Thoughts on Vandy's spring game: Lots of goods and bads
Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2023 8:25 pm
The Black (defense) defeated The Gold (offense) 37-30, but the game didn't really seem that close. On a cold, wet evening in the lacrosse stadium, the defense seemed to dominate the offense for most of the game-- although the offense did pull off a couple of big plays in the second half (when the secondary was largely playing bench-warmers).
CAUTION: You really can't tell too much from a spring game. But this one was kind of disappointing to me in that the offense couldn't seem to manufacture many big plays. Maybe the defense really is greatly improved, but it just seemed to me the passing game was out of sync (no matter who was quarterbacking), and the defense didn't really get a good test. (Reminiscent of how poorly the offense performed last year in bad-weather games like Wake Forest and Tennessee.)
I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH...
- Any of the quarterbacks. Swann had two TD passes (one a 75-yarder which was nullified), but he didn't really move the team. He's No. 1 because he sees the field the best. Seals, who wore a white jersey (allowing him to take hits) is the most composed of all, but his accuracy still leaves a lot to be desired. Dickey is not ready for prime time; too many of his throws were batted down. And Taylor, though he looks the part physically and can throw a long ball (he had a nice fourth-down bomb to Wilson Long) didn't really move the team either. None of them were consistent.
- The turf in the lacrosse stadium; Swann seemed to slip on the mud and hurt himself late, though hopefully not seriously.
- The center(s); WAY too many high snaps. And too many false starts by the O-line.
- The placekickers (who are walk-ons); two missed FGs and one missed PAT. (Brock Taylor, how soon can you get here?)
- The receivers, though several starters were nursing injuries; they seemed out of sync with the QBs, and the completion percentage had to have been atrocious. Too many drops. (One exception: Richie Hoskins, a walk-on who was a lacrosse star in HS, looks like he can step in and help if needed.)
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH:
- The play of the starting safeties, Jaylen Mahoney and De'Rickey Wright, who will make a dynamite pair. Wright returned an errant Dickey pass 60 yards for a TD.
- The defensive line in general, which batted down a bunch of passes and kept the QBs uncomfortable. Darren Agu didn't start, but he makes things happen when he's in there. Aeneas DiCosmo appears to have won the role of the hybrid DE/LB, and he had a sack early.
- Sedrick Alexander and Chase Gillespie, who both outshone starter Patrick Smith. I predict Alexander especially will push Smith for playing time, and we may have running backs by committee in the fall. (And yes, we WILL miss Ray Davis.)
- Bryce Cowan was very active at LB, and since Kane Patterson was out injured, someone needed to step up.
- Ja'Dais Richard started at one corner (although I'm not sure what was up with B.J. Anderson). Jeffrey Ugochukwu got his name called a few times for good plays.
- Some guys that look like they have really made gains in the weight room: Christian James, Yilanan Ouattara, Darren Agu, De'Rickey Wright on defense; Trent Weaver, and several other O-linemen.
HUMOROUS NOTE OF THE NIGHT:
- If you stayed around until the end, you saw Hayden Moses, Vandy's 5-9 walk-on QB, take two snaps in the final minute. He completed a pass, but the second snap, predictably, was over his head for a big loss to end the game.
BOTTOM LINE IMPRESSIONS:
- Lots of work to do before the Rainbow Warriors arrive on the mainland-- mainly in the passing game. Me, I'm not sure the QB position is as settled as some think it is.
- The defense does have a chance to be greatly improved in Year Two of Nick Howell. There is improved speed and athleticism at almost every position, and there is improved depth on the D-line. But until we see how it can perform against a really good offense, the jury is out; we didn't get to see that Saturday.
CAUTION: You really can't tell too much from a spring game. But this one was kind of disappointing to me in that the offense couldn't seem to manufacture many big plays. Maybe the defense really is greatly improved, but it just seemed to me the passing game was out of sync (no matter who was quarterbacking), and the defense didn't really get a good test. (Reminiscent of how poorly the offense performed last year in bad-weather games like Wake Forest and Tennessee.)
I WAS NOT IMPRESSED WITH...
- Any of the quarterbacks. Swann had two TD passes (one a 75-yarder which was nullified), but he didn't really move the team. He's No. 1 because he sees the field the best. Seals, who wore a white jersey (allowing him to take hits) is the most composed of all, but his accuracy still leaves a lot to be desired. Dickey is not ready for prime time; too many of his throws were batted down. And Taylor, though he looks the part physically and can throw a long ball (he had a nice fourth-down bomb to Wilson Long) didn't really move the team either. None of them were consistent.
- The turf in the lacrosse stadium; Swann seemed to slip on the mud and hurt himself late, though hopefully not seriously.
- The center(s); WAY too many high snaps. And too many false starts by the O-line.
- The placekickers (who are walk-ons); two missed FGs and one missed PAT. (Brock Taylor, how soon can you get here?)
- The receivers, though several starters were nursing injuries; they seemed out of sync with the QBs, and the completion percentage had to have been atrocious. Too many drops. (One exception: Richie Hoskins, a walk-on who was a lacrosse star in HS, looks like he can step in and help if needed.)
I WAS IMPRESSED WITH:
- The play of the starting safeties, Jaylen Mahoney and De'Rickey Wright, who will make a dynamite pair. Wright returned an errant Dickey pass 60 yards for a TD.
- The defensive line in general, which batted down a bunch of passes and kept the QBs uncomfortable. Darren Agu didn't start, but he makes things happen when he's in there. Aeneas DiCosmo appears to have won the role of the hybrid DE/LB, and he had a sack early.
- Sedrick Alexander and Chase Gillespie, who both outshone starter Patrick Smith. I predict Alexander especially will push Smith for playing time, and we may have running backs by committee in the fall. (And yes, we WILL miss Ray Davis.)
- Bryce Cowan was very active at LB, and since Kane Patterson was out injured, someone needed to step up.
- Ja'Dais Richard started at one corner (although I'm not sure what was up with B.J. Anderson). Jeffrey Ugochukwu got his name called a few times for good plays.
- Some guys that look like they have really made gains in the weight room: Christian James, Yilanan Ouattara, Darren Agu, De'Rickey Wright on defense; Trent Weaver, and several other O-linemen.
HUMOROUS NOTE OF THE NIGHT:
- If you stayed around until the end, you saw Hayden Moses, Vandy's 5-9 walk-on QB, take two snaps in the final minute. He completed a pass, but the second snap, predictably, was over his head for a big loss to end the game.
BOTTOM LINE IMPRESSIONS:
- Lots of work to do before the Rainbow Warriors arrive on the mainland-- mainly in the passing game. Me, I'm not sure the QB position is as settled as some think it is.
- The defense does have a chance to be greatly improved in Year Two of Nick Howell. There is improved speed and athleticism at almost every position, and there is improved depth on the D-line. But until we see how it can perform against a really good offense, the jury is out; we didn't get to see that Saturday.