Random thoughts from spring practice
posted by David Cloninger, 3/21/2009 02:06:00 PM
To me.”
--------------- CRACKER
Random observations from today’s football practice, before I head over to Carolina Stadium for Game 2 of the South Carolina-LSU series.
-- Most impressive thing I saw? Garrett Anderson fully embracing his role as the leader of the offensive line.
Terrence Campbell was booted out of a drill by O-line coach Eric Wolford and told to run laps. Campbell slowly removed his helmet and pads – in general, not running laps – until Anderson stepped out of a drill, walked over and hollered again for Campbell to get it in gear.
Later on, when the Gamecocks adjourned to Williams-Brice Stadium to finish up, Anderson walked over to Campbell on the sideline, earnestly talked to him for a minute or two and then threw an arm over his shoulders. Got to have those kinds of leaders on a team, with only seven scholarship seniors.
-- Hopefully this will be a formation to use in the future. Late in the practice, defensive end Cliff Matthews lined up at tight end. Quarterback Zac Brindise faded back, flipped to Matthews on the hot route and Matthews skirted the corner and rumbled 40-plus yards for the touchdown.
It could have been everybody in a white jersey was confused to see one of their own coming their way with the ball, but Matthews easily scored. He played tight end at Cheraw High School, so maybe it’ll be a trick formation to use – remember Justin Sorensen wide to leave Weslye Saunders open over the middle against Kentucky?
-- Jarvis Giles really has some happy feet. He’s always running in place before picking a lane.
That being said, he showed some explosiveness. He hit a gap to the right and was quickly closed off, until he spun around a diving tackler for a few more yards. The spin took maybe a quarter of a second and he never lost balance.
There was also a nice run he peeled to get in the clear, until Devin Taylor blindsided him and knocked the ball loose. Taylor reversed and hit Giles just as he turned his eyes downfield.
-- Stephen Garcia hit Moe Brown in stride for a long touchdown. Hope that’s a sign of things to come. Nobody deserves a super season more than Brown.
-- Captain Munnerlyn was around for the third straight day, wearing his NFL Combine workout shirt. I guess he wants to prove that yes, he was there.
See you at the yard, meat.
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“Happy birthday, baby,
To me.”
--------------- CRACKER
Random observations from today’s football practice, before I head over to Carolina Stadium for Game 2 of the South Carolina-LSU series.
-- Most impressive thing I saw? Garrett Anderson fully embracing his role as the leader of the offensive line.
Terrence Campbell was booted out of a drill by O-line coach Eric Wolford and told to run laps. Campbell slowly removed his helmet and pads – in general, not running laps – until Anderson stepped out of a drill, walked over and hollered again for Campbell to get it in gear.
Later on, when the Gamecocks adjourned to Williams-Brice Stadium to finish up, Anderson walked over to Campbell on the sideline, earnestly talked to him for a minute or two and then threw an arm over his shoulders. Got to have those kinds of leaders on a team, with only seven scholarship seniors.
-- Hopefully this will be a formation to use in the future. Late in the practice, defensive end Cliff Matthews lined up at tight end. Quarterback Zac Brindise faded back, flipped to Matthews on the hot route and Matthews skirted the corner and rumbled 40-plus yards for the touchdown.
It could have been everybody in a white jersey was confused to see one of their own coming their way with the ball, but Matthews easily scored. He played tight end at Cheraw High School, so maybe it’ll be a trick formation to use – remember Justin Sorensen wide to leave Weslye Saunders open over the middle against Kentucky?
-- Jarvis Giles really has some happy feet. He’s always running in place before picking a lane.
That being said, he showed some explosiveness. He hit a gap to the right and was quickly closed off, until he spun around a diving tackler for a few more yards. The spin took maybe a quarter of a second and he never lost balance.
There was also a nice run he peeled to get in the clear, until Devin Taylor blindsided him and knocked the ball loose. Taylor reversed and hit Giles just as he turned his eyes downfield.
-- Stephen Garcia hit Moe Brown in stride for a long touchdown. Hope that’s a sign of things to come. Nobody deserves a super season more than Brown.
-- Captain Munnerlyn was around for the third straight day, wearing his NFL Combine workout shirt. I guess he wants to prove that yes, he was there.
See you at the yard, meat.
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David Cloninger. David is a full-time staff writer for GamecockCentral, and covers Gamecock football, men's basketball, baseball and recruiting. He may be reached by email at david(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.