Latest Saturday Practice

[Jasper]

r>A funny thing happened during a quiet spring practice today. A football game broke out.......and then some. The Furman defense may be light on coaching staff right now but they are sure long on elan. Their hoopin and hollerin after every stop in a scrimmage session got to the Offense, who were happy to return the favor with lots of single digit finger waving goodbyes of their own when they turned the edge. It was the chippiest, chattiest, most contentious session I've seen at FU practices. Even had a couple of roll arounds and pull aparts. Intense but lots of fun - especially since it all wound up in a shoulder pad patting love fest. Young bucks at play, I guess. A very good session. Some thoughts:<br/>
<br/>
Hard to believe but <B><s></s>Dejuan Bell<e></e></B> looks faster and shiftier than last year.<br/>
O line looks very deep - at least 10 players getting substantial snaps - includes Evan Jumper</r>
Davonte Porter looks great at bandit
Great to see Alec Hanff back on the D line
Position switch form DT to DE will be good for Landon Lawrence - very quick off the edge
London Lewis took place in some drill today and looks big
Austin Jones getting plenty of reps at Safety
Chase Abshier at RB is very fast and sure handed

Maybe some more observations after the BB game.

[FUBeAR]

r>A funny thing happened during a quiet spring practice today. A football game broke out.......and then some. The Furman defense may be light on coaching staff right now but they are sure long on elan. Their hoopin and hollerin after every stop in a scrimmage session got to the Offense, who were happy to return the favor with lots of single digit finger waving goodbyes of their own when they turned the edge. It was the chippiest, chattiest, most contentious session I've seen at FU practices. Even had a couple of roll arounds and pull aparts. Intense but lots of fun - especially since it all wound up in a shoulder pad patting love fest. Young bucks at play, I guess. A very good session. Some thoughts:<br/>
<br/>
Hard to believe but <B><s></s>Dejuan Bell<e></e></B> looks faster and shiftier than last year.<br/>
O line looks very deep - at least 10 players getting substantial snaps - includes Evan Jumper</r>
Davonte Porter looks great at bandit
Great to see Alec Hanff back on the D line
Position switch form DT to DE will be good for Landon Lawrence - very quick off the edge
London Lewis took place in some drill today and looks big
Austin Jones getting plenty of reps at Safety
Chase Abshier at RB is very fast and sure handed

Maybe some more observations after the BB game.

Cool - 1st part sounds about like Spring Practice should be - at least 1 multi-player dust-up/practice & at least 1 1-on-1 fracas during each contact drill.

0 of that ish during Fall practice, but in the Spring, let ‘em work it out a bit...already dressed for battle; ain’t nobody gonna get hurt unless they’re stupid enough to take their helmet off, in which case they obviously need to have some sense knocked into them.

[The Jackal]

Casual observation.

If you look at Hendrix's first signing class, most of that group is slated to be key contributors to the 2019 team. Of course, there is attrition here and there with guys leaving the program, but the overwhelming majority of the class is slated to be a steady contributor this season.

If you go back and look at some prior recruiting classes under other administrations, you might see half a recruiting class actually getting playing time; maybe less. This staff seems to be getting their guys and then developing them with a push toward playing time.

[Jasper]

r>A funny thing happened during a quiet spring practice today. A football game broke out.......and then some. The Furman defense may be light on coaching staff right now but they are sure long on elan. Their hoopin and hollerin after every stop in a scrimmage session got to the Offense, who were happy to return the favor with lots of single digit finger waving goodbyes of their own when they turned the edge. It was the chippiest, chattiest, most contentious session I've seen at FU practices. Even had a couple of roll arounds and pull aparts. Intense but lots of fun - especially since it all wound up in a shoulder pad patting love fest. Young bucks at play, I guess. A very good session. Some thoughts:<br/>
<br/>
Hard to believe but <B><s></s>Dejuan Bell<e></e></B> looks faster and shiftier than last year.<br/>
O line looks very deep - at least 10 players getting substantial snaps - includes Evan Jumper</r>
Davonte Porter looks great at bandit
Great to see Alec Hanff back on the D line
Position switch form DT to DE will be good for Landon Lawrence - very quick off the edge
London Lewis took place in some drill today and looks big
Austin Jones getting plenty of reps at Safety
Chase Abshier at RB is very fast and sure handed

Maybe some more observations after the BB game.

Cool - 1st part sounds about like Spring Practice should be - at least 1 multi-player dust-up/practice & at least 1 1-on-1 fracas during each contact drill.

0 of that ish during Fall practice, but in the Spring, let ‘em work it out a bit...already dressed for battle; ain’t nobody gonna get hurt unless they’re stupid enough to take their helmet off, in which case they obviously need to have some sense knocked into them.

Well, I can tell you that they enjoyed it as much as you obviously did from your time. I spoke with a few starters this afternoon and they were laughing and jabbing each other about the whole thing....but just a tad embarrassed that I could hear some of the trash talk. Just the way a bunch of 19-20 year olds should feel after a fun practice. They are anxious to get a DB coach but not very concerned about the DC change. They have faith that CCH will get a good person and they are just going about their business and having fun. Whoever the new DC will be will inherit a very feisty, talented and seasoned unit. Here are a few more lesser known names from the practice that I noticed and who have shown lots of improvement:

Jake Walker was not suited up so Evan Vaughn and newcomer Ben Page played a lot at TE. Both impressed. Looks like Darius Morehead and a few others might be dinged up a bit after 2 weeks practice.
Parker Stokes has a big bull rush from the NG slot that he did not display last year.
Dillon Vann moved over from offense and looks very quick coming off the edge. Our DE's and Bandits are very fast getting to the QB. The new DC will have a ball with this group.
Every one of our RB's is a good receiver with great speed when the get to the outside. Lots of short flairs to the backs today.
The important Spur position headed by Jordan Willis is very strong and deep. I hope this defensive scheme will stay intact.

