Scrimmage Opinions

[Black Saturday]

Would anyone like to share what their opinions about the team from the Fan Fest scrimmage?

By reading the stats, it looked like the QBs did well passing. Was hoping Sumler would have broken a big one, just 3 catches.

[appst89]

Would anyone like to share what their opinions about the team from the Fan Fest scrimmage?

By reading the stats, it looked like the QBs did well passing. Was hoping Sumler would have broken a big one, just 3 catches.

Was hoping for some detailed updates today as well as I was not able to make it to Fan Fest.

[TractorApp]

6 appears to be a team guy. Great hustle on the turnover when he ran down the defender to prevent a touchdown. Price is the real deal. Looks much more athletic than Brian Quick. JJ looked very good and very comfortable. Hope that just wasn't because of the red jersey.

Loved the fast pace of the offense especially at the start of the scrimage. Big difference from last year.

Hope Lamm is back with the right attitude. Saw him totally wiff on one pass block then he appeared to be arguing with coach on sideline. Hope it was just a heat of the moment type thing.

Good snaps on scrimmage plays and kicks. Love seeing that.

Can you tell I used to coach offense?

[Saint3333]

Good - overall level of talent. We have weapons especially at WR. Price runs great routes and has speed. Washington looks stronger. Freshman Jones is a VERY good route runner, look for big things sooner than later.

Tempo was awesome, must more fun to watch.

Bad - coverage in secondary. Too many wide open WR, obvious missed assignments.

Ugly - kickoff and punt coverage. Missed lane assignments. One defender failed to notice the PR did not signal fair catch and returned the ball to the 5.

[Black Saturday]

Ouch! Where have we seen the ugly kick coverage before?

[Black Saturday]

6 appears to be a team guy. Great hustle on the turnover when he ran down the defender to prevent a touchdown. Price is the real deal. Looks much more athletic than Brian Quick. JJ looked very good and very comfortable. Hope that just wasn't because of the red jersey.

Loved the fast pace of the offense especially at the start of the scrimage. Big difference from last year.

Hope Lamm is back with the right attitude. Saw him totally wiff on one pass block then he appeared to be arguing with coach on sideline. Hope it was just a heat of the moment type thing.

Good snaps on scrimmage plays and kicks. Love seeing that.

Can you tell I used to coach offense?

Thanks, that's just as I had been hoping on the offensive tempo. That alone will be a big plus over recent years. Just had a Chattanooga flashback when our offense couldn't score.

Price is the real deal. Looks much more athletic than Brian Quick.

How is this possible? Was he open, too?

[Saint3333]

As a freshman Price is much more fluid in his movements, but raw athletism I wouldn't go that far. Price does make it look easier. Has a lot of potential, if he works like Quick did he could be truly special.

[Yosef84]

I'm not a coach, but I was impressed with our young WR crew. I think that quesiton is somewhat answered. We're good at QB. I thought JJ looked very good and KB did a good job also...some very athletic plays without the red jersey.

I think we still have question at OL and Defensive secondary. Potential is there, but still some work to do before ECU. If our DBs can step up, maybe we can keep the ECU game from becoming a track meet because we know they'll sling it around. OL has a new (I think very good) coach and will continue to progress. Plenty of beef available.

If I had to guess, the question is WHEN this team gels...not IF. Hopefully it will be in time to make our run! (That's my admittedly biased opinion...eternal optimist).

GO APPS!!!

[WVAPPeer]

Saint - I know you weren't privy to the defensive calls but with that caveat what did you see as the problems with the coverage in the secondary? --- this is a little concerning knowing that ECU will likely throw the ball a lot ---

[AppGrad78]

I was impressed with our defense. Yes, there were breakdowns, especially early. But as the scrimmage progressed, we asserted ourselves.

Henry Barnes is a playmaker. He might not crack the starting lineup this year, but he is an outstanding backup. Chris Shaffer impressed, as well.

Doug Middleton was surprisingly fluid at kick return.

We have an exceptional group of receivers, most of them freshmen. Price, Peacock, Washington, Jones, Sumler, Beathard and Bailey are going to give defenses fits. That's not counting guys like Starks, Anding, McElfresh and Kavanaugh who could also contribute.

