2017 Spring Practice Schedule and Game

[sportschic]

Thanks for the spring practice 411! The word is Mathews broke his elbow. Please keep us long distance peeps informed:) I look forward to reading the pro boards and getting the scoop:)

[yotefbfan]

obc great job, really appreciate the insight, especially for those that are too far to go see them up close! Sounds like the recruiting class of "16 may be making an impact. Heard Roth may be done with football after the surgery?

[usdtator]

[obc]

Notes from Spring Practice # 4 - Saturday March 25th

This was a full-padded 2 hour practice so it was a good opportunity to observe players in contact drills as well as full team scrimmage periods.

I spent the greatest percentage of my time watching the OL and DL.

OL - My top 9 in order of my assessment: Stetson Dagel, Ed Kennedy, Nick Jensen, Cody Jennings, Michael Bianchi, Tanner Anderson, Sean Chisholm, Mason Scheidegger, and Tyler Johnson. In my opinion they each have the ability to play next year. None of them is a dominant player, but each of them have good versatility and the ability to both block when covered by a defensive lineman as well as enough mobility and athleticism to block a LB in space. This unit does not have a first team all-MVFC player right now, but they will be deeper than the last few years.

DL - Jake Leohr was in a black non-contact jersey like the QBs today. Must have some type of lingering injury?

Interior DL: DeValon Whitcomb stood out as the most skilled interior DL. He was winning his one-on-one match ups consistently and was playing with good leverage and using his hands well. Taylor Lambert was his normal fire-hydrant self - always playing with a high motor and great leverage. He will continue to be a strong contributor, but his size is limiting. Max Frank and Jacob Headlee got lots of reps also at the interior DL spot. Jacob had some really good flashes where he would defeat his block and make a play and then other times get completely tied up and blocked. He has some really good upside in my opinion. He needs a great summer in the weight room - I will not be surprised to see him in the regular DL rotation. This position lacks depth of players on the roster ready to play in the physical MVFC currently. USD will once again be undersized at this position. Cannot afford any injuries here.

DE: As I wrote above - Jake Leohr was not participating in contact today. Darin Greenfield and Cam Cline looked very consistent out there. They both move well and were not letting their blockers get into them and latch on. Jake Richardson will be a fantastic addition at this spot. He had some flashes of great play today. Very athletic, has power and speed. Nick Kramer also had some good pass rushes today in one on one drills against the OL.

A few other observations on other players and position groups:
QBs - both Streveler and Simmons look in command of the offense when in there and were running and throwing at a very high level. Exciting players.

WRs - this position group is extremely deep. The true freshman we have coming in this summer will have to be extraordinary to not redshirt next year. Randy Baker, Trystn Ducker, Dakarai Allen and ShamarJackson were playing very well today in the slot. Tacari Carpenter, Alonge Brooks, and Brandt Van Roekel all looked very sharp as well. If the OL can give the QB any time this year I expect this group to be difficult for defenses to keep covered.

RBs - Michael Frederick looks like a clear #1 at this point. Both Nate Gunn and Ben Klett looked very good as well today - both strong one-cut and burst runners. All the RBs were catching the ball well today in the short pass game.

LBs - I did not spot Wessel at practice today? Is he injured or did I just miss him? Dodi Makwinja is going to be a good player at OLB - he looks the part and has very good quickness. I think he can make an impact. Alex Gray also looked very solid in both run defense and dropping back.

DBs - Elijah Reed is an very good athlete at safety - I think he will grow into a high-level player for USD. Phillip Powell also looks like someone that will be competing for time this year. Doug Lewis had a good practice and made a very nice INT today. Andrew Gray also had a nice INT and looked like he had a solid practice.

The coaching staff run a fast-paced, high-energy practice. It was really fun to watch. They are a quality staff and each of them is constantly coaching their players up. If OL and DL can take a few steps forward between now and the season, this team can be a playoff team. Can't wait to see the first game against Drake.

[usdtator]

Mar 25, 2017 14:17:48 GMT -6 obc said:

Notes from Spring Practice # 4 - Saturday March 25th

This was a full-padded 2 hour practice so it was a good opportunity to observe players in contact drills as well as full team scrimmage periods.

I spent the greatest percentage of my time watching the OL and DL.

OL - My top 9 in order of my assessment: Stetson Dagel, Ed Kennedy, Nick Jensen, Cody Jennings, Michael Bianchi, Tanner Anderson, Sean Chisholm, Mason Scheidegger, and Tyler Johnson. In my opinion they each have the ability to play next year. None of them is a dominant player, but each of them have good versatility and the ability to both block when covered by a defensive lineman as well as enough mobility and athleticism to block a LB in space. This unit does not have a first team all-MVFC player right now, but they will be deeper than the last few years.

