2008-08-02 (Sat)

>>>> For more pictures from both Randy V. and myself, click here: 2008-08-02 Scrimmage

Good gracious was it hot today in Memorial Stadium. Excellent crowd, maybe 5000 – 6000. And a good crowd for inane jawing during the scrimmage. Randy V., John E., even Dave C. made the drive up. Shockey had on shorts, Deuce had on pads – but didn’t see any action. I cannot reiterate enough how inconsiderate a bumbershoot in a crowd is. I mean, surely this wont bother anybody.

As all the players were trickling out of the locker room, the QBs and centers were going through snaps and dropback technique. With everybody present they started going through lining up each team d’especial – both strings. [*air horn*]

They kicked it off with some drills for warm-up. OL went one-on-one. QBs and RBs practiced the exchange and running routes. DL worked first burst. DBs back-peddled and cut two at a time. Then the QBs, RBs, and WRs ran routes off snaps. After a while, O skills lined up against LBs & DBs off snaps. And DL and OL drilled different scenarios. [*air horn*]

And a-one, and a-two, and a-one, and a-two… [*air horn*]

The O jogged to the north sideline and the D to the south sideline. They opened with each kicker taking kicks, 11-on-11 from five different distances. Both Marteen and Mehlhaff made every attempt, including the 50s. They both earned applause.

Naturally Drew and O1 started off. During every period of they day, they rotated every WR and tried countless formations. Reggie started things off getting stuffed – which was indicative of the D’s performance throughout the day. But Brees found Lance Moore for a 25-yarder to the mid-left that got things going. After dropping two passes, David Patten caught a slant for 15. After two more stuffs, Reggie hit a sweet designed cutback where the OL drove left while he veered right. The TD was to Lance Moore in stride from close distance.

In the interim, each kicker got one full-on kick-off. Skyler caught Marteen’s at the goal line and made a few yards. And interestingly enough, Arrington – who is 6’3” by the way– was lined up to catch the next one, but Mehlhaff kicked it OUT of the end zone. Not too shabby.

Brunell opened by hitting Ortega. Pierre opened by grabbing his own fumble; sacrebleu! But he made up for it with an off-tackle to the left and a 5-yard dump over the top; tres bien! Arrington made a nice sideline grab on the left. Stecker would make some nice runs throughout the day. Ghent topped off the TD-less period by receiving a hard hit over the middle – but he held on.

Again, each kicker got a kick off. Pierre took Marteen’s to the 25. Skyler took Mehlhaff’s end zone to end zone. These are both good and bad. This also might take he wind out of my theory on Skyler’s future.

Palko threw a tasty cross to Ghent, but it was called back due to holding. He next hit [*deep breath*] Olaniyi Sobomehin over the top for an out-of-the-backfield connection. Skyler again proved me wrong by bringing down a 45-yarder. Cedric Ellis stepped up with a knock down at the line. And Ortega completed my favorite football phrase when used out of context: the Tight End Dump.

[Ipanema]

They regrouped by going to the punt team. Weatherford’s first traveled from the 20 to the opposite 10, but the next only went to the 23. Still, nice punts. Lot’s of leverage with that 6’3” frame. Mr. Applegate will gladly explain the pendulum distance / force ratio as it pertains to velocity.

Back to Drew. This is when the DL started getting the better of the OL. For the rest off the day, there would be many scrambles, hurries, throwaways, and under-throws. Reggie had a nice run, though. But he would look like a MVP with the assistance of a pulling Jahri Evans on a short toss into the flat. Reggie further rocked as the fourth checkdown on a catch he ran into the end zone from the 10.

Brunell did not look terribly hot during his second turn. In addition to the DL woes, he was a little off the…mark. Just not his day. But he would make a nice 30 yard throw to Meachum while being sandwiched. He held it.

Practice wrapped up with two punt-returns; one to Reggie, one to Stecker. Neither was anything to write home about.

Oh, did I say practice was over? Not quite. I think the whole stadium cringed when the team was instructed to line up for conditioning. Oof.

As a result, no one seemed to blame the guys for withering straight to the locker room. I can’t emphasize how hot it was today. And this after a scrimmage. Thus…

Autograph Props: Brees, Colston, Meachum, and Mark Campbell (they were the only ones)

Post Practice Aperitif Props: Tanqueray