Speaking of freshmen, it seems like 90 percent of the guys making big plays yesterday were redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. The team that rumbles into Athens next year or Ann Arbor in 2014 could be special.

Kameron Bryant stuggled to find open receivers more than his passing numbers (10-11-0, 143 yards) would indicate. The second-string offensive line didn't give him much time to go though his progressions, necessitating either a short drop-off pass or a run. But Bryant showed he is a quality runner. I'm betting we'll see vastly different offenses, depending on whether Jackson or Bryant are behind center. Jackson, obviously, is a better passer. We're much more dangerous as a running team with Bryant at QB.

Except for the 75-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage, we didn't attempt many passes of more than 15 yards. I'm guessing that's by design so that we: a) don't ask too much of a still-progressing offensive line, and b) don't show too much to the ECU folks who were almost certainly in attendance. We seemed content to toss a lot of dinks and dunks without really trying to stretch the defense.

Sumler, as someone else mentioned, is a team player. He's not afraid to do the dirty work that all receivers must do. And something I didn't know until yesterday: Sumler's father, Tommy, was a wideout at Winston-Salem State and had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings.

Alex Acey didn't play yesterday so it's difficult to gage the play of our centers. We still had a few too many poor snaps.

Our kickers, all of them, have plenty of leg. But accuracy remains a concern.

I'm guessing, given our numbers, that Tysean Holloway will redshirt. But it's not for a lack of talent. The kid can play.

Malachi Jones is listed at 6-1. But he sure looks taller, hair or not.

[Appfrom05]

I came away very impressed by Ricky Ferguson. Every time he touched the ball something positive happened. Jones looked good at wideout (besides the fumble). Sumler is definitely a tough kid, he took several solid hits and didn't appear fazed in the least, which is quite positive considering his size. The punt/kickoff coverage is definitely a concern along with the o-line. Jamal and Price seem to have good chemistry, it was clear JJ was looking for Price on every drop back. I'm not terribly confident in the place kicking game, it looked really shaky. Martin looked like his reliable self at punter. Like a previous poster mentioned, I'm not sure how much one could take away from the scrimmage because of the conservative nature of the play-calling. One of the linemen was helped off by a trainer. I never noticed if he got back in the game does anyone know?

[eggers76]

Nice, and I think accurate observations Charlie. I had concern when I did not see Acey on the field but I then read the injury report later on GoASU. I believe we have upgraded our overall talent level, especially on defense. Now we will just have to find out how everything comes together when the games begin. Looking forward to the ECU and Montana games as I think they should show us something about the men.

Good to see you yesterday.

[asutrnr81]

Saint - I know you weren't privy to the defensive calls but with that caveat what did you see as the problems with the coverage in the secondary? --- this is a little concerning knowing that ECU will likely throw the ball a lot ---

I thought it was more a "curve" or two being thrown by the Offense. The combo routes had our free safety(s) in cover two jumping the inside route and the routes were confusing them.....That will be better against other opponents.

Have to remember that the Offense has seen our blitz packages, but a wrinkle here or there from the offense makes a big difference.

Go APPS

[asutrnr81]

I was encouraged by the pace, the size of the kids.....we are definitely in better shape and physically bigger than before. I think our skill people at wideout are special. QB we are going to be fine....OL definitely bigger, run blocking was better.....DL is going to be a beast IMO! Linebackers....continue a trend #very good. DB's, I have confidence with the coaching staff that it will be worked out! (Their instincts and big play want to be get them in trouble....but their instincts and big hit capacity make them potentially great! Against the average FCS team we will be fine at DB. I was encouraged by the kickoff(s).

I am concerned about: Running Back...I am going to withhold comment about our running back situation. I was NOT impressed. Tight end....just who is going to get PT....(TE) Kid from Catholic #47 can run....Special Teams were abysmal!

Intangibles: I like the new attitude, the size, and the speed....but for some reason I am just not sure....I think the big deal is our running back situation.

Go APPS!

[sixtoes9134]

Since Miller was dinged up and didn't play yesterday, I wouldn't be all that concerned. I think he and Chisholm will get most of the reps and I hope/believe Miller will be dangerous in space.

Be curious to see though who's sort of next in line.