DL - Jake Leohr was in a black non-contact jersey like the QBs today. Must have some type of lingering injury?

Interior DL: DeValon Whitcomb stood out as the most skilled interior DL. He was winning his one-on-one match ups consistently and was playing with good leverage and using his hands well. Taylor Lambert was his normal fire-hydrant self - always playing with a high motor and great leverage. He will continue to be a strong contributor, but his size is limiting. Max Frank and Jacob Headlee got lots of reps also at the interior DL spot. Jacob had some really good flashes where he would defeat his block and make a play and then other times get completely tied up and blocked. He has some really good upside in my opinion. He needs a great summer in the weight room - I will not be surprised to see him in the regular DL rotation. This position lacks depth of players on the roster ready to play in the physical MVFC currently. USD will once again be undersized at this position. Cannot afford any injuries here.

DE: As I wrote above - Jake Leohr was not participating in contact today. Darin Greenfield and Cam Cline looked very consistent out there. They both move well and were not letting their blockers get into them and latch on. Jake Richardson will be a fantastic addition at this spot. He had some flashes of great play today. Very athletic, has power and speed. Nick Kramer also had some good pass rushes today in one on one drills against the OL.

A few other observations on other players and position groups:
QBs - both Streveler and Simmons look in command of the offense when in there and were running and throwing at a very high level. Exciting players.

WRs - this position group is extremely deep. The true freshman we have coming in this summer will have to be extraordinary to not redshirt next year. Randy Baker, Trystn Ducker, Dakarai Allen and ShamarJackson were playing very well today in the slot. Tacari Carpenter, Alonge Brooks, and Brandt Van Roekel all looked very sharp as well. If the OL can give the QB any time this year I expect this group to be difficult for defenses to keep covered.

RBs - Michael Frederick looks like a clear #1 at this point. Both Nate Gunn and Ben Klett looked very good as well today - both strong one-cut and burst runners. All the RBs were catching the ball well today in the short pass game.

LBs - I did not spot Wessel at practice today? Is he injured or did I just miss him? Dodi Makwinja is going to be a good player at OLB - he looks the part and has very good quickness. I think he can make an impact. Alex Gray also looked very solid in both run defense and dropping back.

DBs - Elijah Reed is an very good athlete at safety - I think he will grow into a high-level player for USD. Phillip Powell also looks like someone that will be competing for time this year. Doug Lewis had a good practice and made a very nice INT today. Andrew Gray also had a nice INT and looked like he had a solid practice.

The coaching staff run a fast-paced, high-energy practice. It was really fun to watch. They are a quality staff and each of them is constantly coaching their players up. If OL and DL can take a few steps forward between now and the season, this team can be a playoff team. Can't wait to see the first game against Drake.

Thanks for the updated in-depth analysis. Looking forward to seeing these guys perform at the Spring game.

[Cousin Eddie]

Thanks OBC!

[usdtator]

Football season ticket renewals are open, as of today I believe... I just renewed our 5 seats! Renew yours now and please consider donating to the Howling Pack as well.

[goyotes24]

Mar 28, 2017 15:27:22 GMT -6 usdtator said:

Football season ticket renewals are open, as of today I believe... I just renewed our 5 seats! Renew yours now and please consider donating to the Howling Pack as well.

Just got my e-mail. Unfortunately I am moving to the east coast in May, so renewing isn't really a great option for me. Though I do intend to join the Howling Pack.

[obc]

Spring Practice - Saturday April 1

Energetic practice from start to finish - players and coaches were flying around and there was good energy in the Dome. Large group of recruits and their families in the stands watching practice.

They started practice (after stretching and warm ups) with a competition drill - Offense versus Defense. Think large scale "Oklahoma Drill" cones were set up about 7 yards apart stretching along about 25 yards. It was a live - four offensive players versus three defensive players - three offense blockers plus one ball carrier and three defensive players were spaced about 5 yards apart from each other and once the whistle was blown the ball carrier would try to make it to the other end of drill. AC/DC was cranked on the Dome sound system and one of the USD Football Hype videos was on the replay board. You could tell the players loved to kick off practice that way. Defense won the drill.

Jay Elsen was there filming, so perhaps he will post some highlights.

Not in action today were: John Wessel (practicing but no contact drills), Andrew Gray (not practicing at all), Jake Leohr (practicing but no contact), Jake Matthew (not practicing), Ethan Roth (not practicing), Max Frank (not practicing - had a large knee brace on and was not suited up)

Receivers continue to look like the best unit overall - Brandt Van Roekel is playing at a very high level and I do not think I have seen him drop a pass thrown to him in the three practices I have attended. Excited to see what type of year he can have. Trystn Ducker took a screen pass during live drills, made a couple quick cuts and accelerated about 35 yards to the endzone - really looked quick and fast. Several receivers had a good day. If I was to predict one WR that we did not see play last year that I think can break into the lineup is Noah Roberts - he has great hands and moves well.