[furman88]

Nice report, thx. Any news on QB Play?

[FUBeAR]

r>A funny thing happened during a quiet spring practice today. A football game broke out.......and then some. The Furman defense may be light on coaching staff right now but they are sure long on elan. Their hoopin and hollerin after every stop in a scrimmage session got to the Offense, who were happy to return the favor with lots of single digit finger waving goodbyes of their own when they turned the edge. It was the chippiest, chattiest, most contentious session I've seen at FU practices. Even had a couple of roll arounds and pull aparts. Intense but lots of fun - especially since it all wound up in a shoulder pad patting love fest. Young bucks at play, I guess. A very good session. Some thoughts:<br/>
<br/>
Hard to believe but <B><s></s>Dejuan Bell<e></e></B> looks faster and shiftier than last year.<br/>
O line looks very deep - at least 10 players getting substantial snaps - includes Evan Jumper</r>
Davonte Porter looks great at bandit
Great to see Alec Hanff back on the D line
Position switch form DT to DE will be good for Landon Lawrence - very quick off the edge
London Lewis took place in some drill today and looks big
Austin Jones getting plenty of reps at Safety
Chase Abshier at RB is very fast and sure handed

Maybe some more observations after the BB game.

Cool - 1st part sounds about like Spring Practice should be - at least 1 multi-player dust-up/practice & at least 1 1-on-1 fracas during each contact drill.

0 of that ish during Fall practice, but in the Spring, let ‘em work it out a bit...already dressed for battle; ain’t nobody gonna get hurt unless they’re stupid enough to take their helmet off, in which case they obviously need to have some sense knocked into them.

Well, I can tell you that they enjoyed it as much as you obviously did from your time. I spoke with a few starters this afternoon and they were laughing and jabbing each other about the whole thing....but just a tad embarrassed that I could hear some of the trash talk. Just the way a bunch of 19-20 year olds should feel after a fun practice. They are anxious to get a DB coach but not very concerned about the DC change. They have faith that CCH will get a good person and they are just going about their business and having fun. Whoever the new DC will be will inherit a very feisty, talented and seasoned unit. Here are a few more lesser known names from the practice that I noticed and who have shown lots of improvement:

Jake Walker was not suited up so Evan Vaughn and newcomer Ben Page played a lot at TE. Both impressed. Looks like Darius Morehead and a few others might be dinged up a bit after 2 weeks practice.
Parker Stokes has a big bull rush from the NG slot that he did not display last year.
Dillon Vann moved over from offense and looks very quick coming off the edge. Our DE's and Bandits are very fast getting to the QB. The new DC will have a ball with this group.
Every one of our RB's is a good receiver with great speed when the get to the outside. Lots of short flairs to the backs today.
The important Spur position headed by Jordan Willis is very strong and deep. I hope this defensive scheme will stay intact.

Sounds like you had as much fun as they did!

Excellent report.

I was fortunate enough to be on the sidelines for the WCU @ FU game last season...and that Dillon Vann is the kind of Player that made me really want to earn a Starting OL job when I was a youngster at FU...so I could GET OFF the dang Kickoff Return Team! He was FLYING downfield, HUNTIN' CONTACT on those kickoffs...and CRACKING people!!! You can't really appreciate the intensity of those collisions on Kickoffs unless you are down there 'mongstem. Pretty sure a few of those Catamounts were trying to find a way to get off the KO Return Team that day too!

Defense is definitely the right side of the ball for that young man, in FUBeAR's always humble opinion.

[Jasper]

I did have fun and I told a bunch of them as much later in the day. Lots of hoopin and hollerin then with plenty of hand slapping and shoulder bumping. I told them if they are going to do that every Saturday, they ought to start selling tickets.
As to Dillon Vann. I would not be surprised if this kid winds up being this year's Adrian Hope in regard to QB sacks. Looks to me like he is being groomed as a pass rush specialist. He is very quick off the ball and really wants to get there - dogged determination, you might say. I hope the new DC sees it that way, whoever that may be.

[paladinduece]

Jasper thanks for all your updates it is much appreciated.

[Jasper]

You are welcome, deuce. It's one of the benefits of retirement for sports fans. We get to watch practices. This is a very easy bunch to root for as well.

[soconjohn]

Not worried about this team at all...If Grainger comes around, this is a playoff team and a potential SoCon champion next year...I am thinking 10-2.

[soconjohn]

Some of you will think that's overboard, but I'm okay with that...This was a young team last year that could have folded, but didn't...That showed me something about their collective character.

[soconjohn]

Wins: Georgia State, Charleston Southern, Wofford, The Citadel, Western Carolina, Mercer, ETSU, Chattanooga, VMI, Point

Losses: at Virginia Tech, at Samford

[soconjohn]

Furman will have a Top 10 defense nationally next fall....Mark it down!

[MNORM]

Not worried about this team at all...If Grainger comes around, this is a playoff team and a potential SoCon champion next year...I am thinking 10-2.

You may end up being correct...but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised (and sort of expect) Hamp Sisson to be under Center for the opening drive vs. CSU.

[The Jackal]

Some of you will think that's overboard, but I'm okay with that...This was a young team last year that could have folded, but didn't...That showed me something about their collective character.

I am 100% of the opinion that there were several games last year we would have lost a few years ago.

The ETSU game was a black eye, but I can get a big picture of us losing to WCU, Mercer, the Citadel and UTC under prior administrations. In each of those games we got a lead and survived a late push from the opponent. Character building stuff.