The Front Row

I went to the last practice at the Woody prior to the team convening in Jax. It was a short practice...only 1 hr and 15 min long. I will try to list my observations the best I can. Stick with me here, I am typing on my iPad and sitting in the Starbucks on olentangy...against the window of the drive thru. Let me tell you, I think you have to be a lovely lady to go through here...wow!

Anyway....I

Those concerned about Shazier not playin...forget it! He was with the 1's all the way. He was in a blue jersey and a brace but he was flying around during all team periods.

Speakin of lbs...sweat was practicing as well...blue jersey and brace but he was out there. Those two kids look like robo cops out there with the braces but they look good to go to me. Grant was getting plenty of reps but I couldn't tell if it was two's or one's or what. They shuffle guys around a lot.

O Johnson was in a yellow jersey...didn't see him until the last few minutes. He didnt practice at all. That may be a good thing bc the
Kid that was out there at ss was flyin around and running the alley in run fits and playing man in pass downs.

Alert....Simon is a physical beast...I know that's not new. What may come as a surprise to some is that he is short. I would say under 6'2" for sure. Really reminds me of mike kudla from a size standpoint.

As far as scheme...didn't see much that looked new. Base defense vs 1 te sets but they were lining up in an odd look with outside lbs on the Los and inside lbs on Los stemming in and out of a and b gaps. They were manning up and bringing 7 man pressures sometimes. Basically They were mixing up their looks...dropping lbs and blitzing lbs or bringing em all!

It was a somewhat low key practice. No 1st team O vs 1st team D. Not a lot of on field coaching...that's done in films. Music was playing throughout the practice. I only watched a few plays of offense. Didn't see anything different. Bauserman is the scout team qb all the way. My walk on freshmen is the scout center and he and Joe worked together the whole time I was there. That's gotta be tough but he has hung in there. You have to credit him for that.

The last thing I can say is that I was talking briefly with coach heacock as he and coach bollman were walking off the field. Coach bolls wished me a merry Christmas. Then it hit me that it was the last time they would walk off the turf of the woody after a practice. Those two guys have been a huge part of all the wins and championships we've enjoyed as fans over the last decade. It was a bit surreal to be standing there at that moment. As glad as we are to see a change in the offense, it just drives home the reminder that he's a person just like all of us on the board and we shouldnt forget that.

Oh, and by the way....Urban was not at practice.