It was an interesting day at practice. But not for the players.
It was business as usual for the guys in black and white. They stretched, ran through drills, legged out skeletons and dissected plays on the sideline. It was an average day on the field.
But in the stands – it was weird.
As those of you who frequent this site know, I was told I was no longer allowed on the field – I wasn’t alone. While I am horrible at recognizing anyone it looked like Raju Woodward and Kevin Hampton of the GT were both in attendance and both in the stands. Perhaps by choice.
I haven’t sat in the stands at Reser since the Fog Bowl against USC. And even then it was only for the first 10 minutes.
I was on the field for most of the game helping KBVR-TV producer extraordinaire Paul Koehnke shoot film. What a game! One of the top moments of my life was the seconds when Reggie Bush almost ran me over after his touchdown reception. I can still hear the entire defensive backfield yelling the F-word as Bush got open in the flat. I believe it was Mitch Meeuwsen who noticed Bush first after he got caught in the middle on the tight end.
He almost ran me over, too. It was tough seeing him in Geology class that Monday. Not a happy camper.
But I digress. Practice on Friday August 22, 2008 was swell.
It was a run-heavy practice while I was in attendance (from 2:30 – 4:30pm). The RBs got a good look at what running at a solid front line will be like. Not that difficult.
Granted the practices are “touch-to-wrap-to-tackle” but Jaquizz Rodgers and Ryan McCants knifed through holes and made cuts on the outside sweeps easily. As I sat in the stands and watched it felt eerily reminiscent of an NFL team from a few years back.
There is one fast back that can do everything – even run up the middle – and one stronger back that is better between the tackles but is fast enough to break one outside.
They remind me of the Vikings from 2006-ish with Michael Bennett and Moe Williams. McCants, the do-everything back and Rodgers was the fast guy they used all over the field. Returns, wide receiver, running back, short yardage, long yardage, third down, whatever.
It’s like John Madden always said, with a twist. With Rodgers it seems like, if you want four yards – he’ll give you seven. If you want eight yards, he’ll get you seven. The twist is that Rodgers elusiveness allows him to slip that first tackle and get another chance. Chances are that seven yards could turn into 70 after a quick juke.
McCants is a physical guy that can find creases on the inside. If the O-line can give him an inch he can find it and take it. And he has the speed to make it to the second level before the secondary can react to the run.
While I was watching the wide receivers, it hit me. Sammie Stroughter is okay. No, really. He spent most of the beginning of practice dancing, singing and entertaining the crowd.
He also had a one-handed, two-feet-down grab in the back of the end zone. That didn’t hurt either.
There were quite a few circus catches at practice. I tried to grab them all on film.
Speaking of circus. After a blown (or what looked like it at least) play Sammie Stroughter threw a laser sharp pass to Taylor Kavanaugh. I might be the first to say it… but… Slash Stroughter sounds kind of fun.
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