Post Practice Takeaways 4/17: Defense
First of all, I have to preface that the defense is still missing three of the best players in Terrel Bernard, TJ Franklin, and Gabe Hall. Tyrone Brown was also missing and looks great without pads. Defensive LineSiaki Ika is a difference maker. One I have never seen in a Baylor uniform at this size. We can talk Billings, Tayler, Dotson, etc and none were 360+ moving like this with no stop and able to change direction like him. Just truly fun to watchChidi Ogbonnaya is much bigger and healthy. He's going to be able to give valuable minutes beside or behind Apu.Rob Saulin looks like he's not battling Covid and has put on great weight. The 5th year Senior gets off the ball well and at DE in this 3-4, he'll occupy blockers and get some pressure upfield as he did today.Jackson Shupp is a walk-on getting time with two other DL out and he holds his own and made plays. You love to see a guy like this with a motor that doesn't stop and anyone in front of him can't take a break.Brayden Utley was a walk-on until last year and he started out with the 1st and rotated with the 2s as well. At 6-1 270, he's a guy that is going to muddy up the outside, which allows LBs to run free.Garmon Randolph is so full of potential and he flashes it more now than he did in 2020. At 265, he still looks lean and like he could be 290 and be a taller James Franis/Julius Denton athlete. As a sophomore, his NFL potential will be something to watch. Joshua Landry ran at NT and LDE during the practice and I didn't really notice him during the practice, besides running with 1s and 2s.I don't remember seeing Ryan Miller Cole Maxwell has grown and he made one play that made me smile by flushing Zeno out of the pocket and into the arms of a JACK. Overall the defensive line is loaded. LOADED and there is no true dropoff and they can challenge the 2019 line in dominance, which brings us to the next position...LinebackersAgain, missing TB and Tyrone Brown, but deep with talent and speedJACKAshton Logan is noticeably bigger and knows his position. He's getting pushed by Victor Obi who, like Randolph, doesn't look his weight, but he's active and long. He swoops like a condor outside with his wingspanBryson Jackson looks like he's shot out of a cannon on pass rushing and flat ran past Galvin on one play. He had other flashes where it was great to see the Senior putting his foot down and going upfield in pursuit of the ball carrier or QBAnthony Anyanwu looks like an NFL LB in size and his first step is still explosive. He's a little behind Logan, Obi, and Jackson, but he's not needed this second or season, but he'll be readyWill Garner also looks good physically, but I don't remember him outside of warmupsILBDillon Doyle is more decisive and in so, his speed to the ball has improved. He seems to be everywhere and teaming him with Bernard and Pitre is going to be fun to watchSpeaking of Abram Smith, he overwhelms with speed and physicality, but I turned to Gary and Smoaky during practice and said, "I'm not so sure he shouldn't be at RB, but he definitely should be going both ways at this point to get him on the field."Matt Jones is also more decisive and stronger. He's gotten after the ball carrier with bad intentions at each of the last practices I've attended. Will Williams missed a read on an Abram Smith TD run, but he's going to be someone to watch with his speed on the fieldI don't remember seeing Hakeem Vance Brooks Miller laid the wood on Abram Smith and he got up a little woosy, but continued on. Abram got another 2-3 yards after contact, but it was violent.Tyrone Brown from WOS was out there with the 2s and didn't look lost and made a play or twoSTAR or whatever it is called now and other SafetiesJalen Pitre is Pitre. Enough saidJT Woods got a solid lick in run support and on RJ Sneed as he broke free on the sideline. He looks bigger and more confident in the systemChristian Morgan is also bigger and not blowing assignments as he did against a couple of teams in 2020. Solid and physicalLorando Johnson, Jr. was a CB and is now a safety and his athleticism there is noticeable. His interception on Shapen against Fleeks in the end zone was beautiful. He also supported well on running plays.I was looking for Devin Neal and Mike Harris, but don't remember seeing either, which is good and bad, I guessDevin Lemear and Jairon McVea are two more safeties I didn't notice. Again, they didn't screw up or make a play I rememberCornersNobody with throw on Raleigh Texada, just weird, but he's pressing, redirecting WRs in routes, and looks greatKalon Barnes does have the QBs testing him and he looks more natural in his backpedal and mirroringLoving the move of Alfahiym Walcott to CB. He's physical and can run. Looked good.AJ McCarty is always around the ball. He's a year away, IMO.I don't remember seeing Chateau Reed or Brandon White or Byron Hanspard Zeke Brown was in with the 3s and he got his first INT and start against OSU last yearMark Milton has improved his technique and footwork. He's going to be a serviceable #2, but Walcott is going to push himI can't say more about how impressed I am with this unit. Being on the field level with them is like being next to some NFL sized teams. Several sources told us they had really seen improvement under the new weight staff, but damn, it is noticeable from the distance we are asked to be at from them.
