Grading the Spring Game

[Fuzzy]

This is an opportunity to give your feedback based on position of what you saw during the spring game and statistically.

 

We'll start with the Offense:

 

Offensive ( B )

 

QB ( +B ) - Kind of disappointed with the veterans, both Martinez and Green, footwork in the pocket didn't look good, and the passing aspect didn't look improved either. It was the newer QB's such as Carnes and Kellogg that seemed to shine brighter.

 

RB ( -A ) - Nothing really too unexpected, Burkhead did what we all know he does best. Of course Jones did a decent job much like he did during last year's spring game which earned him the 3rd back spot, i still don't think he is ready to take the 2nd back spot.

 

FB ( A ) - Legate showed that he is an adequate runner and does a good job catching. Finding he's backup is pretty tough.

 

WR ( -A ) - Kinnie earns his starting role, Bell showed us that he is fast (maybe a little unreliable with his hands but I'll discredit that as jitters), Jamal Turner could be a great reciever that will see playing time this year, Marlowe showed us the potential to play slot. I fully expect Enunwa and Osborne to get in on this action this fall as well.

 

TE ( A ) - Cotton and Reed, best TE's we have and i have all the faith in the world that these two will be quite consistent when the recievers aren't so much.

 

OL ( -B ) - Above average at best, need i say more?

 

Defensive ( A )

 

DL ( A ) - Eric Martin, enough said. Martin was a stud out there and showed us that he deserves a starting role. Williams may get some time in behind Meredith. Crick and Steinkuhler will own the line, behind them, maybe Thad Randle or Jay Guy.

 

LB ( +B ) - David, Fisher, Compton. Behind them, maybe Whaley, May and Stoddard. Didn't see anything that impressed me from Roach, Paulsen and Starkebaum.

 

CB ( B ) - Behind Dennard could be Bell, Evans, Mitchell. Jackson made a pretty decent effort there, but its hard to say what position he will play.

 

Safety ( -A ) - Yet another spot that deserves some praise, I have good confidence in both Smith and Osborne, i didn't hear too much out of Cooper though.

 

Specialists ( -B ) - Well, Maher proved to be adequate, along with Damkroger, but man, we need a punter to put a bit of a better hang time on our punts.

[knapplc]

I cannot agree with the A- for WR. WAY too many dropped passes for anything close to an A. I would give them a C. Same as last year, so far (with the exception of Turner, who was definitely a breath of fresh air).

 

QBs, I'll agree with the B+. Carnes drives this up, although he was facing different DEFs than Green and Marty. Both Green and Martinez do not seem to have fixed their fundamentals issues from last year - at least in what we saw of this game.

[Fuzzy]

I thought about downgrading the WR because of the dropped passes, but then i realized most of it was the QB fault of throwing it behind them or too high.

 

But you know, driving back from Lincoln that afternoon did make me realize, that this is a Spring Game. It in no way solidifies a starting role for the players, and the veterans know this. So despite the fact of poor play on by a few veterans on the team, this was a game that was meant to be fun. I don't believe it in anyway reflects on how the they will play during the summer and fall.

[jsneb83]

I like how two A's, two A-'s, a B+, and a B- equates to a B as an offensive grade, and an A, an A-, a B+, and a B equates to an A for the defense.

[knapplc]

I thought about downgrading the WR because of the dropped passes, but then i realized most of it was the QB fault of throwing it behind them or too high.

 

That's a low-expectations view of our WRs, IMVHO. When our receivers get hit in the hands with the ball and fail to make the catch, that's a problem. You cannot just catch the balls that hit you in the numbers.

[Blaze1up]

Oh man don't tell me this is going to be a problem again. I know Kinnie and Reed are sure handed.

[ADS]

It's tough to give a grade to the OL group as a whole. It seemed like the coaches were trying different groups, and throwing together OL's to see which players stand out. They were times when they blocked above average, but then there were times were it was a flashback to OU and Washington blowing our plays up.

[Fuzzy]

It's tough to give a grade to the OL group as a whole. It seemed like the coaches were trying different groups, and throwing together OL's to see which players stand out. They were times when they blocked above average, but then there were times were it was a flashback to OU and Washington blowing our plays up.

 

You i sat in Section 26 row 2, gotta a pretty good view of the white sideline and saw Barney Cotton a lot. He seemed to do more talking to his son Ben than the other offensive lineman out there.

[Guy Chamberlin]

Bump.

 

Interesting to see that 5 years ago the Spring Game had all of 6 HuskerBoarders buzzing.