Matt Cotcher
Under Contract
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2014
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Here's some 'instanalysis' from the Spring Game....
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- Jerseys with black numerals or black shoulder pads are fine....in practice.
- During warm-ups, even the DB's were using their hands to catch the football. It's the little things. Coaching matters.
- Swoopes vs Onyegbule during warm-ups: when throwing side-by-side (out routes), there's no comparison. Swoopes throws a zippier ball.
- The whole coaching staff was definitely keyed in on this being the last outing of spring practice (not some exhibition). Tons of instruction going on out there.
- Before kickoff it was Quandre Diggs, Mykkelle Thompson & Josh Turner that were keeping the D loose & energized. Those 3 were up & down the sideline.
- Interesting to see the team split as Offense vs Defense instead of 1's vs 2's (or some manufactured 'team').
- No running out the tunnel. No kickoff. No show. No b-s.
- When the 2nd team got the first shot of the scrimmage, I wondered if that was a subtle message from coaches to the players.
- On John Harris' dropped pass (that would have been a 1st down), he was also lined up wrong & had to be moved by Onyegbule. He was the first read on the play, so that's a significant mistake in my book.
- Great body control from Montrel Meander on his sideline grab in 1Q. He got up shaky, but went right back in the game after a few plays.
- Will Russ was the holder on extra points. I didn't see that coming.
- Lots of 5-2-4 on defense. The coaches must like their lineman more than their backs.
- Naashon Hughes had a nice play. He won't get a tackle, but he pushed his man back so fast that it tripped Malcolm Brown.
- Hasaan Ridgeway & Malcom Brown seemed to be living in the offensive backfield.
- I expected the offense to be slow, but the procedure calls (delays, false starts & substitution) were surprising.
- Nick Rose had enough distance and then some, on his 55-yard attempt. It looked good from my vantage.
- In the first half Swoopes did a nice job of seeing the blitz pre-snap and checking down to complete a quick pass. On the very next play, he missed the blitz and threw into double coverage after he was sacked. Such is life for the foreseeable future.
- Malcolm Brown is so patient and so comfortable running between the tackles. That's rare in today's version of football.
- Jaxon Shipley was the first one back to return punts. Noteworthy since the fair catch game was on.
- I'm no QB Coach, but when Swoopes missed high, his footwork seems to consistently have his weight falling backward.
- Mykkelle Thompson went from doghouse to penthouse in one play. An unnecessary personal foul after a dead play was followed by a perfect read of Onyegbule for a pick-6.
- Desmond Jackson & Malcom Brown were way too much to handle when lined up together.
- I'll reserve judgment on this punt formation until I've seen more of it.
- Daje Johnson was the 2nd player to field punts. Jacorey Warrick was third.
- Even when there seemed to be some daylight for Brown to run inside, it quickly was erased. The defense played very fast today.
- The offense was very 'patient'. For the fans that cried about not committing to the run game, this season should be refreshing.
- Dalton Santos seemed like he was everywhere.
- After another INT, Charlie Strong is unhappy enough to come all the way across the field to "discuss" it with several players and multiple coaches.
- As soon as Swoopes involved Shipley, the offense really found some rhythm.
- The Hail Mary at the half is zero sum.
- After Malcolm Brown caught his TD, he went to the sideline and did push-ups for losing the ball earlier in the series.
- Jacorey Warrick had his name called a lot today. File that away.
- The lady next to me jumped every time they fired Smokey. Every. Time.
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