Scrimmage Warm-ups. "I see Papadakis & Baca & Su'a-Filo....I see Umodu & Hasiak & Price...."
Opening Kick Off....Marvray (11) receives the kickoff....but I think he cuts to his right too soon and misses the opening created by the wedge (between Jayson Allmond (36) and Glenn Love (20). Basically goes sideways for minimal gain from this point. Fielded at the 12, takes it to the 25.
Chane Moline (with the ball) getting hit by Mr. Akeem Ayers. This was a nice 10-11 yard gain on a roll-out. BTW, that's Alterraun Verner's arm on Moline's thigh...Moline didn't run him over, but Verner cut off the outside and Moline slid back inside.
This is Mr. Brian Price (arm outstretched) engaged in what is commonly known as a 'tackle-for-loss'. This is also what could be considered a 'schooling' of the young linemen Hasiak (74) and Su'a-Filo (to the right of Hasiak). Price bull rushed off the LOS and this engagement is about 3 yards behind it....
Annnnndd.....when Brian Price is not dropping RB's for a loss, he's making life difficult for the QB by swatting passes.....such as this one. Eddie Williams (in front of Price) can't be faulted for this one though since he blocked him to a virtual stalemate. Brian just makes an outstanding play.
Couple Things Here: (1) Christian Ramirez getting tackled for no gain by David Carter. (2) Eddie Williams (62) giving Reggie Carter (engaged) all he can handle (3) Logan Paulsen (engaged with Akeem Ayers #10) blocking the heck out of Ayers. This play really highlighted Paulsen's blocking abilities as Ayers only got close to the play b/c the play fell toward him.
Two things stand out in this picture: (1) Brian Price (92) was well-blocked by Su'a-Filo & Hasiak (74) on this play. This is probably about as far as you'll ever see BP away from the ball, unless it's a deep pass....and even then.... (2) Behind Eddie Williams (62), you see a horizontal white jersey (Derrick Coleman) blocking a blue jersey (Datone Jones). This was a great pick up by Coleman as Jones came streaking in from the side and Coleman blocked him out of the play. If he hadn't and this'd been live....well...? Play was an incomplete to as Kyle Bosworth (behind Logan Paulsen #86) batted the ball away.
Reggie Carter (arm upraised in blue jersey) sack on Prince with Su'a-Filo in hot pursuit of Carter. To Su'a-Filo's credit, he was engaged with another lineman and disengaged to shove Carter off his trajectory. He didn't shove him enough, but I think the fact that he saw the blitz and disengaged to pick it up shows pretty good awareness for a young lineman. These are the plays that he'll probably make more often than not with some experience under his belt.
'Whoops!" says Ricky Marvray (11)....Misjudged the punt and as he turned around to catch it.....well, it just slipped right through. He recovered it, but a rare and uncharacteristic misstep on his part.
Man on a mission. Brian Price (arm wrapped around QB). This play he hits Prince just as he's about to let loose (ball is off frame); ball comes out in a dead duck death spiral; picked off by Rahim Moore; INT return for TD.
Rahim Moore (ball upraised) on the same play as the previous photo.....INT return for TD....
Johnathan Franklin (23) on a run that resulted in a gain of about 3 yards. BUT, I thought the pancake by Mike Harris (65) on Keenan Graham (under him) was noteworthy. This was two's on two's, but any pancake is a good pancake.....
This is the two on two's where J Franklin (to the left of Theriot #31) broke it for a TD....about 65 yards. BUT, notice Donovan Carter falling to the ground in front of Theriot (31). This was an OUTSTANDING block by Theriot on the DE that allowed this play to progress and ultimately score the TD. The part I love most though is after this frame, Theriot CONTINUES 'blocking' Carter into the ground to make sure he doesn't get up and do anything else....some might say he jumped on top of him...I prefer the 'blocking into the turf' description.
With all the talk about Thigpen & Carroll's speed, let's not forget that Johnathan Franklin isn't a slug himself.....This is the same play as the previous photo and Franklin was almost tackled by Viney (7 in the leftmost part of the picture).....Dalton Hilliard (closest blue jersey) couldn't close the gap, but neither could Franklin widen it.....
