Had a chance to speak extensively with OL coach Robbie Caldwell and DC Brent Venables. Both were quite insightful and entertaining.
Some of the more important developments:
-- The major source of stress for Caldwell, obviously, is the tackle spots after the departure of Isaiah Battle. Caldwell is quite optimistic about things, though, in large part because he's in love with freshmen Mitch Hyatt, Jake Fruhmorgen and Noah Green. Caldwell said Green, Taylor Hearn and Eric Mac Lain are capable of moving outside and playing tackle.
-- The biggest issue for Hyatt this offseason was improving his bulk and strength. Caldwell said he's done that, though there's still a ways to go ("You don't become a 400-pound bencher in a year"). He said Fruhmorgen also became bigger and stronger. He noted that Fruhmorgen's recovery from shoulder surgery really set him back during spring practice.
"It's hard to run an off-tackle play without a tackle. ... We've got a little flexibility. But I've got complete faith in them. We'll find the right combination."
Caldwell said the biggest problem with Joe Gore has been getting him to speak up. Just very quiet and reserved.
"Nobody can hear what he's saying. It drives me crazy."
By the way, Dabo Swinney doesn't seem nearly as worried about the offensive line as a lot of people on the outside. The much bigger questions in his eyes are tight end and defensive end.
There's a supreme belief in these younger offensive linemen because almost all of them have excellent pedigree and are totally committed to being great offensive linemen.
As Caldwell said of Fruhmorgen's mother:
"She's a good football mama. She'll tell me to kick his tail."
-- Caldwell said he's heard good things about Jay Guillermo, who made some appearances during the first summer session and is back full-time for the second session.
"A lot of the younger guys don't know him as well as we'd hoped," Caldwell said, referring to Guillermo's leave of absence. "I hope he'll be back. But throughout the process he's grown mentally. I think he'll be a great contributor. He always has a smile on his face and is always upbeat."
Caldwell said Guillermo will begin camp grouped with Justin Falcinelli and Zach Giella at center behind Ryan Norton. He said Guillermo can also play guard, where he would have begun spring practice in a starting role had he remained.
-- Venables held court for a long, long time and was extremely animated. Had we asked him to talk to us for 10 hours he probably would have. The message Venables preached all spring continued today: This defense has plenty of talent, but the major question is the intangibles and the leadership. Quite simply, there are some guys who need to understand what it takes to lead this group from day to day.
Venables said Ben Boulware most definitely has what he's looking for, but others need to make some serious improvement.
"I know what Boulware is about. He's never satisfied. He has great respect for that leadership role. Not everybody looks at it the same way."
More from Venables on what he's looking for:
"Be competitive and tough every day. Be selfless. Be in the front of the line. It's easy to be in the back. You can't be in the front of the line and compete like a dog. There's no place for that."
Venables is already planning on making regular changes to the in-house depth chart, on a daily basis, to hold guys accountable. He says anybody can be excited about practicing the first few days; it's what happens on the second week when things get more grueling that will reveal the real leaders and the impostors.
"We don't have ham-and-eggers and Jimmy Green Beans we're plugging in. We're talented. But you can't have one without the other. You have to have the intangibles."
-- He likes what he's heard and seen of Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. Said both are very much in the end equation right now after the loss of Ebenezer Ogundeko. Said Bryant is around 260, 262. Said Ferrell is at about 255. Said they're both carrying their weight well and have a pretty good mental understanding of what they're doing. Said Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd need to prepare to play 70 snaps a game.
-- The rave reviews continue for Christian Wilkins. His grasp of the concepts has been exceptional. I think there's a chance he could move outside if the need arises. Seems he's a better option at end than Albert Huggins because he plays better in space.
-- Two guys who Venables couldn't stop raving about were T.J. Green and Kendall Joseph. Just an all-consuming desire to learn, to put in the extra time that it takes to be great. It's going to be fascinating to chart their progress during camp and see how much they shake things up.
-- Mark Fields recently did more than 20 reps of 225 pounds. He's going to be right there in the mix at corner with Cordrea Tankersley.
-- We mentioned this last night, but Travis Blanks has had a great recovery from surgery and is doing everything asked of him. Way ahead of schedule. He's also been an outstanding leader while helping to fill the massive void left by last year's defensive figureheads. If he can keep it up and give the defense a solid option at the nickel spot, what a boost.
-- Venables told us B.J. Goodson recently benched 515 pounds.
-- It'll be interesting to chart the progress of Rod Byers. He moved back to defense during the spring but is hoping to play both ways this fall. Our feeling is he'll probably end up back on offense full-time, but he seems pretty determined to do both.
