I would suspect that most of us fans are enjoying the more open format of Griz spring and fall camps where, outside of noted closed practices, anyone can attend. Media has been able to be there all day as well and we're seeing some better reports already with hopefully more to come.
As always I'm trying to hit as many days as I can, however a busy August schedule for me personally might prevent quite a few updates. I wanted to set up a thread to share some general updates and observations. I'll keep it to general info that I think most all would see/observe if they attended. I won't share info on injuries, formations, trick plays, etc. And I wont be doing any sort of live update/info either. Just wanted to share some general takeaways as I think there's a lot of excitement building around this 2019 Griz team and I thought it would be good for me, and others, to share.
Yesterday was the first day of camp, no pads as usual, but there was plenty of excitement.
This didn't feel like a typical day 1, and I think there's good reasons why. For nearly a decade it would seem to me that many of the first few days of fall camp the players were more casual, there were more laughs and joking around, and a little more confusion and dis-organization. Not yesterday. This team was practicing and working with the intensity and focus of a team that's been at it for a while. This could speak to the fact that apparently almost everyone who could be stayed in town over the summer, or just the strong will to keep improving, or a little bit of both. It wasn't the best practice, there was a fair share of dropped passes, missed passes, missed lanes, interceptions, etc. However, I felt like I was watching a team that was preparing as if they had a game this coming Saturday, and it was great to see.
Overall it's tough to really read much on players and progression when they're not in pads. The skill players all look awesome, the OL/DL/LBs/RBs mostly don't look great when in team drills. Today is no-pads again, I'm hoping to catch a little bit but my afternoon is starting to get a little hectic.
Of the players that stood out to me;
- Sneed, passing was on point, clear-cut leader, sharp command of the offense and working with younger guys to help them out too. At this point last year Sneed was opening fall camp knowing he was the presumed starter but I didn't see this much of strong leadership from him at that point.
- Toure, now wearing #8, appeared to be a top target of Sneed's. If day 1 is any indicator he's poised to have a bounce-back year. I think there was a Missoulian article that came out today about him re-focusing for the year as well.
- Sulser, doing what he does best, quick catches and long runs leaving a lot of guys in the dust.
- McGinnis, the Griz have an absolute stud in the making with Michael McGinnis, he had a few picks. I believer Dareon Nash had one as well.
- Bingham, watch out FCS. Crisp routes, great hands, almost 250 pounds and looking like a stud TE. I think he's finally at the size/weight to really dominate.
- Villanueva, looking leaner and moving well. Angel might have his starting job back.
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The coaches were pretty animated, there wasn't a lot of friendly chatter and banter that I overheard. They were really pushing this team on day 1. I didn't see much from any of the transfers or new freshman that really stood out, usually we see newer guys make a splash early but wash out as the camp grind goes on, so as the week goes by it'll be interesting to see if any start to rise. There was a fair share of issues too, largely dropped passes. I didn't see any fumbles, there were a handful of picks. Some defensive secondary guys getting caught flat footed and beat deep too much.
Fall camp is under way! On the days that I get there I'll update this thread.
Go Griz!
As always I'm trying to hit as many days as I can, however a busy August schedule for me personally might prevent quite a few updates. I wanted to set up a thread to share some general updates and observations. I'll keep it to general info that I think most all would see/observe if they attended. I won't share info on injuries, formations, trick plays, etc. And I wont be doing any sort of live update/info either. Just wanted to share some general takeaways as I think there's a lot of excitement building around this 2019 Griz team and I thought it would be good for me, and others, to share.
Yesterday was the first day of camp, no pads as usual, but there was plenty of excitement.
This didn't feel like a typical day 1, and I think there's good reasons why. For nearly a decade it would seem to me that many of the first few days of fall camp the players were more casual, there were more laughs and joking around, and a little more confusion and dis-organization. Not yesterday. This team was practicing and working with the intensity and focus of a team that's been at it for a while. This could speak to the fact that apparently almost everyone who could be stayed in town over the summer, or just the strong will to keep improving, or a little bit of both. It wasn't the best practice, there was a fair share of dropped passes, missed passes, missed lanes, interceptions, etc. However, I felt like I was watching a team that was preparing as if they had a game this coming Saturday, and it was great to see.
Overall it's tough to really read much on players and progression when they're not in pads. The skill players all look awesome, the OL/DL/LBs/RBs mostly don't look great when in team drills. Today is no-pads again, I'm hoping to catch a little bit but my afternoon is starting to get a little hectic.
Of the players that stood out to me;
- Sneed, passing was on point, clear-cut leader, sharp command of the offense and working with younger guys to help them out too. At this point last year Sneed was opening fall camp knowing he was the presumed starter but I didn't see this much of strong leadership from him at that point.
- Toure, now wearing #8, appeared to be a top target of Sneed's. If day 1 is any indicator he's poised to have a bounce-back year. I think there was a Missoulian article that came out today about him re-focusing for the year as well.
- Sulser, doing what he does best, quick catches and long runs leaving a lot of guys in the dust.
- McGinnis, the Griz have an absolute stud in the making with Michael McGinnis, he had a few picks. I believer Dareon Nash had one as well.
- Bingham, watch out FCS. Crisp routes, great hands, almost 250 pounds and looking like a stud TE. I think he's finally at the size/weight to really dominate.
- Villanueva, looking leaner and moving well. Angel might have his starting job back.
-------------
The coaches were pretty animated, there wasn't a lot of friendly chatter and banter that I overheard. They were really pushing this team on day 1. I didn't see much from any of the transfers or new freshman that really stood out, usually we see newer guys make a splash early but wash out as the camp grind goes on, so as the week goes by it'll be interesting to see if any start to rise. There was a fair share of issues too, largely dropped passes. I didn't see any fumbles, there were a handful of picks. Some defensive secondary guys getting caught flat footed and beat deep too much.
Fall camp is under way! On the days that I get there I'll update this thread.
Go Griz!