Senor Milton Knox (with the rock) cutting through a rather large hole. Knox busted this for about 5 yards showing some good cuts in the process....but cut right into the back of his linemen where he got stuck. Also note Iuta Tepa (96)...his name was announced more than a couple times during the day. True freshman. This was a nice spin out of a block by Mike Harris (65) even though Knox was gone by the time he turned around. Good balance though....
The aforementioned Iuta Tepa (96) on the very next play. Very good spin move into the play to make the tackle with Glenn Love (20). And the thing I love about Morrell Presley (7): He misses the block on Sean Westgate (11) off the line...but doesn't miss a step and is immediately on a mission to block someone else downfield. I mean, didn't even hesitate in continuing his assignment.....
These are the three's.....Knox has the ball somewhere in the mishmash in front of Donovan Carter (9). Coming in from the right was Glenn Love (to the lower left of Theriot #31). I don't know if this is proper form for a tackle, but Knox fell forward for a couple yards past where Love is. Tepa made another great spin move into the RB for the tackle on this play.
Kevin Craft directing Theriot (31) to block downfield for the QB keeper off the roll-out.....not quite sure why he didn't complete it to Theriot, unless it was designed that way, but if he had, the play would likely have gone for an additional 5 yards....of course, easy to criticize from behind the keyboard...
Courtney Viney (7) showing some tenacity in tackling Jerry Johnson (engaged). Completion for about a 5-yard gain. Antwon Moutra (6) in the background throwing a helpful block...
Milton Knox (below Theriot #31) laying the wood on Courney Viney (engaged in blue jersey). Although Courtney took the brunt of the punishment, the imminent arrival of Dalton Hilliard (19...almost looks like a 9) prevented Knox from progressing beyond this point of impact.
Again...Iuta Tepa (96) blocking a Kevin Craft pass. Looks like he has pretty good hops.....in addition to his good balance and shifty feet.
Our backup FG kicker...Jeff Locke....52 yards with some to spare......The drop off after Forbath is not so bad.
Milton Knox (with the rock) on his 31-yard KO return. I think it was the second or third team's, but MK showed good patience in allowing his blocks to develop downfield before bumping it to the outside. That's Max Ratkovich making the tackle.
A good shot of our young O-linemen taking care of business. Akeem Ayers (10) is engaged with Stan Hasiak and was a non-factor in the play because of it....but the play also went to the opposite side. On te far side we have Su'a-Filo (56) making sure Damien Holmes (97) stays a good distance away from the play.
I LOVE THIS PICTURE. Whenever you see Brian Price lined up during the season, the beginning of the jaws theme should run through your mind. In this photo, Brian Price (92) has managed to blow through the line, put Jeff Baca (on his back) on the ground; Kai Maiava (holding onto BP's leg) was likewise runover; and Big BP puts a hit on Derrick Coleman (persenting us with his legs) for a tackle-for-loss......I'm sure Jayson Almond (36 in background) is going "Man, that sucks!"
O-line protecting their QB...it got a little tight towards the end, but Prince completes this to Derrick Coleman (33) on 3rd & 6'ish......fora 10+ yard gain...Corey Harkey (87) did a good job blocking Datone Jones
I'm not too savvy on the punt yard calc. Ball on opponent's 45-yard line. Lock receives the snap on his own 40. Punt ends in a fair catch on the 9-yard line.
Johnathan Franklin dropping a poorly thrown pass by Prince, who was more than likely sacked on the play by david Carter (off screen). Notice Maiva's long hair....hadn't seen that look previously.
A nice shot of our O-line doing their thing. Behind Prince (white jersey) is Su'a-Filo keeping Damien Holmes (blue jersey) away from Prince. In the foreground left, you have Jeff baca (white jersey) keeping Datone Jones a safe distance from Prince. To the right, you have Eddie Williams (62) AND Maiava (hair) taking care of David Carter (85). Completion for about 4 yards to Franklin.
Datone Jones (blue jersey middle of picture) getting picked up by Johnathan Franklin (engaged). Prince threw an incompletion on the play; broken up by Andrew Abbott. Franklin definitely got driven back on the play, but he held the block long enough to allow it to progress.....
Punts don't get much better than this....notice in the right side of the picture near the ref's feet. That's the ball, that Locke punted from his own 40 (LOS at the opponent 45). Locke pinned 'em deep on their own one yard line.
Johnathan Franklin (with the rock; center) getting tackled by Aaron Hester (engaged) after a 10-yard gain. You can't see it, but the left side of the line opened a gaping, wound of a hole for Franklin who hit it at full speed.
