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Post by Yotes on Apr 26, 2014 10:08:15 GMT -6
Spring game is starting in a couple of hours. I'm pretty excited to see the progress Kevin Earl has been making, he could possibly have a field day against our inexperienced secondary. Also really curious to see what the linebackers look like without Tyler Starr, I think it will still be a very stout group.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 26, 2014 16:12:35 GMT -6
Was a great day. Student competition for a trip to Oregon was awesome. Great way to end the day.
I'm not a football expert. I thought the offense started slow, but finished strong. D looked great early. Pass D was torched many times. Earl had some really nice long balls. We couldn't run the entire day, not sure if that means the O line needs to improve or D line and linebackers were just that good.
Some really nice hits on Defense.
We have three kickers, yep that is right, three kickers.
Great crowd, my guess about 1500.
There was a female student who attended 39 Coyote events last year. She made probably the top twenty in the student catch competition. When she lost David Williams called out that she attended more USD events than any other student at USD. I didn't catch her name, but thought it was a GREAT idea to reward her. I thank her for going to games and hope her friends come to even more games this year.
The first half lasted forever. The second half seemed like it lasted ten plays. Not really sure what that was all about.
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Post by sdyotefan on Apr 26, 2014 16:13:50 GMT -6
Listened to the game on the radio. Sounds like the offense started slow with turnovers but the passing came on strong. Defense had some sacks and stops. Bergner kicking was good. Reaction from those of you who were able to attend?
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Post by Yotes on Apr 26, 2014 16:51:44 GMT -6
Earl had two passes early in the game that made me cringe, just terrible decisions and were picked off. Have to make better decisions.
The long ball worked perfectly, and not because we are an incredible threat through the air. The secondary has to get their game together or else it will be a long season.
I also don't know whether to compliment the DL or chastise the OL. I'm leaning towards giving credit to the DL, but I'm no expert.
Bergner made all of his kicks, and rather easily at that. If he can do that in game situations we will be getting the HS all-american we thought we were getting.
I really liked what I say from Van Roeckel and Shufford, two very solid additions to our receiving corp.
It was just the spring game, but I get the feeling that we will be about where we were last year, but with a potentially big hole at secondary.
I don't know how that girl managed to get to 39 games last year. I made it all the football games and only missed a few basketball games, but she had me beat by like ten games. Must have made her way to the volleyball games, unlike me. I certainly embarrassed myself in my effort at winning that contest, definitely thought I'd catch more than two passes. Certainly a blast to watch the end when the contestants had to spin around the bat multiple times then try to catch that towering punt.
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obc
Senior Member
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Post by obc on Apr 26, 2014 17:23:01 GMT -6
Pictures from the Spring gamePictures from the Spring game in the DakotaDome. According to each caption the DakotaDome is located in Brookings..... ------------------------- Edit - the Argus finally edited the captions and properly placed the DakotaDome in Vermillion this morning.
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yippeo
Freshman Member
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Post by yippeo on Apr 27, 2014 7:07:34 GMT -6
Thanks for the update, Yotes and obc.
Looks like there's some work to do in the secondary. I guess that's expected losing 4 SRs, but hopefully it's a matter of reps and game experience, not talent.
I've only seen the little video available from Saturday & the spring check-in, but I'm actually thinking that our offense could be something special this year. If the OL can develop into a solid core, I think we've got some really good skill players at both RB and WR, and it looks like FB, TE will be a strong suit also. As with every strong arm QB, keeping the decision-making in check and keeping the INTs down will be crucial. Looks like Kramer, Van Roeckel are developing, and Coach Glenn has been speaking highly of the HS recruit, who at least will be given the opportunity to play as a true freshman. And it sure is nice to have a talent like Vander Maten in the group,also. It all starts with the OL grinding it out and getting these RBs some consistent yardage, and if that happens, look out...
I know, it is just SPRING!!
Go YOTES!
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Post by yoteforever on Apr 27, 2014 7:26:19 GMT -6
To all those that post on here, how would you grade the team overall?
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Post by yoteforever on Apr 27, 2014 7:27:08 GMT -6
Also, would you say we are ahead of last year, about the same, or behind?
