I can’t recall a Day 1 of Spring Football being so aggressive with play-calling–from the get go, no less.  Between Michael Penix and Dylan Morris it looked like game prep for a conference game.  The players were in padded helmets and no shoulder pads, inside Dempsy Indoor Arena.

Receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard was in mid-season form as well with his energy.  Early on in just drills he’s coaching up everyone.  However, early on on a pass play from Morris that went for 65 yards, Shephard was smiling and yelling, “I love football!  I love football!  I love football.”

He was actively helping out DBs to understand what the receivers were doing then flipping on his receivers coach’s hat and getting guys to maintain high-level performances.

The DBs held their own for the most part in short to intermedia routes early on but when the mid to deep routes were called Penix’s placement gave the DBs little to no shot at the ball.

When it is Tybo Rogers’ time, look out.  He looks to be physically a complete back.  He’s been working on his pass protection and understands that improving that element of his game will help him see the field more.  Richard Newton was in the drills early on but not in the scrimmage portion.

Overall, this team looks to be game-ready, physically and mentally.  This time last year, many of the players seemed so much less mature than they are now.  They expect a lot of themselves, of their teammates, and the team as a whole.  There were very few miscues by the offense.

Individual Player and Position Group Notes:

• Ja’Lynn Polk is considerably more muscular than last year 
• Landon Hatchett was in street clothes because he’s not enrolled
• Germie Bernard is listed at 6-0 and 200 pounds and that seems off.  I think he’s going to be listed at 205-207 when the season starts.
• Will Nixon was involved throughout the practice and had several nice runs and a couple of catches
• Daniyel Ngata might be the shiftiest RB
• I can’t say that I saw a lot of RB Aaron Dumas
• Giles Jackson appears to be coming into his own in the offense.  He was targeted several times.  He has the best 0-60 MPH on the team.
• Denzel Boston made at least 3 “utilizing-the-entire-catch-radius catches”.  One late in the session where he spun the ball.
• Only once did I see a new RB, WR, TE completely lined up in the wrong spot and have to be moved to the right spot.
• Sam Adams had a great day, lining up all over the place, made several nice plays but late in session, just before Maurice Heims went down Adams grabbed his right hamstring.
• Cam Davis, who led the team in rushing TDs has bulked up considerably but seems more agile.
• The main OL from left to right:  LT Troy Fautanu LG Julius Buelow, Matteo Mele, RG Nate Kalepo, RT Roger Rosengarten.  However, guys were moved around quite a bit.
• Lance Holtzclaw has a great burst but will still need to bulk up.
• G. Hatchett, moved around at the guard spots as did Myles Murao.
• The two true centers were Miles Murao and Matteo Mele and Parker Brailsford who didn’t get moved.
• According to Dom Hampton, Michael Penix is nearly an extra coach.  He has full command of the playbook but also is highly respected by the team and they follow him.
• As with Ulumoo Ale’s injury last Fall, Mishael Powell got down on his knee and immediately prayed for edge defender Maurice Heims when he went down with a head, neck or spinal injury.
• Heims later tweeted that he’ll be back soon
• Two of the last players to leave Dempsy were Jalen McMillan and Germie Bernard, who walked out together.  Bernard is clearly relaxed and having a great time with his new teammates.

Play-by-Play:

• Michael Penix at quarterback with Cam Davis in the backfield, Rome Odunze and Jack Westover wideout left 4-wide receivers headaches hands off to Cam Davis. The other receivers were Jalen McMillan and Ja’Lynn Polk

• Penix at quarterback with Odunze and unknown receiver wide left, McMillan in the slot wide right is Ja’Lynn Polk goes in motion Morris hand it off to Will Nixon with a big pick up
• Ja’Lynn Polk lined out left with Devin Culp at tight end. Nixon in the backfield moves offset Penix at tail back.  Penix under heavy pressure from but the ball is nearly hauled in but he has interfered with by the defensive back.  I think it was intended for Polk.
• Morris at quarterback with Adams lined behind him.   Morris slid to his right and fired a bullet that looked too hot to handle but Taj Davis pulled it in despite great coverage.  
• Morris breaks the huddle with Adams in the backfield, Giles Jackson wide out left Quentin Moore in motion.  Morris handed off to Sam Adams who is came up holding his right hamstring.  
• Taj Davis wide left, Cuevas between Davis and Jackson who was lined up in the slot.  Morris in shotgun formation with Daniyel Ngata in the backfield.  Morris with a beautiful delivery to Taj Davis who picks up for 8 yards takes a shot and loses his mouthguard that went flying 20 feet.
• Davis lined up wide left,  Jackson in motion comes into the left slot.  Morris at quarterback with Ngata in the backfield.  Morris, under heavy pressure wiggles free throws the ball out of bounds. It just a second ball thrown out of bounds by Morris.
• Penix at quarterback with Odunze wide out left Taj Davis split even wider out left, Ryan Otton at tight end.  From his own 24, Penix unleashes a bomb Odunz who pulls it in at the other 34 yard line.  Odunze twists and fully extends for a ball that only Odunze could have caught.  Hampton in coverage.–Play of the Day candidate
• Penix with Odunze and McMillan wide left.  Dumps off the ball to McMillan who has the ball go off of his hands and nearly picked off by number Jaivion Green.  On the play Maurice Heims goes down about the 25 yard line.  
• Penix at quarterback Bernard wide left outside of McMillan, Penix dumps theJa” ball to the other side to Denzel Boston for a short 5 yard pick up.
• Bernard wide left outside of McMillan and a RB  in the slot Odunze in the slot out wide right has the ball off to number eight will Nixon.
• Morris at quarterback with Taj Davis wide out left.  Morris throws the ball out of bounds after being pressured.
• Taj Davis and Otton wide left.  Otton pulls in a comebacker and uses Davis’ block to evade two tacklers and picks up 12 yards.  
• Tybo Rogers with a nice pick up on a hand off.
• Denzel Boston with a highlight play gets up spins the ball
• Penix back at quarterback with Nixon lined up in the slot, inside of Odunze.  Nixon goes to the backfield.  Jackson, Taj Davis and Polk out right
• Otton and Jackson up close with Alex in the backfield Polk and Odunze white out left. The passcode to Giles Jackson who Jukes a defender for a nice pick up
• Penix with a beautiful sideline route picks up 8 yards to Rome Odunze
• Odunze, Polk, and Jackson wide left.  Penix under pressure but delivers a beautiful pass to Odunze with yet another highlight reel completion.–Play of the day 
• Morris at quarterback with Taj Davis in motion.  An old-school swing pass out to Davis to weaves his way for 8 yards.
• Morris at quarterback Bernard and Jackson out left.  Jackson goes in motion, Ryan Otton at TE ball handed off to Nixon who fights for some tough yards and picks up four on second and five.
• Boston and Bernard wide left with Mason Wheeler in the slot.  Hand off goes to Nixon 
• Bernard wide out left with a D ball thrown perfectly Denzel Boston who burns the DB on a 65 yard touchdown pass to end the session–Play of the day nominee