Snell's running style has affected our whole offense . . . .

[The-Hack]

I've now watched the Spring Game like three times, and missed it at least once. I think it comes on tonight (Wednesday, April 26) like at 10:00 p.m., after a Cat baseball game.

The running of Sci-Fi surprised me the most. Snell looked like Snell. And so did King.

The impression took me back to an early SEC game in Commonwealth last year . . . . Vandy or South Carolina. Snell got a 6 or 8 yard gain, (on a play that was not particularly well blocked) and 2 or 3 O-linemen very obviously chased the play down, and helped Snell to his feet, slapping him on the pads and helmet. At the time, I thought it was "a moment" and I think, upon reflection, it might have been "the moment" of the season. From at least that point forward, our o-line gelled into one of the most potent in school history, and Snell went on to post record freshman numbers. Boom added more "thump" to his speed game. Each seemed to feed on the others.

In the Spring game, Sci-Fi takes a run to the left and takes a hard thump from Looney, and gets lottsa' yards thereafter. Then he reverses field on another to the left, weaves thru several defenders, and thumps his way to an 8 or 9 yard gain, being tackled by the face mask. He gets up pissed by the hard face mask tackle (which gets a flag).

I'm just sayin' that I am beginning to believe the two-headed monster in the backfield last year has grown a new head . . . . and I know this could be taken a bit naughtily, but seriously, Sci-Fi looked good. Speed and change-of-direction, yes, but some POWER thrown in, to boot.

 

[Deeeefense]

I think King has been largely underestimated by some of the fans due to his size but IMO he will add another dimension to the offense that will really keep defenses off balance with his ability to get the edge. Add in Rose and this is potentially a very potent 3 headed monster that can equal or exceed last years production.

OT: Some have pointed to the loss of Toth as an area of potential concern. I recall that Freddie Maggard commented that after watching Stallings quite a bit that he's a better athlete then Toth - not a better center, at least not yet, but a better athlete. This guy can flat maul people and it's going to show up in the running game this year.

 

[jauk11]

I think King has been largely underestimated by some of the fans due to his size but IMO he will add another dimension to the offense that will really keep defenses off balance with his ability to get the edge. Add in Rose and this is potentially a very potent 3 headed monster that can equal or exceed last years production.

OT: Some have pointed to the loss of Toth as an area of potential concern. I recall that Freddie Maggard commented that after watching Stallings quite a bit that he's a better athlete then Toth - not a better center, at least not yet, but a better athlete. This guy can flat maul people and it's going to show up in the running game this year.

King is what I call an instinctive runner, makes good split second decisions and is a very determined runner. I was very impressed with Rose's speed in limited action, and he has good size. But the offense would have been a lot more impressive IMO if Snell had to prove anything at all in the spring game.

I agree, looking forward to seeing all three running behind our OL.

 

[vhcat70]

I think King has been largely underestimated by some of the fans due to his size but IMO he will add another dimension to the offense that will really keep defenses off balance with his ability to get the edge.

Since you don't say what estimating King is, hard to know what underestimating him is. Me, I think he good for 10-12 touches/game - if he doesn't get hurt. D's will expect him to go to the edge & will slant him that way. Haven't seem many yards after being hit. I'll be pleased with an extra to this.

 

[CastleRubric]

REALLY excited about this Oline and backfield

if you're gonna have two units that really excel -- that's about as good as you can get IMP

either that or Dline and LBer's

 

[Oldtrainer]

Stallings is very physical, Jackson is very physical, imo with summer drills and fall camp center position will be filled nicely. Very impressed with Logan Stenberg size and disposition! Still believe Landon Young is best o.tackle prospect since Warren Bryant. His true freshman play versus SEC teams was very encouraging to me. Imo best o. line since 1951 Sugar Champs unit!

 

[KintuckyWildCayuts]

I watched the spring game again last night. Few impressions trying to focus on different parts of the field I hadn't previously paid enough attention to: Gunnar Hoke is VERY good, and in another year will be primed and fully ready to lead this team to success. Adrian Middleton is going to get 1 million tackles this year and will be one of our top defensive players. Kash is just plain nasty. Bunchy flat out abused Elam. Knocked him off his feet a few times. Similarly, Elam isn't going to pan out, no use discussing it any longer. Davis will have a huge freshman season and will be a fan favorite, similar to Jordan Jones. Blue also looked great on the defensive side of the ball. Will be curious to see whether he can find some playing time this season.

 

[GoBigBlue37]

I watched the spring game again last night. Few impressions trying to focus on different parts of the field I hadn't previously paid enough attention to: Gunnar Hoke is VERY good, and in another year will be primed and fully ready to lead this team to success. Adrian Middleton is going to get 1 million tackles this year and will be one of our top defensive players. Kash is just plain nasty. Bunchy flat out abused Elam. Knocked him off his feet a few times. Similarly, Elam isn't going to pan out, no use discussing it any longer. Davis will have a huge freshman season and will be a fan favorite, similar to Jordan Jones. Blue also looked great on the defensive side of the ball. Will be curious to see whether he can find some playing time this season.

You also must have been impressed by the freshman slot receiver, the young man has impressive skills and a great build weighing over 200lbs.

 

[The-Hack]

Yeah, the frosh early enrollee was catching everything thrown his way. My general impression of the Spring game, 2017 . . . . we have 80 legitimate football players. My impression of Spring Games in the 90's . . . . we had 20 to 25 legitimate football players.

 

[JPFisher]

I've now watched the Spring Game like three times, and missed it at least once. I think it comes on tonight (Wednesday, April 26) like at 10:00 p.m., after a Cat baseball game.