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usdlaw
Senior Member
Posts: 930
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Post by usdlaw on Apr 27, 2014 8:46:48 GMT -6
Pass offense ahead
Run offense behind until OL improves
Run defense ahead
Pass defense way behind
Overall about same as last year, if pass defense improves then I say ahead. I think OL will come around run blocking. Thought they did pretty well with pass protection
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Post by yoteforever on Apr 27, 2014 9:19:05 GMT -6
Pass offense ahead Run offense behind until OL improves Run defense ahead Pass defense way behind Overall about same as last year, if pass defense improves then I say ahead. I think OL will come around run blocking. Thought they did pretty well with pass protection Thank you kind sir |
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Post by Yotes on Apr 27, 2014 11:12:41 GMT -6
Overall I'd rate the team at about a B-, almost every unit on the team is improved. You are only as strong as your weakest link though, and our Secondary is far and away the weakest spot on the team. If that unit pulls together into a decent product, we'll likely improve to 7-5 (though the fan in me wants to say 8-4)
In our Secondary's defense, I will say that our WRs look incredible. I never would have guessed it when the news broke, but I don't think we're going to miss Terry too much. May be the strongest unit on the team. Add in Tacari Carpenter and JVM (who was not in pads), and it will be all the more impressive.
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obc
Senior Member
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Post by obc on Apr 27, 2014 13:04:05 GMT -6
Pass offense - this is an improved area. Earl got a ton of reps this Spring and really showed he can be a top caliber player. The receiving corp this year is deeper and more developed. At times last year the WR dropped too many passes - should be much improved. Pass protection is average currently. This could be the biggest variable for the passing game. Earl is more than capable when he can set up and throw off his back foot. When he gets pressure his decision making becomes compromised and his accuracy also suffers. The passing success also will depend on the ability of the running game to get established - IMO Earl will be at his best in play action sets and when the defense must account for a run threat.
Run offense - RBs are as deep as we have had since I started following the program. The OL is also deeper than last year but I did not see the type of snap off the ball that I was hoping for. There were still some frustrating procedure penalties and some other obvious mental errors that cannot happen. Bottom line is that this unit and the entire rushing offense should be improved over last year
Pass defense - the safeties and corners have a lot of work to do over the summer communicating and understanding coverage. This is the biggest weakness on the team currently. I think the skill is there. Hopefully they put in the work the next four months during the offseason to shore things up. I think pass rush will be about the same as last year. Overall they are improved but without Starr - there is a huge hole to fill. I will predict as a unit they get more QB sacks this next year than in 2013.
Run Defense - this will be the most improved area on the team. The DE and DT players (rush men) are much more developed and will be a challenge for offensive units to push around. Can they stay relatively healthy for a season is the X factor. OLB and ILB will do a great job - deep and stron unit. Auston Johnson is reading everything out there and is playing as well as any ILB we have had. Adam Broders a few years back the last half of his senior year is the closest thing I can remember to how Johnson is playing.
Kicking game. Punts are still inconsistent without the kind of hang time the unit needs. Snaps have been good. FG kicking and extra points that I witnessed by Miles were all very good and accurate. Glenn mentioned that he has been very erratic this spring and that concerns me. I will also say we had better hope he stays healthy because the number 2 and 3 kickers on the depth chart are a significant step down from Miles. Special teams as a unit scares me a lot. It has been a killer the last two years across the board.
Need to keep all of the above in perspective. I walked away from last years Spring game very worried and the team came out and played much better than what I felt that would have predicted.
We all get to see in four months! Enjoy the summer!
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Post by 88grad on Apr 27, 2014 13:20:35 GMT -6
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Post by 94grad on Apr 27, 2014 14:31:33 GMT -6
Hard to know what to cheer for in a game like this. Nice to see Bouma breaking some tackles (one man's broken tackle is another man's poor tackling of course). Also glad that at least one of the picks wasn't Earl's fault. Sadly, I would've liked to have seen some punting. I haven't heard anyone say otherwise, so I'm going to assume the long snapping on the FGs was adequate. |
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Post by 88grad on Apr 27, 2014 15:38:15 GMT -6
There was only one punt at the very end of the "game" and it was very staged. Short of a snap sailing over someone's head there was nothing to get out of it.
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