 |
| Jordan Belfori, linebackers coach and defensive coordinators, gives instruction to Sean Chester and the other Big Green linebackers. |
HANOVER – Dartmouth wrapped up the first week of spring football on a blustery Saturday morning, and coach Sammy McCorkle is hopeful the blue-chip prospects on campus doing official visits were impressed, because he was.
“We had a better day out here,” McCorkle said. “We were a little bit more of a well-oiled machine. You could see the growth from our first day. Each practice we’ve gotten better and better.
“We had some top (prospects) here today and they got a taste of what we’re all about. Our players do a very good job of getting to meet and talk with those individuals and they had a chance to see how we practice, our tempo and urgency. Hopefully the individuals who were here see that this is the place that is right for them.”
Not that everything was perfect, of course. There were dropped passes, a few interceptions during team periods, and running backs with no room to run.
“We put a couple of new things in schematically on both sides of the ball, so there were some mental mistakes,” McCorkle said. “But what I liked today was, when guys made a mistake, they didn’t stop playing. They just kept going, which is what we want to see. Just go, and like I’ve said before, we’ll figure the rest out later.
“The energy level coming out was much, much better than last time and there was that sense of urgency that is important. You could see guys starting to really fly around. They were competing out there. We don’t want to have to coach effort, and I thought guys came out here ready to compete.”
CATCHING COACH MAC’S EYES
As always, there were a few players who stood out for McCorkle, starting on the defensive side.
“(Linebacker) Steve Simkins made some plays,” he said. “(Linebacker) Johnny Riley had another interception, I think his third one in just two or three practices. He’s done a great job and is always in the right spot.
“(Defensive lineman) Matisse Brosseau is doing a nice job coming off the edge for us. And (defensive end) Joshua Johnson is wreaking havoc.”
On the other side of the ball, McCorkle started with his receivers. “Nick Lemon had some nice catches out there,” he said. “(Tailback) Myles Craddock did a good job of finding holes and hitting them.
“I thought the quarterbacks did a good job getting the ball out where it needed to go, and the guys were catching them, so overall, it was a pretty good day.”
A QUESTION ABOUT THE OFFENSE
Asked which area of the offense is the biggest question mark this spring, McCorkle drew a distinction with his response.
“I wouldn’t say I have concern about the offensive line,” he said. “It’s more about depth. We’ve got (four starters) we’ve got to replace. The good thing is we’ve got guys who had to play last year because of injuries so they have some experience.
“I think the biggest thing is getting that cohesiveness with the offensive line because there are new guys at those spots. But that's what spring's all about – developing that group, finding that core of guys, and building depth.”
So far, he said, so good.
“I was very impressed the last couple of days. You could see today they came out with a little bit more confidence and with an attitude. They really did a good job of working together.”
A QUESTION ABOUT THE DEFENSE
McCorkle’s answer when asked about his biggest concern on defense echoed his answer on the other side of the ball.
“We've got some players over there,” he said, “but we have got to find out who's going to be the next guy. Who is going to step in where there is not going to be a drop-off?
“It’s not about ability. It’s about knowing what to do and then doing it. And I think that's what we have got to continue to build. Defensively, it’s about depth.”
GOING ALL TEEVENS
After mentioning the line on offense as a question area and avoiding any particular position on defense, McCorkle sounded a little like his mentor Buddy Teevens when addressing what areas of the offense and defense might be strongest this spring.
“Quarterback,” he said right from the get-go. “You’ve got Grayson (Saunier), who has a lot of experience, right? Then you have Woods Ray, who has started. Noah Trigueros has been with us a while, and he’s starting to really understand it. Then Jaden (Cummings) and Charlie (Peters) have come on since fall. You can see the difference in them.”
But McCorkle wasn’t done.
“I’m really excited about our group of wide receivers, really across the board, and with our senior group. They've done a really good job of stepping up this spring. We've got some talent and some speed and athletic ability out there. Obviously, we graduated two good tight ends in (Chris) Corbo and Sean Ward, but we have some skilled guys there. They just have to get experience.
"And then at running back, we graduated a couple of seniors (DJ Crowther and Desmin Jackson), but Myles (Craddock) and the other guys are looking good. I think it will be more of a group effort there.”
McCorkle didn’t miss a beat crossing the line of scrimmage.
“Defensively, I like our athleticism. We’ve got some guys who are athletic and play fast up front. At linebacker, Johnny Riley, Steve Simkins, Sean Chester, and Cam Lee have experience and have played a lot of snaps for us.
“In the secondary, I’m really excited Harrison (Keith) is leading the group back there. JB (Jorden Barnes) played a lot for us last year. Niquis (Ratliff) saw time toward the end of the year, and then we have No’Koi (Maddox). Those guys are doing a good job this spring, competing and playing as a group.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Dartmouth returns to the practice field Tuesday and will be in full pads for the first time after fulfilling the NCAA’s required days in just “uppers.”
McCorkle knows what he wants to see when full contact – but as always, not tackling – gets underway.
“Physicality,” he said. “I want to see us be physical across the board. Up front and on the perimeter. That’s the biggest thing.
“Obviously, there’s a fine line with how we do things here. We want to be safe and protect our teammates. But at the same time, we’ve got to become more physical, particularly when it comes to blocking and getting off blocks.
“I think a lot of that is mindset. Physicality doesn't mean you're banging and banging all the time, but it's having that mental toughness and being disciplined enough to do your responsibility and do it at a fast, fast tempo and pace.”
NOTABLE
Plays, players, and notable goings-on that earned a notation in one onlooker's notebook Saturday included corner Samuel Washington with an interception during the first team period and nickel Lou Lamar with a nice pass breakup … Jorden Barnes with a nifty PBU during pass skel and Jonathan Nelson drawing praise from his position coach for a well-run pass route.
During the final team period, Noah Trigueros with a well-thrown ball downfield to Nick Lemon … Aiden Abercrombie with a nice contested catch over the middle … Woods Ray drilling a throw to James Elliot down the left sideline … Ray taking a pitch back to him and hitting Kristian Strong down the right sideline for a touchdown on a flea flicker … Jaden Cummings finding Nelson for a nice gain down the left sideline … and the defensive play of the session, Johnny Riley going high and reaching up with two hands to pull down an interception as he fell over backwards.
ON TAP
The Big Green returns to the field Tuesday at 5 p.m. for its first fully padded practice of the spring camp.