Andrew Abbott (26) getting flagged for PI in the endzone against Randall Carroll (1) and showing his frustration. This was apparently not even close as the ref had this flag out before the players stopped rolling around....
Tony Dye (horizontal blue jersey in middle) squirting through the 1st team o-line to make the tackle in the backfield. He managed to grab an ankle and take Coleman down. Andrew Abbott (blue jersey right side of photo) helped seal the deal. That's Moline (42) engaged with Donovan Carter.
Milton Knox (with the rock) loading up to put the smack down on Viney (7). Contact is made where Viney is standing, but Knox manages to pull another 3 yards out of it for a 6-yard gain....Viney makes the tackle.
Sight for sore eyes....Knox (with the rock) carrying the ball for a first down on 2nd & 4. Also notice the blue jersey just behind Knox. That is Connor Bradford who was a victim of circumstance. He was being blocked by Brandon Bennett and Nik Abele (arm outstretched into Bradford's larynx), with a full head of steam, just comes downfield and knocks him on his butt....
Photographic evidence of a fullback with the ball. Jayson Allmond (36) in the right of the picture. This play appeared to be stopped back where Viney (7) is standing....but Allmond kept churning his legs and, if the play isn't whistled dead, gets at least another 5 yards....
Jerry Johnson catching a pass for about a 10-yard gain on 3rd down. Sheldon Price is zeroing in and makes the tackle for no YAC.
Keenan Graham (59) giving Brehaut a hard time. I think this kid's going to be very good in the coming years.
Trevor Theriot (on the ground in fetal position) making sure he does NOT drop the rare pass thrown his way...This was a completion for about 5 yards....Sean Westgate (11) in coverage...
Marvray watching a booming punt land two yards behind him. Locke received the snap on his own 15 yard line. This ball landed on the opponent's 19 yard line and rolled down to the 9 yard line. Booming punt.
Damien Thigpen's punt return for a TD....Don't think the coach had planned on the punt being returned that far. Anyhow, Thigpen breaks this to the outside and away he went. Cut back to avoid the punter and 6 points!
This is the Joseph Fauria (94 with the rock) pass catch from Crissman that was returned for a TD. This is T minus 1 until impact. Ricky Marvray (11 white) took an excellent angle from the middle of the field and BLOWS UP Sheldon Price (22 blue). Sheldon doesn't even see him coming. Marvray. Watch out for him.
Moment of impact from previous photo.......I think this is the point Sheldon realizes there is something wrong....
I like this photo b/c it shows how hard Thigpen (25) runs. Initial contact was made out of frame to the left. This is Thigpen getting the last of about an extra 6 yards after contact. He runs bigger than his size. Reminds me of Jacquizz Rodgers of Oregon State kind of....
I like this shot b/c I like stiff arms. Ryan Moya (15 with the rock) putting the nasty stiff arm on Connor Bradford (engaged). Bradford makes the stop though....
Iuta Tepa making the stop in the backfield on Derrick Coleman (33). This was against the first team O-line for Tepa, who made a good showing....very athletic and quick.
Courteney Viney (7) taking a punt return to the house 94 yards. This was third team punt formations I think. Either way, heck of a run. He broke to the outside initially, cut back inside with a couple of jukes, and then cut back to the sideline to take it the rest of the way. Sheldon Price (22) in front lead blocking. Craig Shepard (white jersey to Viney's right) putting a good block on Brandon Sermons...
Viney (7 on turf in left of photo) takes his revenge. That's milton Knox landing on his head when Viney shot through and hit him at thigh-level. Landed crazily, but popped right back up....
Theriot (31) and unidentified dude in gray announcing Prince's QB keeper TD....Theriot kept Aaron Ware out of the play and helped grade the road in front of Prince....
Thigpen (white 25 in middle of photo) dropping the shoulder to take on Marlon Pollard (blue blur to Thigpen's right). Thigpen isn't big, but he plays big. Instead of trying to juke, he just drops his shoulder and gets another yard or so after contact...
Thigpen (25) jumping through a hole. He gets another 5 yards from this point. Glenn Love (20) in the foreground makes the tackle from behind...
Ted Landers throws a bomb for 40 yards or so to Jerry Rice....nice way to make the most of your first snap...
