(04-07-2018 03:33 PM)emu79 Wrote:  Green wins on a pass from Preston best back today was Turner Sexton may have a monster year this fall Latu looked good the newcomers Rush is impressive Porter redshirt and Williams at wide receiver caught my eye still not must at tight end or punting its close still between Trey and Isaac with Trey having a slight edge

Following the EMU FB Tweets + '79's comments it does appear that we have the QBs and WRs to air the ball out.

I've felt good about our RBs. So if the OL holds up we'll have a good offense.

And the P.S. to the game:

https://twitter.com/EMUFB/status/982725036267229187

Great experience today at the Spring Game. Got a lot of apparel (Jerseys, hats, shirts) at very cheap prices. Received a game worn jersey. Got to be on the sideline for the entire game as a season ticket holder. Amazing to see how big these guys are when they are standing next to you and I'm 6'2. Was chosen to call a play on offense, was given the option between 2 plays from Keen and then he called in my choice (a 3 yard gain only). On to some of the standouts:

Injured/Did not participate:
Blake Banham was not dressed.
Harris was not dressed but very active on the sideline.
Glass was MIA.
Bobby Brown was not dressed.
Odukoya was MIA.
Daugherty was MIA.
Greg Jean was not dressed.

QB's: Wiegers appears to be the clear starter at this point. Showed great arm strength and touch. Seemed to already have a good connection with Sexton. Most of the offense was run out the pistol formation. Did not see much mobility out of any of the QB's for obvious reasons. The defense just needed to touch the QB for the play to be called dead on a sack. Stiebeling made some decent throws but did not have the same touch and confidence as Wiegers. Hutchinson made a great throw to Marshall at the end of the game. Was a bullet where he looked off the safety and hit him in stride. Jackson looked like a raw freshmen. A lot of poor throws in warmup and the game. Many indecisive hand off and decisions. Nothing unusual for a true freshmen. He will remain as a QB I was told as the staff wants him there and believes in his ability.

WR/TE: Sexton could have a break out year. Has the hands and quickness to break big plays, very impressed with his day. Line Latu was also very good, just what we need and would expect from a Juco. Quain Williams and the TE Fields made some nice catches as well.

RB: Vann, Eriksen, Turner all continued what we have seen in the past. Side not Vann has the largest legs I've seen, just like tree trunks.

Defense: Was pretty solid on both teams, the usual suspects made plays. Weird but Giraldo was out on the field and playing, even though he participated in the Pro Day. Thought it was a mistake by the announcer but it was definitely him. As we have all said on here, the defense should be very solid again this year without many departures.

ST: FG/PAT's were solid by Fricano. Punting game was still very suspect by both Oraha and Julien. Julien was still kicking rugby style.

Overall was a good showing, you could tell both sides wanted to win and the competitiveness was there. Best of all it appeared we stayed injury free during the game. No players taken off the field that I could see.

Sorry if that was jumbled, I just wanted to get out some of my first impressions and takeaways. I will add more later if more comes to me.

E'King, thank you. GREAT report.

If I lived in MI I would have been out there and got a jersey, too.

I'll sleep well tonight. I was most concerned about quarterbacking with my big hope is that Wiegers can be a very productive MAC QB. I think he can be. We absolutely needed an experienced QB to lead us this year following Roback.

As far as the game day experience, EMU FB is continuing to show real creativity in making game attendance a real fun experience...

Just needed another 15 - 20 degrees on the thermometer.

Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

Ken, I watched Holloman warm up He as dressed Frankly Wiegers started off solid but faded while Steibling was shakey but came back decent, no much difference in their productivity as I could see. We need to remember the defense they are up against. All the new defensive JUCOs that are in school played and looked pretty solid. Jackson is a true frosh who has decent arm strength, Hutchinson does have arm strength. But here's the thing we haven't see either Grissom or Glass. Unfortunately I was trying to keep warm so I didn't the offensive line except to note that Bergman was out. Lyle a redshirt WR was also not dressed. Willie Parker looked good at RB, Mackey played but I think he's still learning the system. None of the QBs as I recall threw an INT although Steibling almost did, lots of sideline passing. We need to get the TEs involved in the offense.

I love the system they should keep in for future spring games. I sat in my season ticket seats warming them up for the fall.

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

EMU FB tweeted that Wiegers was 7 for 7 and a TD in the 1st quarter.

That said, this was an intra-squad game and we played what 4 or 5 QBs. And that doesn't include either Glass or Grissom.

Quite frankly we don't have 6 or 7 MAC caliber QBs.

From what I read, Wiegers appears to be a capable MAC-caliber QB and CC will need to figure out in August who is #2 and #3.

Dear emu79.
I would agree with what you have said. Didn't Hutchinson throw the touchdown to one of our tight ends? Mackey seemed to always be swarmed over every time he got the ball, so hard to tell what he can do. You are right about the defense having the edge. I thought the offensive line had some nice blocking at times as well.

(04-07-2018 07:31 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79.
I would agree with what you have said. Didn't Hutchinson throw the touchdown to one of our tight ends? Mackey seemed to always be swarmed over every time he got the ball, so hard to tell what he can do. You are right about the defense having the edge. I thought the offensive line had some nice blocking at times as well.