-- Much more stuff coming later on today. Hope everyone is doing well this week!
Some of the more important developments:
-- The major source of stress for Caldwell, obviously, is the tackle spots after the departure of Isaiah Battle. Caldwell is quite optimistic about things, though, in large part because he's in love with freshmen Mitch Hyatt, Jake Fruhmorgen and Noah Green. Caldwell said Green, Taylor Hearn and Eric Mac Lain are capable of moving outside and playing tackle.
-- The biggest issue for Hyatt this offseason was improving his bulk and strength. Caldwell said he's done that, though there's still a ways to go ("You don't become a 400-pound bencher in a year"). He said Fruhmorgen also became bigger and stronger. He noted that Fruhmorgen's recovery from shoulder surgery really set him back during spring practice.
"It's hard to run an off-tackle play without a tackle. ... We've got a little flexibility. But I've got complete faith in them. We'll find the right combination."
Caldwell said the biggest problem with Joe Gore has been getting him to speak up. Just very quiet and reserved.
"Nobody can hear what he's saying. It drives me crazy."
By the way, Dabo Swinney doesn't seem nearly as worried about the offensive line as a lot of people on the outside. The much bigger questions in his eyes are tight end and defensive end.
There's a supreme belief in these younger offensive linemen because almost all of them have excellent pedigree and are totally committed to being great offensive linemen.
As Caldwell said of Fruhmorgen's mother:
"She's a good football mama. She'll tell me to kick his tail."
-- Caldwell said he's heard good things about Jay Guillermo, who made some appearances during the first summer session and is back full-time for the second session.
"A lot of the younger guys don't know him as well as we'd hoped," Caldwell said, referring to Guillermo's leave of absence. "I hope he'll be back. But throughout the process he's grown mentally. I think he'll be a great contributor. He always has a smile on his face and is always upbeat."
Caldwell said Guillermo will begin camp grouped with Justin Falcinelli and Zach Giella at center behind Ryan Norton. He said Guillermo can also play guard, where he would have begun spring practice in a starting role had he remained.
-- Venables held court for a long, long time and was extremely animated. Had we asked him to talk to us for 10 hours he probably would have. The message Venables preached all spring continued today: This defense has plenty of talent, but the major question is the intangibles and the leadership. Quite simply, there are some guys who need to understand what it takes to lead this group from day to day.
Venables said Ben Boulware most definitely has what he's looking for, but others need to make some serious improvement.
"I know what Boulware is about. He's never satisfied. He has great respect for that leadership role. Not everybody looks at it the same way."
More from Venables on what he's looking for:
"Be competitive and tough every day. Be selfless. Be in the front of the line. It's easy to be in the back. You can't be in the front of the line and compete like a dog. There's no place for that."
Venables is already planning on making regular changes to the in-house depth chart, on a daily basis, to hold guys accountable. He says anybody can be excited about practicing the first few days; it's what happens on the second week when things get more grueling that will reveal the real leaders and the impostors.
"We don't have ham-and-eggers and Jimmy Green Beans we're plugging in. We're talented. But you can't have one without the other. You have to have the intangibles."
-- He likes what he's heard and seen of Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant. Said both are very much in the end equation right now after the loss of Ebenezer Ogundeko. Said Bryant is around 260, 262. Said Ferrell is at about 255. Said they're both carrying their weight well and have a pretty good mental understanding of what they're doing. Said Shaq Lawson and Kevin Dodd need to prepare to play 70 snaps a game.
-- The rave reviews continue for Christian Wilkins. His grasp of the concepts has been exceptional. I think there's a chance he could move outside if the need arises. Seems he's a better option at end than Albert Huggins because he plays better in space.
-- Two guys who Venables couldn't stop raving about were T.J. Green and Kendall Joseph. Just an all-consuming desire to learn, to put in the extra time that it takes to be great. It's going to be fascinating to chart their progress during camp and see how much they shake things up.
-- Mark Fields recently did more than 20 reps of 225 pounds. He's going to be right there in the mix at corner with Cordrea Tankersley.
-- We mentioned this last night, but Travis Blanks has had a great recovery from surgery and is doing everything asked of him. Way ahead of schedule. He's also been an outstanding leader while helping to fill the massive void left by last year's defensive figureheads. If he can keep it up and give the defense a solid option at the nickel spot, what a boost.
-- Venables told us B.J. Goodson recently benched 515 pounds.
-- It'll be interesting to chart the progress of Rod Byers. He moved back to defense during the spring but is hoping to play both ways this fall. Our feeling is he'll probably end up back on offense full-time, but he seems pretty determined to do both.
-- Much more stuff coming later on today. Hope everyone is doing well this week!