RBs also looked good today. During position drills they went one on one with the LBs - the RB would line up about 10 yards from a LB and the whistle would blow and they would run at each other. Overall I thought the RBs dominated that drill. They were lowering their shoulders and leveling the LBs. Ethan Falaniko and Ben Klett stood out. Later in the scrimmage portion of practice both of them were the go to backs with the first unit once the ball got to the red zone. Both of they are bring your own blocker type players. Michael Fredrick is still the clear number one and looked really smooth today running as well as catching the ball on swing passes. Paul Anderson seemed to be the first back up for the #1 unit when not in the red zone.

The defensive line has made some progress in the past week. As a unit they are ahead of the OL in my opinion. DeValon Whitcomb continues to look like the best interior DL. Kam Cline was playing both DE (his usual spot lining up on the TE or outside shoulder of the OT) and also playing the inside DL position (lined up on the outside shoulder of the OG). He really explodes off the ball and I think the coaches need to find a way to get him on the field. DE is quite a bit deeper than the interior DL so if Kam can handle the physicality of the position, it will be a must to get him in that position.

The offensive line is getting after it and you can see they are fired up and working hard - they still have quite a bit of work to do. The starting OL for the live scrimmage at the end of practice was Nick Jensen (LT), Stetson Dagel (LG), Mason Scheidegger (OC), Cody Jennings (RG), and Tanner Anderson (RT). Ed Kennedy did not play at all during the live team periods, but did not appear to be hurt - he was fully padded and participating in drills as far as I could tell. Mike Bianchi who the last two weeks was playing OC was now playing RT today with the #2s. Mason looked good at center and brings a little more athleticism and quickness to the position.

QBs - once again they looked extremely sharp - Streveler and Simmons both showcased there dual-threat capabilities during the scrimmage period.

Really good practice. If all of the practices this spring are as energetic and focused as this one, there will be some good improvement.

[usdtator]

Great analyses of the different offensive and defensive units. Thanks for keeping us informed.

[sportschic]

Thanks obc...look forward to your posts!

[Yote 53]

Spring game is going to be broadcast live on Midco.

Nice.

[yanktonyote]

Dear Coyote Football Alumni

Spring Practice is drawing to a close with one week remaining prior to our Spring Game on April 21st. We are excited to announce that MIDCO Sports will be televising our Spring Game live that night. This will be the first live presentation of a Spring Game that MIDCO has done. Our game will feature two drafted teams competing against each other and it should provide for some good competition and will be a great way to close a month’s worth of work.

We have made much progress to date with our experienced players showing leadership and younger players coming along rapidly. On offense our two QB’s, Chris Streveler and Austin Simmons have looked good and both possess the ability to run and throw the football. Redshirt freshmen Ethan Falaniko and Ben Klett have been impressive and will provide good depth behind a bigger and faster Michael Fredrick at running back. Our receiver group has shown improvement as well with freshmen Dakarai Allen and Randy Baker having a strong Spring to go along with seniors Brandt Van Roekel, Riley Donovan, Alonge Brooks and junior Shamar Jackson. Seniors Aaron Ramsey and Josh Hale have looked good at TE. The offensive line is definitely showing improvement and transfer Cody Jennings along with red-shirt freshmen Mason Scheidigger have proven that they will be in the mix for playing time come fall.

Defensively, we are being led by experience in the secondary with CB’s Danny Rambo and Adam Harris looking very good. At safety, returning starters Doug Lewis and Andrew Gray have been challenged by a group of contenders. Another area of depth is at defensive end where freshmen Kameron Cline, who played a lot in 2016, has looked good along with sophomore Darin Greenfield, and junior Spencer Hopkins. Senior Jake Leohr is also back and practicing but will be held out of the Spring Game as he is recovering from off-season surgery. Red-shirt freshmen Nick Kramer, Michelby Davis and Jake Richardson, could figure into this group as well based their continued progress this Spring.

At linebacker, senior Jim Litrenta has had a good spring after finishing the 2016 season strong. Alex Coker and Alex Gray have shown signs of improvement and former QB Brian Woodward has been a pleasant surprise in this group. Freshmen Jake Matthew missed the entire spring due to injury and while senior John Wessel has been back practicing he will also be held out of the Spring Game.

Thanks to all of you who attended the Calling All Coyotes Dinner and Auction last Friday night. It was a tremendous night and we raised over $360,000 for Coyote athletics.

Thanks for all of your support and I look forward to the seeing you at the Spring game on the 21st.

Fight South Dakota,


Bob Nielson
Head Football Coach
University of South Dakota

[Cousin Eddie]

Awesome! Props to Midco for stepping up again!

[yotebewithyou]

Do they stream the spring game?