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Blue/White Scrimmage Report (08/21/10)
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I didn't have a roster and didn't take notes but, this is what I remember. The first teams are pretty good. First team OL handled the defense. Although it was our second team defense. Fouch was steady. Gates had a long td run. TE Jones had a huge night. 100+ yards receiving. The first team D was solid. Jacolby Washington is going to have a good year. He's tough. Shakir Bell is the real deal. He looked great in beginning. He took a big hit about halfway through and was dinged up and wasn't quite the same. He is slippery and did most of his work without that great of blocking. I don't know how we got him but thank God.
Some other observations: our upperclassmen look like college football players now. Some of them look like different people from 2-3 years ago. You can tell that they have put a lot of time in the weightroom. Wide Receiver has been greatly upgraded. Nothing against these guys, but starters from last year, couldn't hardly get on the field in the scrimmage. Hilton, Riston, Goodlet, and Egberongbe?, are a huge upgrade. Egberongbe made a highlight real catch. Also, freshman WR Lawshe? Is going to be a good one. I was impressed with him.
I'm afraid that special teams still suck. Punter is a big area of need. It wasn't so much the kickers. It was instant pressure as soon as ball was snapped and defenders were right on top of them. A must area of correction.
Some other observations: our upperclassmen look like college football players now. Some of them look like different people from 2-3 years ago. You can tell that they have put a lot of time in the weightroom. Wide Receiver has been greatly upgraded. Nothing against these guys, but starters from last year, couldn't hardly get on the field in the scrimmage. Hilton, Riston, Goodlet, and Egberongbe?, are a huge upgrade. Egberongbe made a highlight real catch. Also, freshman WR Lawshe? Is going to be a good one. I was impressed with him.
I'm afraid that special teams still suck. Punter is a big area of need. It wasn't so much the kickers. It was instant pressure as soon as ball was snapped and defenders were right on top of them. A must area of correction.
new sycamore fan
The All-MVC Level
For everyone last year that wanted a crisp short passing game--that was very evident last night with Fouch and the new receivers. Fouch overthrew a few balls, but he is a huge upgrade and will make everyone on the offense better. That being said--he MUST stay healthy, because it is a big difference after him. The receivers are longer and faster, and will actually force the other teams safeties to consider them rather than just playing up in the box. The O Line looks much bigger and better. On a 20+ yard run by Brock Lough, FN Lutz sustained his block for all 20+, finishing near the goal line--that's the first time I had seen something like that from the OL in 2+ years. Having Burke back is great, and Geffert is also bigger and better. Gates looks excellent, as does Bell. I wish we didn't have to use Bell this year, but he will definitely play. As mentioned above, Santino Davis drilled him on one play in the backfield and dinged him up a little. Bell has great vision and is very shifty, but small; he will take some lumps this year, particularly in conference play.
We also have to remember that the scrimmage was basically ones vs twos on both sides.
The defense looked good, very deep at LB but I have some concern about the defensive backfield. I don't think Larry Carter has played much or at all in the fall because of some injury, and I don't think Kam Mitchell played last night. The corners are young and very small, but are active to the ball. Bell had his way on a couple of plays though, with the corners not laying a hand on him even though they were in position to make the play. Larry King played the other safety with Sewall, and I think is just learning the position after moving from LB. It seemed like calls were coming in late and there was some confusion postioning pre-snap. Hardy, Brown and Obaseki all looked good-solid against the run and brough some pressure. I either didn't know the numbers or they didn't play, but I didn't really see the 2 new LBs (Walker and Scott). Archie made a couple of nice plays (a TFL on Lough and a fumble recovery) on the 2 defense.
The kicking game?? I think the coaches need to empasize to the LBs and others on the line during the punt game that they should actually make contact with someone before releasing. We changed our punt formation to have 3 protectors rather than the 1 we had last year, but I can see this again being a problem. Matt S. also needs to be much, much more consistent with his punts--he had some decent ones, but also a couple of very bad ones. Corey Little missed his first XP, but was pretty good after that. He looks like he will be an upgrade from Martinez, but again, this is his first year, and how will he respond to the game pressure? His KOs were decent, but I'd still like to see someone consistenly get the ball near the end zone--this makes a huge difference (like in last years Southern Ill game where their kicker was out of the end zone on all 3 of his kicks).
The coaches were entertaining. After false starts, there were a couple of linemen running the stairs in the middle of the scrimmage. Coach Miles looked back at the players on the sideline and said "Get that helmet off the ground"--the player looked shocked. This is an excellent coaching staff--all of them were teaching throughout the scrimmage; both during play and one-on-one on the sideline. The kids need to soak that up. I'm looking forward to Sept 4th--hopefully they will get a big crowd, and get off to a good start!
