Spring Practice Optimism.

When Mike Frank has gone full rah-rah we've reached a new plateau.

Mike is more healthy skeptic than I am and the man sounds positively giddy after his trip to South Bend.

Mike's view coupled with that of Hansen (whom I consider serious and reserved) are noteworthy signposts along the way.

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There hasn't been much to see yet.

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However you want to characterize Love.
The optimism seem rooted in 1) QB play; 2) Secondary play: and 3) overall talent and depth everywhere except QB.
Lurking in the optimism is the belief that in the WR room is a difference maker beyond Faison not named Greathouse.

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I just think it's silly to wax poetic after one practice viewing, sans full pads, where the team shows you only what it wants you to see.

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based on the size of the kids and how they move. For those few who have been on the beat for decades to talk about the current group compared to what the team looked like for so many years is somewhat telling, IMO. It adds credence to what Freeman has been building towards, which is what people used to call an "SEC roster" (when the SEC was still a thing).

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2 thoughts stood out to me.

"Mylan Graham just looks different."

- Guys at Irish Illustrated

On Rodney Dunham

"Yeah, he's had a great offseason. He's put on well over 20 pounds since he's gotten here in two months. He looks great physically for a freshman who just got here. He's pretty serious about what he does. He shows up every single day and is coachable. He goes really hard. He's trying to do the right things. If he makes a mistake, he takes it personal, but he takes to coaching and he tries to correct it the next time he's out there. I think the sky's the limit for him. It's obviously too early to tell, but for a freshman and what he's been able to do physically, as well as fundamentally, it's been pretty impressive."

- Chris Ash

Not sure I've ever seen a coach talk about a freshman like that.

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as "Aaron Lynch at 18 with a...better head on his shoulders".

I totally understand the pushback on early-spring sunshine-pumping. At the same time, the entire motherfucking world is on fire right now, and some of us just need something to feel good about at this particular moment in time. Would be nice to get a win somewhere, anywhere.

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To be sure, I am not calling Hobbs or any fans silly. I get a kick out of the beat guys getting excited in April and August.

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I've known Mike Frank, in a internet sort of way, for 30yrs. Over that span Mike has established a reputation as something of a beat 'drip'. Whereas other beats tend to oversell the team annually Mike is always tapping the breaks with "concerns" and "worries'.

I myself appreciate his skepticism but other view Mike as a dark cloud hovering over the program (lol).

For a guy with that reputation to come away praising how the team looks physically and athletically is kind of a 'whoa!" moment because it came from a unexpected quarter.

BTW, you are correct in that none of this means anything.

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but just that photo from the weight room of the DL...those are bigger dudes.

We used to have a couple "first guys off the bus" but we seem to be accumulating a team of them now.

--
"F--- everyone who isn't us."
#Team128

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Freeman's got so much riz they need to call him Aura Parseghian

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I'm sure he would have eeked out more then...ahem...5 wins.

QB
Jarious Jackson
Arnaz Battle

RB
Tony Fisher
Julius Jones
Tony Driver
Terrance Howard

FB
Joey Goodspeed
Tom Lopienski

WR
Joey Getherall
Bobby Brown
David Givens
Raki Nelson
Javin Hunter

TE
Jabari Holloway
Dan O'Leary

OL
Jordan Black
Jeff Faine
Mike Gandy
John Merandi
John Teasdale

DL
Lamont Bryant
Grant Irons
Anthony Weaver
Brad Williams
Lance Legree

LB
Anthony Denman
Rocky Boiman
Tyreo Harrison

Deke Cooper DB
Deveron Harper DB
Clifford Jefferson DB
Gerome Sapp DB

(Ok, maybe not the CBs...)

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..you probably wouldn't get much out of a 13 year old head coach. Maybe at least replacement level for Davie though.

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the Polo Grounds

Spring practice just started.

Lost best player in…

Lots of reasons for optimism.

You can still discern a certain amount

Probably too much full on Kool Aid here but...

I described Dunham elsewhere

Heh. We've closed the size/speed gap with 2012 Alabama.

but have we closed the mineshaft gap

Never bet against Catholics in a repopulation contest.

But that was the point.

I wish Brewu was 3 inches taller

We are starting to stack up guys who can't fit ON the bus

Perfectly stated.

most talented probable two deep in the 2000s

We can safely go at least seven years before that

Would like to see Marcus lead the 99 team

I'm not sure about that...

[chuckle]