4/10 Practice: Insider Notes
It was such a joy to get down to McLane on Saturday and I wanted to take a little bit to process all I saw at the practice and learned from others around the program while there. The elephants in the room remain quarterback and offensive line. I did a solid five minutes of video on offensive line drills and noted Klinge (precaution), Kimble (surgery), and Keith (minor issue) were held out. Byers was not there at all and I was later told he had an obligation to attend to and was excused. This left 10 players to practice, including transfer/walk-on Jacob Frater and true freshman Connor Heffernan. Both of these guys look out of place in the size category. The other 8 and the three there, but held out look like real DI OL. Starting OL started with Newman at C and Miller at RG. The issues I've seen with Newman at C continued with snaps being low and not consistent. The issues with him being late off the ball and being driven into the backfield also continued and Siaki Ika appeared to pick up the snap count and was dominating the LOS inside and leaving the RBs with little choice but to try to get around that mammoth pile of humanity or be tackled. Once that broke down, the rest of the DL fed off the miscues and made the play in the backfield or minimal gain. Miller moved to C after 4-5 series and the interior blocking improved. Taye McWilliams was able to pop a 40+ yards TD against the 2nd team DL as Miller crossed the NG, turned him, and then made his way to the LB in the hole. On this play, Newman kicked the DL outside. The previous play, Newman was 10 yards deep in the backfield tackling Rob Saulin's penetration. Galvin was solid and remains the best OL. Phillips had ups and downs at RT and Johncarlo Valentin is going to find his way into the mix. Mose Jeffery did not have a good day at RT and appears headed to LG or RG, depending on the C situation. Newman is a team captain, so the situation is one where Newman needs to step up his play or a captain could be on the bench. He has the ability, but it has to click.Micah Mazzccua has good size, but needs to not fall into the Khalil Keith mold of missing the game because he isn't a student of it. The OL still needs to improve and I can see the technique from Mateos drilling it into all of them, but there needs to be more dudes and not JAGS. The physical size is there. The coaching is there. It is on the players to execute now. Quarterback was a shock to see Blake Shapen run out for the first series. The RS Freshman has a lively arm and moxy, but it got the best of him on a seam route to Tyquan Thornton as Jalen Pitre was able to undercut it and take it back 50+ yards on the interception. Jacob Zeno came in and looked more poised than last year and was able to make plays and lead the team to scores against the 2nd team DL. The throws were essentially all good and he looked to take command in this practice. I'll state that once more, this practice. ONE PRACTICE.Gerry Bohanon came on third and took that amount of reps and struggled at times and flashing at times. Running behind the 2nd team OL was likely frustrating as pressure was coming from JACK and DL on each snap. In other practices, Bohanon has been best, per those around the program, so the battle isn't over between the three.Kyron Drones drips with ability, but his development will take a bit of time and he'll be one to watch going forward. He had a beautiful pass dropped in the end zone. The pass is one we would not have seen last year as it required a different arm strength.All four have more arm talent than Charlie, but each will need to become the winner he was at the DI level. Running backs were bigger. Much bigger than the previous two years. Nothing to add here as they're talented and just need holes. Wide receivers look to have taken a big jump. RJ Sneed was in the slot, along with Gavin Holmes and each made great plays. Holmes hauled in a TD across the middle and then left to have his foot/ankle retaped and was held out for the remaineder of the practice. Thorntion was back to running with his speed, but the one that popped off the field was Jackson Gleeson. The speedster from Mansfield looks to be healthy and serious to make an impression. I knew he was fast, but to see him accellerate and run away from a DB with an angle was special. Javon Gipson and Elijah Bean showed better than usual freshmen when compared to the current players on campus. Jaylen Ellis also had some athletic plays and a TD where he adjusted to the ball, threw the DB down, and then drug him into the end zone. DL is deep. Nothing to add, but extremely happy there.LB looked good/great.DB group looked good. Barnes got beat for a TD.Ask away
Weightlifters Of The Day: Peak Offseason Ending
Which players and positions are leading the way in the offseason lifting and conditioning
Trusting The Process: Recruiting
Matt Rhule had a message everyone needs to digest again concerning recruiting
The FRO: Volume 1, Issue 15
In Facts, Rumors & Opinions (aka FRO), the SicEm365 staff compiles their knowledge and speculation from a number of conversations for a piece to cover a variety of interesting topics on Baylor University and Baylor Athletics including football, basketball and recruiting.