The running of Sci-Fi surprised me the most. Snell looked like Snell. And so did King.

The impression took me back to an early SEC game in Commonwealth last year . . . . Vandy or South Carolina. Snell got a 6 or 8 yard gain, (on a play that was not particularly well blocked) and 2 or 3 O-linemen very obviously chased the play down, and helped Snell to his feet, slapping him on the pads and helmet. At the time, I thought it was "a moment" and I think, upon reflection, it might have been "the moment" of the season. From at least that point forward, our o-line gelled into one of the most potent in school history, and Snell went on to post record freshman numbers. Boom added more "thump" to his speed game. Each seemed to feed on the others.

In the Spring game, Sci-Fi takes a run to the left and takes a hard thump from Looney, and gets lottsa' yards thereafter. Then he reverses field on another to the left, weaves thru several defenders, and thumps his way to an 8 or 9 yard gain, being tackled by the face mask. He gets up pissed by the hard face mask tackle (which gets a flag).

I'm just sayin' that I am beginning to believe the two-headed monster in the backfield last year has grown a new head . . . . and I know this could be taken a bit naughtily, but seriously, Sci-Fi looked good. Speed and change-of-direction, yes, but some POWER thrown in, to boot.

I'm sorry. I'm probably missing something, but who the heck is Sci-Fi? Furthermore, when and where did they get that moniker?

 

[jauk11]

I watched the spring game again last night. Few impressions trying to focus on different parts of the field I hadn't previously paid enough attention to: Gunnar Hoke is VERY good, and in another year will be primed and fully ready to lead this team to success. Adrian Middleton is going to get 1 million tackles this year and will be one of our top defensive players. Kash is just plain nasty. Bunchy flat out abused Elam. Knocked him off his feet a few times. Similarly, Elam isn't going to pan out, no use discussing it any longer. Davis will have a huge freshman season and will be a fan favorite, similar to Jordan Jones. Blue also looked great on the defensive side of the ball. Will be curious to see whether he can find some playing time this season.

I like your post, but I think in order to not create false optimism you should have limited Middleton to somewhere in the 900,000 tackle range.

A couple of our "realists" will be all over you.

 

[jauk11]

I'm sorry. I'm probably missing something, but who the heck is Sci-Fi? Furthermore, when and where did they get that moniker?

King, used it a lot in the Spring Game, not sure where it came from though.

 

[Blue Decade]

I think King has been largely underestimated by some of the fans due to his size but IMO he will add another dimension to the offense that will really keep defenses off balance with his ability to get the edge. Add in Rose and this is potentially a very potent 3 headed monster that can equal or exceed last years production.

OT: Some have pointed to the loss of Toth as an area of potential concern. I recall that Freddie Maggard commented that after watching Stallings quite a bit that he's a better athlete then Toth - not a better center, at least not yet, but a better athlete. This guy can flat maul people and it's going to show up in the running game this year.

Toth was the best player on our offense last year. Balancing his loss is the fact that we have more quality depth at all 5 offensive line positions than we have had in 50 years. There is so much high level competition to replace Toth that the eventual winner (Bunchy or otherwise) will be effective. Even if Bunchy isn't Toth, the overall play of our offensive line might be better this year because of maturation at the other 4 positions. Depth at running back is also strong, as long as Bryant Koback is healthy. Koback only played in a couple games for Springfield last year before breaking his leg. But Koback is a tremendous player. So is Rose. Sihiem King played well in the spring game, but he probably won't see the field a lot this fall unless there are injuries (same as last year). If you see a replay of the spring game, look at how King struggled to move the pile in our goal line offense. That isn't a criticism of King, but Rose and Koback are bigger, stronger, better players.

 

[Deeeefense]

I think Koback has about a 90% chance of redshirting. My best hope for him would be to make it back by mid season to help out when the inevitable injuries start piling up. Even then, the guy has zero college experience and will probably miss some or all of fall camp as well.

 

[Blue Decade]

I think Koback has about a 90% chance of redshirting. My best hope for him would be to make it back by mid season to help out when the inevitable injuries start piling up. Even then, the guy has zero college experience and will probably miss some or all of fall camp as well.

Koback will play this year if he is healthy. He is a future star with every down talent. Koback is due to be medically cleared in May. You seem to be putting a lot of stock in King. I also like King a lot, because he is a high motor player with speed and heart. But this year is probably a replay of 2016 for him. King was easily the offensive star of our 2016 spring game. But when fall came, Boom and Snell played because they were bigger, stronger, better players. Same pattern repeating again now. King was 1 of the offensive stars of our 2017 spring game. But when fall comes, Benny, Rose, Koback (if healthy) will play because they are bigger, stronger, better. King is a good player to have on our team. He can return kickoffs, he can catch passes, he can yac, and he can play 5-10 snaps a game in spots if players above him on the depth chart get hurt. But he weighs 170 pounds. I am not saying small players don't contribute. I am saying Snell, Rose, Koback are better players who will play more.

 

[mrschwump]

I think Koback has about a 90% chance of redshirting. My best hope for him would be to make it back by mid season to help out when the inevitable injuries start piling up. Even then, the guy has zero college experience and will probably miss some or all of fall camp as well.

Don't recall confirmation that Koback was indeed limping heavily the night of the spring game. Anybody?

 

[mrschwump]

I'm sorry. I'm probably missing something, but who the heck is Sci-Fi? Furthermore, when and where did they get that moniker?

King's nick apparently given to him by team mates. Takeoff on his first name.