seems to have a better grasp of how, and where, he fits.
“Right now, they just have me at inside linebacker, where I started last season. Last season, they needed me at a new position when we had spread teams with bigger tight ends and I’d go out there instead to cover of having a smaller DB. But now we have a bigger DB out there at nickel and they have me playing inside,” he said on Monday.
“It feels a whole lot more comfortable… but I’ll do whatever they want me to do. If they want to move me back to nickel on certain games, I’m willing to do anything.”
Herring believes that a second year in the 3-4 means that both he and teammates will be better players.
“It’s definitely a lot easier, especially when the defensive linemen are a lot smarter. I’m not saying they were dumb a year ago, but they’re definitely a lot smarter now as far as taking on offensive linemen and keeping them off the linebackers. But yes, they’re definitely a lot smarter and they’ve a lot better [at that] from last season to this season,” he said.
“Last year, we kind of had to think a lot more as far as playing but this year, it’s more instinctive. We don’t have to think as much but you kind of have to know exactly what to do when the play is called.”
This and that
Former Commodore tailback Norman Jordan (early-1980s) was at practice on Monday. Jordan will be the color commentator alongside play-by-play man Joe Fisher this year. … Quarterback Sean Stankavage, recovering from a knee issue, was in a red jersey again today.
McCrary still running No. 1
To no real surprise, Johnny McCrary seemed to be the team’s No. 1 option at quarterback, with Wade Freebeck getting the second-most snaps. McCrary seems to be the best at helping move the chains and avoiding mistakes, and that’s exactly what coach Derek Mason wants.
“You’re always trying to make sure we can extend drives. That’s what it’s all about. A year ago, as we all know, we struggled to stay on the field. If the defense gives you check-downs, take the check-down,” Mason said after Monday’s practice.
“Our mentality is touchdown to check-down, if it’s there. If it’s not, we’ll take the five (yard gain), give it to Ralph [Webb], give it to Dallas [Rivers], whoever’s back there. We’ve got a pretty good run game to go along with the pass game.”
McCrary took over as the team’s starter midway through last season, and held onto his starter’s job through the end of the year.
Mason likes what he sees from receivers
A big question is whether or not those quarterbacks have adequate targets. Certainly, the team is in good shape at tight end with All-Southeastern Conference candidate Steven Scheu and perhaps even Nathan Marcus, who’s shown flashes of developing into an excellent pass-catching tight end.
The forecast at receiver hasn’t been quite as rosy entering camp. There’s C.J. Duncan, who had a nice year as a freshman in 2014, and Trent Sherfield, who’s shown flashes at times. Latevius Rayford and Kris Kentera have flashed signs of being able to contribute, as has redshirt freshman Ronald Monroe.
But a problem has been getting consistent separation. On Monday night, Mason was asked whether he was happy about what he’s seen in that area.
“We are. Our guys are still young but they’ve learned how to create separation. … It takes [time]. We’re really on Day 5 of a 21-day journey. Each day, a guy like Trent Sherfield, Ronald Monroe, C.J. Duncan touches the grass, those guys get better. I saw Latevius [Rayford] make a great catch yesterday and get separated on the post route. These guys are getting better as our quarterbacks get more accurate and consistent in reading,” he said.
Developing depth
One hallmark of James Franklin’s successful teams was that they were able to develop depth, particularly along the defensive line. I asked Mason specifically about that on Monday, and while he seemed optimistic, he seemed to hedge his bets a bit.
“We’re creating it,” he responded. “If you look at practices, we’re probably going about three-deep on the defensive line. You’ve got to manufacture that. We’ve got to go 28, 30 guys (deep), and the same thing offensively. You see the rotations. It’s all about making sure we grow the young guys. Everyone’s got a top 11. But the teams we play on our schedule… we’ve got to make sure we can manufacture good depth, play fast, play physical, make sure we can spread the reps around today and everyone’s going at a high speed all the time.”
Do they have it now?
“It’s camp. It’s always a work in progress during camp,” Mason smiled. “During the season, that wording will change a little bit. But right now, you can’t let these guys think we’ve arrived. We’ve still got a lot of work to do, but I like our mindset, I like our mentality, our offense, our defense, the way our special teams is now. We’ve just got to keep putting money in the bank. Pretty soon, we’ll be making some withdrawals. It’s coming fast.”
So far, the Commodores seem to be strongest at linebacker, where Zach Cunningham and Nigel Bowden return after nice freshman years, Stephen Weatherly seems poised to become a star as a junior, and Darreon Herring is back inside. JUCO transfer Nehemiah Mitchell will certainly make an impact, and freshman Josh Smith, one of the team’s most talented signees in years, is poised to contribute also.
New year, new beginning for Herring
If there was a player who suffered most in the first year of the 3-4, it was probably Herring. In the second half of 2013, he looked like a guy on the verge of becoming an All-SEC player at outside linebacker.
Last year, Herring had a different role in the defense as he moved inside. At times, he saw his snaps cut, got switched to nickel for some games, and generally had no consistency in his role from week to week.
A year later, Herring seems to have a better grasp of how, and where, he fits.
“Right now, they just have me at inside linebacker, where I started last season. Last season, they needed me at a new position when we had spread teams with bigger tight ends and I’d go out there instead to cover of having a smaller DB. But now we have a bigger DB out there at nickel and they have me playing inside,” he said on Monday.
“It feels a whole lot more comfortable… but I’ll do whatever they want me to do. If they want to move me back to nickel on certain games, I’m willing to do anything.”
Herring believes that a second year in the 3-4 means that both he and teammates will be better players.
“It’s definitely a lot easier, especially when the defensive linemen are a lot smarter. I’m not saying they were dumb a year ago, but they’re definitely a lot smarter now as far as taking on offensive linemen and keeping them off the linebackers. But yes, they’re definitely a lot smarter and they’ve a lot better [at that] from last season to this season,” he said.
“Last year, we kind of had to think a lot more as far as playing but this year, it’s more instinctive. We don’t have to think as much but you kind of have to know exactly what to do when the play is called.”
This and that
Former Commodore tailback Norman Jordan (early-1980s) was at practice on Monday. Jordan will be the color commentator alongside play-by-play man Joe Fisher this year. … Quarterback Sean Stankavage, recovering from a knee issue, was in a red jersey again today.
