Post Spring Offense:

[FredWhite2]

Just a follow up to the updates I've been occasionally passing along...

At the end of spring ball I'm pretty excited for this team to be on the field in the fall. Offense SHOULD be one of the top units in the country... Finally with quality skill players and depth on the O-line for the first time under Dooley, this side of the ball is poised to make a name for themselves come August.

QB- Tyler Bray had a pretty good spring overall. Many have praised his leadership both on and off the field, which is what you need at the QB position. He also is working with CJC to improve his progressions on passing plays... One area he could stand to improve is his play action fakes (Maybe could tweak Peyton's mind if he comes to visit before the season starts...?) The back-up spot was very competitive and that's not a knock on 2nd year player, Justin Worley. Worley has had a good spring, but Nathan Peterman the true freshman has been impressive and has pushed Worley to get better this spring.


RB- The running back position has been the biggest question on the offensive side of the ball this spring. Rajon Neal has shown flashes of what he can do, but he is having trouble holding onto the football still. Marlin Lane has not been able to be consistent enough to take the starting job. The biggest surprise to me was Devrin Young. Young isn't an every down back obviously, but he has put on good weight and gives this position and our offense a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands as a change-of-pace back.

FB- Bartholomew will again be the starter here in the fall. Ben is a big back who won't get a lot of touches in the running game, but is a good blocker, a smart kid, and a good checkdown receiver for Bray if he needs it.

WR- Justin Hunter looked very impressive coming off of season ending ACL surgery from a year ago. Hunter didn't miss a practice, but was held out of full contact the entire spring. If Hunter can return to form, and it looks like he very well could, this WR corps will be one of the best in the country. Da'Rick Rogers did his best to scare volnation with his off the field antics at the beginning of the spring, but it was a talk with Hunter and Bray and meetings with both CDD and John Gruden that helped get him back on the right path. Rogers looks slimmer than last year and has looked like an NFL WR in practice. Jacob Carter is a name heard a lot in the spring. The walk-on took full advantage of his opportunity and might have earned a place on special teams come the fall. With the group we have coming in (CP, Croom, Bowles, Howard) I don't see Carter seeing the field at WR.

TE- Mike Rivera is still the starter and had a good spring, but Cameron Clear is an absolute beast and a matchup nightmare. At 6'5 285 lbs, Clear can block like a tackle, and run routes against smaller secondary members. This will be a great 1/2 punch for our offense to have this season. Downs also looked solid this spring and is an incredible #3 option for us to have at TE.

LT- Tiny Richardson came on this spring like everyone hoped he would when we recruited him. Massive doesn't do this kid justice, he's a monster. He has great feet for his size and is lean for being the size that he is. Tiny is still young and is learning the position, but he could truly be a 1st round tackle in the NFL one day.

LG- Dallas Thomas moved over from LT b/c it's what was best for the team. Thomas is a very selfless kid and a team leader on the offensive line. He looked great at LG all spring and received compliments from his coaches and Tiny for his leadership in the offseason. Marcus Jackson will back up Thomas and provides a great option if something were to happen to Thomas.

C- Alex Bullard had a better spring. He looks more comfortable at center and working with the line in general. The muffed snaps last year killed us and they have been working on that a lot in the offseason and will continue to work until the fall.

RG- James Stone got the first crack at this spot and did not play poorly, but he still needs to get stronger to be dominant at this level. Zach Fulton returned from a foot injury during the middle of spring ball and impressed with his ability to "move the pile." Fulton would start if the season started today, but if Stone improves his strength this summer this will be a battle going into fall camp.

RT- Like Stone, James needed to add more strength to dominate at this level. A two-year starter, James has been praised for his leadership among his peers and looks more like an SEC tackle. He could still get stronger in the summer, but James looks ready to have a solid year at RT for us.


- Cannot wait for CP, Croom, Bowles, and Howard to get here! What a group of playmakers Dooley and co. brought in with this class. The WR position is lacking depth, but with this group that will quickly solve that problem.

- Cam Clear and Tiny Richardson have arrived. They are not all-stars necessarily yet, but the lights are starting to come on and they are both physical freaks.

- The emphasis all spring was on the running game. The arrival of Jay Graham has benefited the running back group tremendously as he emphasizes the need to run hard and finish while taking care of the ball.

[tomq_123]

Great info. Not sure if you can answer these questions or not, but what happened to both Hill and Smith a RB? Also, is anyone (Crowder?) pushing Bullard for starting center? And finally do you still see Dallas and Z. Rogers starting in the slots this fall? Thanks.

[DjCrenshaw]

Great assesment, you are starting to be my favorite person to read until the magazines come out.

[Cheese Donkey]

Thanks for the write-up, I really enjoyed reading it.

[LotteryPick]

I am SO pumped for Cam Clear.

[Vol423]

I see that we're once again back to the BS about John Gruden talking to Da'Rick Rogers.

[orangeblood79]

I, for one, am hoping we have more than half of a punch at TE.

[Vol423]

I agree that running back is a question mark, but anyone that saw our offensive line play at all last year knows that it is a major question mark as well. The run blocking was horrific, and I see several comments in the OP referencing the need for our offensive linemen to get stronger. These guys are 300+ pounds and are now in at least their 3rd year. There are no excuses anymore. There is just laziness.

[Ashevillevol]

Thanks for the update and your insight.

[loggervol]

thank you Fred,great update.please keep bringing the info.

[Vols4us]

Very good info FW2. Thanks for taking your time to update.

[fade route]

One of the best WR corps in the country? You mean the corps that has one member coming off major knee surgery and absolutely no 3rd option at the position? Your assertion is dripping with homerism..........imo

[GAVol]

Originally Posted by fade route

One of the best WR corps in the country? You mean the corps that has one member coming off major knee surgery and absolutely no 3rd option at the position? Your assertion is dripping with homerism..........imo

Maybe that's why he began his statement with ....

If Hunter can return to form

[vol2013]

Originally Posted by fade route

One of the best WR corps in the country? You mean the corps that has one member coming off major knee surgery and absolutely no 3rd option at the position? Your assertion is dripping with homerism..........imo

Your assertion is dripping with lack of reading comprehension

[fade route]

Originally Posted by vol2013

Your assertion is dripping with lack of reading comprehension

Even with a healthy Hunter, USC's corps is probably better, deeper. Ours won't be bad, just not the best in the country.