Just because contact drills don’t start for a few days doesn’t mean we shouldn’t over analyze every frame of practice footage UND.com provided us.
As usual, here’s an overly critical look at the 90+ seconds of practice video released late Monday night by the FIDM staff.
Feel free to jump to conclusions at your own risk, but a very good first glimpse at the ’13 football team.
1:38 -- That’s Bennett Jackson (2) breaking down the team before its first practice of the season. A nice spirited breakdown as you’d expect.
1:54 -- That’s George Atkinson (4) running with the first string offense, taking the handoff from Tommy Rees (11).
1:56 -- Even in just shorts and helmets, Louis Nix (1) is a ton to handle. New center Nick Martin (72) does his best against the preseason All-American.
1:58 -- Malik Zaire (8) hits Luke Massa (14) on the crossing route while Tarean Folston (25) looks on.
2:01 --Here’s good on good. Bennett Jackson (2) covering Davaris Daniels (10). There’s plenty of fast twitch on that rep, as Daniels looks explosive in and out of his cuts.
2:03 -- Welcome back, Lo Wood (23), who gets a bump on Chris Brown (2) before dropping back into his zone.
2:07 -- That’s Kona Schwenke (93) fighting through the interior of the Irish offensive line. Look really carefully, and you see Conor Hanratty (65) watching from the right guard position.
2:10 -- Brian Kelly looks on, taking in practice with athletic trainer Rob Hunt.
2:12 -- That’s Amir Carlisle (3) hitting the breaks and flying right by freshman safety Max Redfield (10).
2:18 -- Here’s our first look at freshman phenom Jaylon Smith (9), dropping back into coverage, getting a jam on fellow freshman James Onwualu (15).
2:21 -- Not much Matthias Farley (41) can do when covering Troy Niklas (85) on the out cut. Niklas comes up with the catch even in tight coverage, and then dents the earth when he falls to the ground.
2:25 -- What’s the ceiling for Prince Shembo (55) this season? I’m thinking he’s in line for double-digit sacks. Up to 258 pounds, he actually looks svelte and athletic as he powers through the blocking dummies.
2:30 -- Check out freshman wide receiver Will Fuller (15), matching up with freshman cornerback Devin Butler (36). While he didn’t want us to read into it, Kelly mentioned Fuller’s burst during his post-practice comments with Jack Nolan. So I’m going to read into that.
2:35 -- Nice explosion out of the three-point stance by Ishaq Williams (11).
2:36 -- Blink and you miss it: KeiVarae Russell (6) breaks up a pass intended for Danny Smith (87).
2:37 -- More Max Redfield (15).
2:40 -- Danny Spond (13) in coverage on CJ Prosise (20).
2:42 -- Alex Welch (82) looking healthy with the nifty catch.
2:44 -- Our first look at Greg Bryant (1) certainly doesn’t disappoint. The freshman running back looks pretty smooth running pass patterns. Another guy Kelly mentioned by name.
2:47 -- Cam McDaniel (33) could put on a seminar for how to run downhill. Just a really natural running back.
2:50 -- That’s Malik Zaire (8) dropping back to pass.
2:53 -- That’s true freshman Isaac Rochelle (90) going one-on-one with Steve Elmer (79). Give Rochelle the win on this rep. Rochelle reportedly notched 26 reps of 225 during summer testing, a really impressive number for a guy that came onto campus looking massive at 6-3.5, 280-pounds.
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