After this past weekends practices and Friday's
scrimmage
the rage at Lobo practices has been about the Lobo defense as they have
been
lighting it up. Prior to fall camp starting Coach Locksley Kept saying,
"it doesn't matter what defensive set we come from you cannot
substitute
an aggressive nature." That is exactly what the Lobo D has been
displaying, so I was excited to take a look at this defense, and while
it
didn't disappoint in aggressive play, it was the offense that played
really
well today.
The "Thud" drill had The Hitmen blowing open holes for the Lobo
running back corps. Led by James Wright and Demond Dennis the Lobo
offense
showed they were ready to go. Dennis had a pair of outstanding runs
including a
TD where he went completely untouched... Like I said though the defense
wasn't
dead and DT Brett Kennedy came up big with some stops for loss.
All you can say for this photo is THUD!
Special teams drills had Adam Miller and Ben Skaer
trying to get the ball out
while under a heavy rush. With the defensive team wearing those yellow
beanies
Miller and Skaer were booting the ball nicely. I'll digress real quick
in
saying how awesome is it seeing Ian Clark fielding punts, even if he
has the
blue jersey on.
Did I mention that frosh phenom Demond Dennis could also block punts?
As the
young man from Atlanta was in position to do just that Double D brought
a big
smile to Coach Locks face and a question to the special team blockers,
"where did he come from huh?"
Double
D can leap tall O-linemen in a single bound!
One of my big questions of the week was who was
going to step up at the WR
position? Who wants to be that "playmaker" Coach Locks is looking
for? We have taken looks at Roland Bruno, Bryant Williams, and Daryl Jones. All
three are with the first unit today, and the last piece was RS-Fr Ty
Kirk who
has stepped up big time the past couple of days. With Chris Hernandez
injury
that has kept him practicing 100% of the time. Today, Hernandez played
for a
few series and ended up back with trainers.
Daryl Jones celebrates a TD with Joshua Taufele
The position that people are always hung up on is
quarterback. Here at
TheRedMenace.com we have maintained since spring that Donovan Porterie is
going to start vs. Texas A&M. "There a couple of quarterbacks that
have started to separate themselves," said Coach Locksley.
Coach said it and by my count of full field, red zone, and two-minute
drill I
have Porterie hitting Ty Kirk in the front of the end zone for a
touchdown,
during two minute drill DP hit D. Jones for a nice gainer and Jones
made a
quick move to get into the end zone. DP also used his wheels as he ran
one in
for six. Holbrook tossed a touchdown pass to AJ Butler, and Brad Gruner
hit
Jonathan Mader for a touchdown.
AJ
Butler looks to the end zone!
Double D escapes
Frankie Baca
Defensively I was really impressed with the play of linebackers Trey Hardaway
and Clint "Killer" McPeek. Both are quote impressive, but more
important vicious from the LB position. Frankie Solomon and Bubba Forrest also
turned in mice day of work as well.
What
Rudy C’s
So there is this new
reality show on TV called "Cake Boss". This guy makes
"Ace of Cakes" look like a sissy. What does cake baking have to do
with Lobo Football practice? Well putting together a winning team is
like
putting together a spectacular cake. Like in this one episode where the
"Cake Boss" makes a tribut ecake for retired firefighters complete
with smoke, lights and sirens. Plus the darn thing was TOTALLY EDIBLE! 
Coach Locksley and
his staff are whipping the team into the right mix, a little run, a
little pass
and a lot of attention to detail. I have never seen so many types of
situations
that the team is put into and then learning take place. Play after
play, player
after player. Today the wide receivers played the "Cake Boss Right Hand
Man" with the two minute drill featuring nice catches by Ty Kirk,
Bryant
Williams, Michael Scarlett and finally Daryl Jones hauling in the six
pointer
off the laser darts thrown by Donovan Porterie.
Separation of
ingredients also makes the cake. It is apparent that separation in the
players
is also occurring. I think that not matter how "secret" the coaches
try to be, the name of the game is observation. I agree with
Bandito that
BR Holbrook has put distance between himself, Brad Gruner and Tate
Smith. With
Donovan playing like a starter, things look to be the right consistency
for a
tasty desert for Lobo fans.
Just as important
is
the Defense. You can't have all sweet icing and cool decorations, you
must have
CAKE! The defense is showing that alignment is just that, you still
have to
BRING IT! That is what the Lobos have done for the last 11 years and
the trend
will only continue. Clint McPeek got my vote for D player of practice.
His
consistency and pure 100% effort are backed up by meticulous attention
to
detail and game plan. The D line may be thin in numbers but mighty in
effort.
Barring unforeseen events, look for the D-line to play way above
expectations
of the media. Now the corners have to buck up and play "lights out"
for the cake to have the right combination of texture and flavor.
At the end of the
show, the "Cake Boss" looks a little tired but, hey, there is a new
customer who needs a Lobo Cake! SWEET!
Offensive
Playmaker
WR
Ty Kirk
The young man has played himself onto first team and some really nice
receptions including the TD made this one easy.
Defensive
Playmaker
DT
Brett Kennedy
Brett was clogging the middle and things that came close got swallowed
up. I
noticed on a play the receiver got into the second tier and Kennedy
came back
to the play and brought his 2 x 4 with him.
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