Antoine Caldwell is having a storming game. The commentators keep talking Andre Smith up, but play after running play, Glen Coffee has huge holes because of Caldwell. He blocks so well on the move and gets consistent push on almost every snap and even when he's rocked back, he maintains strong technique and uses that solid base to keep his feet. He's never on the ground.
When Smith gets his hands on you, it's done, but he's slow off the ball and that often leaves him Loadholting (off balanced). Did you see BC/Va Tech?
Smith also doesn't have that superior second kick that Mike Oher has for example and that Jason Smith has. Watch when Smith kicks but doesn't have his hands on the end. After his first kick, if the end takes a 2nd move around the outside, Smith's footwork isn't as strong as the others in keeping the end away from the QB. Oher has tremendously quick feet, even if at times he looks initially sloppy off the ball.
Caldwell is impressing- he has power and some of the best feet I've seen on a center. Reminds me of D"Brickashaw Fergusun's feet- and that's saying a lot for a center. I'm starting to understand the Dwight Stephenson comparisons. Tebow- I think that this board has him underrated- I wouldn't be surprised to see the Vikings take him in the 1st. Cody- Big, doing some good things, but I'm not seeing much quickness. If Jerry can get to the 305-315 range I'd rather have him. I'd still take Cody over Raji.
I fell asleep during the 1st half, but everytime I woke up Mark Herzlich was making a play. Then in the 2nd half he recovered 2 fumbles and was generally all over the field. BJ Raji played pretty well. He sheds very well, but he consistently plays a little high and gets rocked a bit too often for me. He's definitely a good player, but he's in that 2nd level of DT's. He's certainly not in the class of Marks, Cody or Jerry.
Look how Tebow won't be an NFL QB; this game is the perfect personificaton; when he has to work his progressions and when the pocket moves but Hightower and McClain stay in the box and prevent him running, his mechanics, footwork and delivery are horrific.
I don't know what to make of Tebow. He looks good at times and then at times, he looks awfully sloppy. Wind up seems a bit long.
Don't see it with Tebow. An NFL CB isn't going to bite the way Marquise Johnson just did. Cody is still coming back off the leg injury and really he's not in there to be "quick" per se. His role today is to space eat and allow Hightower and McClain and the very impressive Justin Woodall to come free. The game is too fast for him to be hugely effective because Florida's game is downhill and on the edges, rather than through the middle.
No doubt about it, he's fun to watch, a tremendous competitor and a great college QB. But I don't see NFL translational skills. Yes he has a decent arm, yes he's bright and mobile, but the ball doesn't get out quickly, if he gets pressured the mechanics break down and he's still a run first QB at heart and if you can't break that mentality in college, it's much harder to break in the pros.
That fake FG was the dumbest call I've seen in a long time. Talk about giving the Gators momentum when they had none.
Look at Caldwell's feet, knees, hips and shoulders; all perfectly aligned on every snap. Great drive up through the DT, getting tremendous pad level; on some snaps he immediately turns his guy to the side, others he gets the initial forward movement with great technique, then quick as a flash turns his hips and moves his feet and turns him to the side, never losing balance and always keeping his body between the ball carrier and the defender. He's textbook. Putting on a clinic.
Spikes rush off the edge on Andre Smith is an example of something that I think will be a problem in the NFL for Smith. A quick first step will get by Smith.
I think that he can adapt. He's accurate, has a pretty good arm, and I find his delivery acceptable. Plus, he he is a consumate producer and winner. I sent the last post before the long completion- it wasn't an impressive throw, but he got the job done. I don't find the GBN pick of him to the Jets in the first absurd, either. He'll have to prove it in the pros, but I think that some team will take an early shot. The wildcat craze won't hurt either- I can see the Vikes picturing him doing the run/pass/option to A Peterson thing.
Absolutely. It's interesting to see Spikes line up there. I know it's something Chris thinks can play a major role in his future
I agree. Again, like Dwight Stephenson- from the time that he snaps the ball to when he's upright, drive blocking with explosion or getting his hands up to pass pro- it's a blur.
I've seen so many college QB's like Tim. He's a throwback, but is he going to be a 5 step pocket passer? Well he might, but I would rather hand my card in empty than draft him as a QB. I don't see it.
That was a nice throw to Hernandez, but damn that ball comes out slow. Mollasses delivery. Love Justin Woodall.
Could be, whatever happens with Tebow in the pros happens. All he needs is one team to fall in love with him. The best part of this game, to me, is watching Caldwell do his thing. I could see us taking him in the 2nd.
Lol! Justin had a great run stop a few plays earlier and then the touchdown came and I was like "what?" That was ugly.
This is the second or third time I've watched Alterraun Verner of UCLA and I really like him. He gets high and will bite on fakes but he can make plays and is a good player. I think he could be a second/third rounder.
I know. He's usually pretty strong in coverage but that was heinous. Typical. I big a guy up and he makes a douchebag type play!
Lol. For some reason, when I read this post I thought about when you said you wouldn't trade Calvin Johnson for Derek Hagan and then Johnson went off.
I really haven't seen much more than 2 quarters of the Bruins this season. But the USC game is on tomorrow morning so I'll tape that.
Yeah. That was a bad moment in my life. Thing is, I'd watched him back to back weeks and in the second game especially, he was like a statue; couldn't get off the line, Harris and Woodson were pressing him at the LOS and he was screwed. Straight after that game he goes all Jerry Rice. I'm such an idiot. No idea why Arenas is fielding that punt.
Haha. CK was like "why would you even say that??" That was funny. Arenas may be thinking too highly of himself (just like his cousin). Fielding that punt was boneheaded.
Hell I was thinking why I'd even say that!!! Seriously though, I was hugely disappointed with him as a pro to that point and I'd been so high on him as a collegian. Great job by Brandon Spikes of engaging and then literally throwing Andre Smith aside. Bama HAS to re-establish Glen Coffee, re-establish the playaction passing that gets JPW out of the pocket and then start finding Julio Jones in single coverage.
JPW got greedy there......great effort by Coffee. If Alabama wins the National Title, Coffee's coming out as well.
