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| Sammy McCorkle keeps an eye on the proceedings Tuesday. |
Green Kicks Off Week 3 Of Spring
HANOVER – Sammy McCorkle's most forceful message to the Dartmouth football players Tuesday evening after they returned to the field following their "bye" week was much the same as it has been all spring.
And all last year.
And all through his tenure as head coach, for that matter.
"We need to have all 11 guys playing with the same energy," he said after the seventh of 12 spring practices on windy Memorial Field. "We can't have just five guys with the type of energy we need, and the other six not practicing that way. We have to have all 11 guys playing with the same intensity and focus.
"I thought the defense came out here and continued with the energy they had on Saturday a week ago. They had good intensity. Offensively, we went with the second group first for all the group stuff, and you could tell that they were feeling their way through it. But I thought the first offense came out with good energy, and as practice went on they started matching the defense."
If the energy piece was a mixed bag, McCorkle was happy with the recall after a week with no on-field practice while the coaches were out recruiting.
"It was good overall," he said. "Defense installed a little bit today, and offense didn't install much, but it was good. We had a couple guys that were out, so that kind of threw a wrench in the works with our wide receiver group having to play guys in different positions. So there was a little bit of confusion, but overall I thought the guys came back strong. They knew exactly what we needed to do, and they went out there and performed."
OUCH
At one point during a contact period a defensive back arrived at a receiver at the same time as the ball and the receiver ended up taking a big hit. In no uncertain terms, McCorkle made sure the defensive player knew he'd committed a cardinal sin.
"Obviously he is out there trying to make plays," McCorkle said. "But you have got to be smart. We're all competing, but the primary focus has to be to take care of your teammates.
"What happened wasn't malicious at all. But we have got to be better than that. We can't lose a guy because something like that happens."
EYE CATCHING
Several players earned a post-practice mention from McCorkle, who saved his strongest praise for Jackson Cheatham, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound freshman corner from Maryland's Gilman School.
"He's really caught my eye this spring," the coach said. "He's just a good, natural corner. He has good instincts and plays with confidence. He's not the biggest guy, but I'll tell you, he plays big."
McCorkle also praised several other players who have drawn mention a few times previously this spring.
"(Freshman defensive lineman) Matisse Brosseau did a good job up front, and so did Joshua Johnson," he said. "I thought Sean Chester at linebacker was flying around making plays.
"Offensively, Noah Trigueros threw some nice balls. And then Myles Craddock did a nice job finding holes and getting vertical."
Trigueros seems to be spending more time as the No. 2 quarterback, but McCorkle wasn't about to name him the backup to starter Grayson Saunier.
"All the jobs are up in the air now," he said. "You've got to come out and compete every single day, and play with max effort. But all of the quarterbacks are doing a good job competing. We don't really get caught up with (who is No. 2) right now. We mix it up, so each guy has a chance to compete."
NAMING NAMES
Plays, players, and notable goings-on that earned a notation in one onlooker's notebook Tuesday included freshman linebacker Uche Odimegwu wrapping up a ballcarrier for a loss on a run up the middle during the first team period ... Joshua Johnson stuffing a run up the middle and then blowing up a QB keeper ... Myles Craddock breaking off a run that brought cheers from the offensive sideline ... Cameron Best-Alston forcing a sweep wide where Samuel Washington and Jorden Barnes converged on the ballcarrier ... Best-Alston foiling a sweep to the enjoyment of defensive players on the sideline ... Jason Bish with a nice grab over the middle.
During pass skeleton, Best-Alston with a nice pass breakup ... Jaden Cummings with a bullet to Andrew Smart over the middle with the ball coming in low where only Smart could get it ... Aiden Abercrombie identifying a hole in the zone and "sitting down" where Cummings could hit him.
During the final team period, Johnson again standing tall and stuffing a run ... Christopher Roper taking a handoff and hitting the hole fast ... Cummings finding Immanuel Johnson out of the backfield for a first down ... Roper collecting a swing pass and putting a move on a defender that was met with cheers from the offensive sideline ... Noah Trigueros with a terrific fake handoff that enabled him to run over the empty right side for a long gain ... Craddock and No'Koi Maddox meeting up in a hole and seemingly having a few words before cooling off ... Washington flying out of nowhere to come from behind and record a pass breakup to prevent a first down ... Craddock showing his wheels and getting around right end to the joy of his teammates on the offensive sideline ... tight end Kyle Meier, the onetime quarterback recruit, adjusting in the air to a ball thrown slightly behind him, pulling it in and sprinting down the middle for a nice gain.
ON THE DRAFT
If McCorkle was surprised that former offensive tackle Delby Lemieux was not picked in the NFL Draft, he is one of many who think there was a bright side for the graduating senior to not having his name called.
"To tell you the truth, it's almost better if you don't get picked late, because then you can kind of pick where you want to go," he said. "You can look at rosters and see what the depth chart looks like. It's my opinion, but I just have always felt that way. You're better off going free agent than late.
"I'm excited for Delby," McCorkle continued. "I'm excited for Sean (Williams, a camp invitee with Tennessee). It's great to have all the guys fighting for the NFL. We've got Isaiah (Johnson), who's still on the Dolphins' roster. Nick Lalos is long snapping with the Patriots. I know Tyron Herring just got released a couple of weeks ago, but I could see him getting picked up again."
FIVE FOR FIVE
The NCAA has been looking at – and may soon pass – an eligibility rules change that would allow players five years to play five seasons. The expectation is that would put an end to players petitioning and getting the OK to play after spending six or seven years in college.
If passed, the rule would allow Ivy Leaguers to play four full years, get their degree, and then play a final season at the FBS level should that possibility be offered. Currently, Ivy players have to play no more than four games in one of their seasons to recover that year elsewhere. Increasingly, that has forced players and coaches around the Ivy League to have difficult discussions about limiting playing time for players hoping to eventually grad transfer.
McCorkle gives the potential rules change a solid thumbs up.
"It would help us because we couldn't have to make those tough decisions," he said. "We don't have to worry about messing the kid up by playing him more than four games and costing him that year.
"But the part you worry about is, OK, now you give them five years, is it going to be six next? It's like the playoffs. You start off letting 12 teams in, then it's 16 and what next? But he, I think it would be great for us, for sure."
SPECIAL VISITOR
Former Dartmouth lineman Jeff Immelt '78, previously the Chairman and CEO of General Electric, will be on campus tomorrow for a speaking engagement, although his busy schedule may no allow him time to specifically address the football team.
"He's speaking at a leadership forum and they've got him doing all kinds of stuff so I don't know that he'll have a chance to come by," said McCorkle. "But I know a lot of our players are going to go listen to him. I told them to be sure to sign up for it. I told them not to miss class but to go see him if they can.
"Our whole staff is going to go listen. I've known Jeff a long time and he's been great for the program. I'm excited that he's here and I know our guys will be impressed by him."
ON TAP
The Big Green will be back at it Thursday. The schedule has the team on Memorial Field at 5 p.m., but with rain in the forecast there's a chance the session will be moved to the morning in the Indoor Practice Facility. The third of four weeks of spring practice wraps up Saturday morning in the stadium.