We also have to remember that the scrimmage was basically ones vs twos on both sides.
The defense looked good, very deep at LB but I have some concern about the defensive backfield. I don't think Larry Carter has played much or at all in the fall because of some injury, and I don't think Kam Mitchell played last night. The corners are young and very small, but are active to the ball. Bell had his way on a couple of plays though, with the corners not laying a hand on him even though they were in position to make the play. Larry King played the other safety with Sewall, and I think is just learning the position after moving from LB. It seemed like calls were coming in late and there was some confusion postioning pre-snap. Hardy, Brown and Obaseki all looked good-solid against the run and brough some pressure. I either didn't know the numbers or they didn't play, but I didn't really see the 2 new LBs (Walker and Scott). Archie made a couple of nice plays (a TFL on Lough and a fumble recovery) on the 2 defense.
The kicking game?? I think the coaches need to empasize to the LBs and others on the line during the punt game that they should actually make contact with someone before releasing. We changed our punt formation to have 3 protectors rather than the 1 we had last year, but I can see this again being a problem. Matt S. also needs to be much, much more consistent with his punts--he had some decent ones, but also a couple of very bad ones. Corey Little missed his first XP, but was pretty good after that. He looks like he will be an upgrade from Martinez, but again, this is his first year, and how will he respond to the game pressure? His KOs were decent, but I'd still like to see someone consistenly get the ball near the end zone--this makes a huge difference (like in last years Southern Ill game where their kicker was out of the end zone on all 3 of his kicks).
The coaches were entertaining. After false starts, there were a couple of linemen running the stairs in the middle of the scrimmage. Coach Miles looked back at the players on the sideline and said "Get that helmet off the ground"--the player looked shocked. This is an excellent coaching staff--all of them were teaching throughout the scrimmage; both during play and one-on-one on the sideline. The kids need to soak that up. I'm looking forward to Sept 4th--hopefully they will get a big crowd, and get off to a good start!
My take on the scrimmage is similar to others...Fouch looks really good..he knows when to go deep and when to take what the D gives...he had some really well placed balls...Yes he overthrew some but so does every QB I've ever seen play the game including the NFL...If he goes 100% then he needs to go to the draft after this year....He is a good solid QB who can run and that is all I'm expecting him to be...I saw good line play...what I was pleased with is the fact that I saw good solid football fundamentals all around...a few mistakes here and there that should be corrected by next week...but I also saw a couple spectacular plays....the crowd applauded afterwards and I think that was good. Oh and I had to park far away for a scrimmage...LOL..what happened to cheesebourough?
don't see the name Darien Donald on the roster anymore, he was a good track runner too, what happened to him? Anyone know??
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yes...the crowd was pretty good for a scrimmage.....
...i joked to a couple of people....that i'd seen crowds that big for a regular season game...lol....so, yes, it was a pretty good crowd on a hot and sticky night at memorial stadium.....
they had some recruits there too......at the game....not sure where they were all from......i think some were from belleville, illinois......
...i joked to a couple of people....that i'd seen crowds that big for a regular season game...lol....so, yes, it was a pretty good crowd on a hot and sticky night at memorial stadium.....
they had some recruits there too......at the game....not sure where they were all from......i think some were from belleville, illinois......
i know Bell was a high school standout and i was quite surprised when he landed at ISU.
my hope is that he remains the real deal while at ISU
one thing that concerns me is that if he has a stellar year and performs well in the classroom will ISU be at risk of losing him to D1 schools that had their eye on him? i know we have a full season ahead of us but i am anticpating and expecting big things from this Bell this season.
new sycamore fan
The All-MVC Level
I hope he has a big year also, but shame on him if he decides he is too "big" for the program. There are several players on the current team that probably could have made decisions to leave, but remain committed to the program that Coach Miles is building. He should also, and I think based on his comments after the scrimmage (where he refers to Miles bringing him here for one reason--to win) that he likes the idea of being a big part of the turnaround of the program.
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i'd like to see him have huge success on and off the field at ISU.
his high shool team remains extremely competitive. he could be a fantastic recruiter for future classes at ISU and really be part of a building program for 1 - 2 years and then by the time he is a senior i have a vision of ISU making a run in the playoffs.
his high shool team remains extremely competitive. he could be a fantastic recruiter for future classes at ISU and really be part of a building program for 1 - 2 years and then by the time he is a senior i have a vision of ISU making a run in the playoffs.
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bent20
The Odum Level
Let's not start chastising Bell for something that hasn't happened. That's how silly rumors get started and insecurities get exposed. If anything, let's not have too high of expectations for a true freshman back up running back.
Sycamore Proud
The Nicks Level
Agree!