1. Shough was impressive but I didn't care for how many shots he took in the process though he stands in the pocket strong; all of the optimism I have for this season is tempered with the reality that we're in trouble if he goes down because the gap between him and the second string is pronounced. Austin Peay sold out more than we will likely see again this season. Shough was very efficient throughout his half of work. His risks were still high percentage, high yield risks with the 1st TD to Brooks being the best example and he'd have gotten bailed out by an INT flag even if it was underthrown. The TD to Jadon Thompson was perfectly thrown under duress and showed his trust in Thompson to beat the coverage and get to a spot in the endzone; when the Brohms talk about having faith in your ability that is what they are talking about...put the work in in the film room to know what coverages are beaten by what routes, fire and execute when the opportunity presents itself.
Given the film session Shough had with Tom Luginbill on the Louisville ACC Road Trip they spent the whole segment going over a three step progression read out of MAX protection; I couldn't find any MAX protection sets in rewatching the first half so that is something that we should see more against Ga Tech and certainly in South Bend.
One last thing as it applies to the QB room and maybe Brohm won't appreciate me putting this out there; but those little goal line packages we had with Evan Conley producing a running TD and a TD to Sylvester down in Miami were given an open tryout Saturday for anyone paying attention in the 4th Quarter. You would think it is in Clarkson's skill set...but I wouldn't be surprised to see Travis Egan in that role at some point even with the recency bias of him taking only one snap. That role requires guts and a little red ass more than straight skill and can be a big lift to see somebody produce in big situations from the bottom of the roster. Local Boy Makes Good headlines are not only good for any Program...they are good for the Soul.
2. Was good to see the way the RBs were used; Turner and Chaney with a light workload, The Browns getting quality work and a Duke Watson sighting. It's clear Brohm's prototypical RB is what we've seen in the Browns and Watson--the three RBs he signed out of HS. Quick and all-purpose. I will have to go back and pay specific attention to it but didn't notice how the RBs did in pass protection. Isaac hits the hole like a lightning bolt and he has a different change of pace than the other backs; the other long run he had aside from the TD he did a hesitation move up the Louisville sideline that was like the one Lamar had at Boynton Beach in HS that went viral. The safety's tackle was more accident than design.
Beyond just the workload being spread across the entirety of the RBs, they didn't have to run many plays or show their hand much to do it; it was very basic zone plays and dive plays out of the Pistol. We look like our running attack will be more of an edge hitting, spread look more than the straight ahead looks we had with Guerendo in particular and with Jawhar.
3. I couldn't help coming away from that first half thinking an overall improved aerial attack would be downright lethal with the presence of Caullen Lacy; Brooks is the real deal and provides something we haven't seen with a any frequency when you think back--he's good at going over DBs. Fitzpatrick was the last WR I recall with that type of ability. Brooks clearly has Shough's confidence. It was good to see Jadon Thompson join the spree though Bell's touches were limited. Nobody from among the twos jumped off the screen, but their opportunities were limited.
4. I was skeptical of all of the reports that it was Redman and Jamari Johnson as TE1 and TE1A--I am relieved that can now be put to bed. I was skeptical of Redman because like Thor Griffin he was a late report and skeptical of Jamari Johnson due to his frame when I last saw them in the Spring. Beyond that Kurisky started getting some quality reps in November and was instrumental in the win down in Miami. The TD catch for Redman was something you normally don't see in TEs at the College level--it required adjustment with the ball in the air, it required him not only beating the defender but going over him and the rarest of finishes for TEs...he had to get a foot down and maintain possession through the catch process. Invariably that template is with a wide receiver and not a TE at the college level. I'd submit as a polite reminder that Plummer wouldn't even have attempted that pass last year, and frankly didn't have the personnel at TE to even try it. I am impressed with the physical change in Jamari Johnson and glad to see him get a couple touches. You can see the raw talent and he is an improving blocker. I think we are going to see a lot more two tight end sets this year; when we had them last year it was generally in short yardage or signaled run. In essence they were adding blockers and removing a pass catcher. This year there is more flexibility to attack downfield with the personnel we have.