Really suggest folks listen to conchs post spring presser especially re wide receiver injuries and quarterbacks

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

Ken I am with you. I thought the passing left a lot to be desired. I was encouraged, however, by the arm strength that I saw. Roback quite frankly had a cannon and I was afraid that any new QB would disappoint in that respect. Weigers and Hutchison don't have the cannon but their arm strength appears adequate. Lets face it, you can teach accuracy and touch but you cannot teach someone how to increase their fastball speed by 10 miles per hour. Also Jackson did not throw downfield and his short passes were found wanting but this High School senior has a tremendous physical presence in that backfield. Reggie Bell he is not.

Running backs are a question mark for me. Erickson is solid but hardly the guy who takes over a game or breaks the long run. I keep expecting Shaq to return to his form three years ago but I am starting to wonder. Assuming he can hold onto the ball, I think Turner is the feature back at this point. He has the breakaway speed and I noticed today that he was also split out as a receiver. Interesting to be sure.

Neatherly and the defense do not worry me in the least. Crosby was a beast today and Harris, while undressed looked fine walking around the sideline. Two D Ends like that cover up a lot of sins elsewhere.

The most encouraging thing today was the crowd. I am pretty sure that this years attendance doubled that of last year despite the fact that last year I wore a polo shirt to the game and today I got out the long underwear. The big victory may have been EMU football over the Kullberg, Krause, Bunsis coalition that seems determined to kill it.

Dear emu79,
After reading the replay of the game on the Eastern site, I stand corrected on the Hutchinson touchdown pass. It was received by Line Latu, wide receiver.

Daugherty is out for the year Jean hurt what is status of Juco tight Fields Oakes Kemp at that spot right now

Dear emu79,
I thought all three played in the game today.

Bummer about Daugherty. What happened to him?

(04-07-2018 08:54 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear emu79,
I thought all three played in the game today.

Ken yes Kemp Oakes and Fields played

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

Yeah Ken, I heard exactly the same about Wiegers, from somebody who was at the game. 'Average at best', which means a step down from Roback....not good. If he is truly average at best, coaches need to get Hutchinson & Glass more reps.

Iowa/Big Ten means squat. He NEVER played.

(04-08-2018 12:00 AM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

Yeah Ken, I heard exactly the same about Wiegers, from somebody who was at the game. 'Average at best', which means a step down from Roback....not good. If he is truly average at best, coaches need to get Hutchinson & Glass more reps.

Iowa/Big Ten means squat. He NEVER played.

I wouldn't write off Wiegers yet. Remember this is SPRING BALL. He is completely new to the program.

His improvement should come in August as he becomes more acclimated with the playbook, offense, teammates, etc.

(04-08-2018 12:00 AM)EagleTough Wrote:  

(04-07-2018 05:18 PM)Ken Barna Wrote:  Dear Friends,
After reading comments about the quarterbacks, it seems like I was at a different game. I will agree there were some nice touchdown throws, but overall I thought the quarterbacks as a group, overthrew, under threw, and overall did not throw well at all. For all of the experience that Wiegers is supposed to have, I thought he was average at best.
Rush is going to be good, but I didn't see Holloman at all. Was he also missing? I thought Lion King looked good on a couple of defensive plays.

Yeah Ken, I heard exactly the same about Wiegers, from somebody who was at the game. 'Average at best', which means a step down from Roback....not good. If he is truly average at best, coaches need to get Hutchinson & Glass more reps.

Iowa/Big Ten means squat. He NEVER played.

He NEVER played? He backed up 2 guys now in the NFL and Nathan Stanley will be in the League as well. Know your facts. Does your kid know you rip his teammates behind their backs? Wiegers could have started for numerous Big 10 teams.

Thanks to those that attended and reported on what they saw. Looking forward to the season this fall. Hope to be going to a bowl game.

My thoughts:

WRs:
I was hoping to see Juco WRs Arthur Jackson and Mychael Thompson at the spring game but did not. Are they scheduled to come in before fall camp?? From what I saw of the passing game, we are going to need two more better than average MAC receivers to have the season we want. Sexton played well and I believe caught a TD pass from Weigers.

TEs:

I didn't see Thomas Odukoya but he's listed on spring roster. Did he play? What's his status?

DL:

Jeremiah Harris sat out but looked nimble on sidelines. I'm sure it was precautionary. However, I didn't see Tyrie Eddington the mamoth 6'3" 330 lb DT. He was not on spring roster. What's his status??

OL:

Sidy Sow started at one LT for injured Chris Butkowski. His footwork seemed ok and he held his own but I didn't watch him too closely. Backup Pete Bergman also sat out.

QBs

Regarding Weigers, Steve is correct on judging him too soon. This is the most difficult position to play in all college sports. He seemed indecisive as he went thru his reads because he's still learning the play book. His arm strength seemed perhaps a little better than Stielbling but not by much. I believe he threw his TD to Sexton. Weigers threw what appeared to be a tipped ball that was intercepted but it was ruled incomplete. No doubt he's a big strong kid and we will need him to improve tremendously by fall.

Steibling played with confidence as he should since he's been in the system for awhile. He thru a bubble screen to Line Latu who ran a 30-40 yarder in for the score. Need him to stay healthy and have a monster year.

Jackson.....I heard he's at 6'2" 220lbs and he looks it. Big thick athletic kid. He didn't get a lot of the snaps but played some. I believe he completed a couple short passes.

Punting - I was sooooooo disappointed to see the rugby style punting strategy. Unquestionably it cost us a road victory against Kentucky and 4th quarter loss to NIU. I truly do not understand this strategy!!!!! Why??

So I came in early to buy two season ticket packages and unbeknownst to me there was a recruiting fair underway. There must have been four hundred people in attendance (30-40 recruits and their families - guessing). I'll write more on this but it was awesome!!