[Black Saturday]

I was impressed with our defense. Yes, there were breakdowns, especially early. But as the scrimmage progressed, we asserted ourselves.

Henry Barnes is a playmaker. He might not crack the starting lineup this year, but he is an outstanding backup. Chris Shaffer impressed, as well.

Doug Middleton was surprisingly fluid at kick return.

We have an exceptional group of receivers, most of them freshmen. Price, Peacock, Washington, Jones, Sumler, Beathard and Bailey are going to give defenses fits. That's not counting guys like Starks, Anding, McElfresh and Kavanaugh who could also contribute.

Speaking of freshmen, it seems like 90 percent of the guys making big plays yesterday were redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. The team that rumbles into Athens next year or Ann Arbor in 2014 could be special.

Cam Bryant stuggled to find open receivers more than his passing numbers (10-11-0, 143 yards) would indicate. The second-string offensive line didn't give him much time to go though his progressions, necessitating either a short drop-off pass or a run. But Bryant showed he is a quality runner. I'm betting we'll see vastly different offenses, depending on whether Jackson or Bryant are behind center. Jackson, obviously, is a better passer. We're much more dangerous as a running team with Bryant at QB.

Except for the 75-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage, we didn't attempt many passes of more than 15 yards. I'm guessing that's by design so that we: a) don't ask too much of a still-progressing offensive line, and b) don't show too much to the ECU folks who were almost certainly in attendance. We seemed content to toss a lot of dinks and dunks without really trying to stretch the defense.

Sumler, as someone else mentioned, is a team player. He's not afraid to do the dirty work that all receivers must do. And something I didn't know until yesterday: Sumler's father, Tommy, was a wideout at Winston-Salem State and had a tryout with the Minnesota Vikings.

Alex Acey didn't play yesterday so it's difficult to gage the play of our centers. We still had a few too many poor snaps.

Our kickers, all of them, have plenty of leg. But accuracy remains a concern.

I'm guessing, given our numbers, that Tysean Holloway will redshirt. But it's not for a lack of talent. The kid can play.

Malachi Jones is listed at 6-1. But he sure looks taller, hair or not.

Except for the 75-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage

Satterfield fooled our defense because they have been used to our offense running up the middle on every first down for the last 3 years. Already he's proof positive. I'm liking his return! We will keep more defenses on their heels, I'm thinking.

[Saint3333]

WV twice an offensive player was 5 yards beyond the last defender and it wasn't on go routes. Just obvious missed assignments.

[Blackangold4]

I know its been talked about before but the thing that really impressed me was the pace of play. Several times I looked down at the roster to check out a player from the previous play and by the time I found him and looked back up they had already hiked the ball and were into the next play.

Was incredibly fast but at times they did seem to have a little trouble getting the the signals from the sideline. Only happened a couple times and I expect it will be fine with two more weeks of practice.

That being said it was very quick and I can see how we will catch some people off guard.

[DaphneUrquhart]

I know its been talked about before but the thing that really impressed me was the pace of play. Several times I looked down at the roster to check out a player from the previous play and by the time I found him and looked back up they had already hiked the ball and were into the next play.

Was incredibly fast but at times they did seem to have a little trouble getting the the signals from the sideline. Only happened a couple times and I expect it will be fine with two more weeks of practice.

That being said it was very quick and I can see how we will catch some people off guard.

The process of getting the signals from the sidelines will improve as the season progresses. On any given play there may be as many as four coaches sending signals to the field. Only one of those is the real play. Nic Cardwell was telling the ladies at Football 101 that the signal caller changes each game and that it takes pretty good focus to set, check the sideline for the right coach and the right call, then execute. Is it September yet?

[bh2oson]

I was impressed at the whole event Saturday. We had some out of town visitors we invited to Fanfest. Their 7 year old boy will be taking a ton of App gear and autographs back to Chicago. Each player was generous with their time and really made this kids day. He was even singing the fight song on the way home. The attitude of the players and staff seamed very up beat and enthusiastic. I got a chance to ask Sumler how he liked Boone so far and with a big smile he said “I love it!" I went into fanfest worried about the season but left feeling a lot more optimistic. I loved the quick pace of the offense. We should be fun to watch this year. Also, did I mention the weather was perfect Saturday?