5. Lastly...a little underwhelmed with the overall pass blocking which is scary when you project ahead to Notre Dame in particular. We went Mills and Mendoza at the tackles, Gonzalez and Collins at the guards and Nygra at center. Cutler and Renato Brown were first off the bench. We looked like our protection leaks were between Collins and Mendoza. Of the shifting concerns that happen after seeing the team for the first time the O line has moved up my ladder of concerns because it directly impacts Shough. It is a group with experience which is promising but clearly needs more reps together to mesh; if the Jacksonville St game is sitting with a similar spread at the half as AP I'd leave them together for a couple second half series together.
Given the film session Shough had with Tom Luginbill on the Louisville ACC Road Trip they spent the whole segment going over a three step progression read out of MAX protection; I couldn't find any MAX protection sets in rewatching the first half so that is something that we should see more against Ga Tech and certainly in South Bend.
One last thing as it applies to the QB room and maybe Brohm won't appreciate me putting this out there; but those little goal line packages we had with Evan Conley producing a running TD and a TD to Sylvester down in Miami were given an open tryout Saturday for anyone paying attention in the 4th Quarter. You would think it is in Clarkson's skill set...but I wouldn't be surprised to see Travis Egan in that role at some point even with the recency bias of him taking only one snap. That role requires guts and a little red ass more than straight skill and can be a big lift to see somebody produce in big situations from the bottom of the roster. Local Boy Makes Good headlines are not only good for any Program...they are good for the Soul.
2. Was good to see the way the RBs were used; Turner and Chaney with a light workload, The Browns getting quality work and a Duke Watson sighting. It's clear Brohm's prototypical RB is what we've seen in the Browns and Watson--the three RBs he signed out of HS. Quick and all-purpose. I will have to go back and pay specific attention to it but didn't notice how the RBs did in pass protection. Isaac hits the hole like a lightning bolt and he has a different change of pace than the other backs; the other long run he had aside from the TD he did a hesitation move up the Louisville sideline that was like the one Lamar had at Boynton Beach in HS that went viral. The safety's tackle was more accident than design.
Beyond just the workload being spread across the entirety of the RBs, they didn't have to run many plays or show their hand much to do it; it was very basic zone plays and dive plays out of the Pistol. We look like our running attack will be more of an edge hitting, spread look more than the straight ahead looks we had with Guerendo in particular and with Jawhar.
3. I couldn't help coming away from that first half thinking an overall improved aerial attack would be downright lethal with the presence of Caullen Lacy; Brooks is the real deal and provides something we haven't seen with a any frequency when you think back--he's good at going over DBs. Fitzpatrick was the last WR I recall with that type of ability. Brooks clearly has Shough's confidence. It was good to see Jadon Thompson join the spree though Bell's touches were limited. Nobody from among the twos jumped off the screen, but their opportunities were limited.
4. I was skeptical of all of the reports that it was Redman and Jamari Johnson as TE1 and TE1A--I am relieved that can now be put to bed. I was skeptical of Redman because like Thor Griffin he was a late report and skeptical of Jamari Johnson due to his frame when I last saw them in the Spring. Beyond that Kurisky started getting some quality reps in November and was instrumental in the win down in Miami. The TD catch for Redman was something you normally don't see in TEs at the College level--it required adjustment with the ball in the air, it required him not only beating the defender but going over him and the rarest of finishes for TEs...he had to get a foot down and maintain possession through the catch process. Invariably that template is with a wide receiver and not a TE at the college level. I'd submit as a polite reminder that Plummer wouldn't even have attempted that pass last year, and frankly didn't have the personnel at TE to even try it. I am impressed with the physical change in Jamari Johnson and glad to see him get a couple touches. You can see the raw talent and he is an improving blocker. I think we are going to see a lot more two tight end sets this year; when we had them last year it was generally in short yardage or signaled run. In essence they were adding blockers and removing a pass catcher. This year there is more flexibility to attack downfield with the personnel we have.
5. Lastly...a little underwhelmed with the overall pass blocking which is scary when you project ahead to Notre Dame in particular. We went Mills and Mendoza at the tackles, Gonzalez and Collins at the guards and Nygra at center. Cutler and Renato Brown were first off the bench. We looked like our protection leaks were between Collins and Mendoza. Of the shifting concerns that happen after seeing the team for the first time the O line has moved up my ladder of concerns because it directly impacts Shough. It is a group with experience which is promising but clearly needs more reps together to mesh; if the Jacksonville St game is sitting with a similar spread at the half as AP I'd leave them together for a couple second half series together.
