Eagle fans-

A few observations and a few pics from the spring game. I caught most of the 2nd quarter and all of the 2nd half. I didn't see who started, and oddly, I saw no kicking at all. They weren't punting, they just moved the ball 40 yards or so. They didn't kick off and I didn't see any field goals attempted, and the only TD I saw they went for two at the end of the game. I wonder if our special teams headaches are related? I've heard our punter plays baseball in the spring.

These are things I noticed myself, so take it for what it is worth.

The defense is further along than the offense, as you'd expect this time of year. The Maroon squad (1st team D and 2nd team 0) beat the white squad (1st team O, 2nd team D) 7-6. The Maroon defense stopped a goal line stand at the end of the 2nd quarter, two shots at the goal line. The defensive play of that trip occurred when Blackmon made a nice post corner move, but DB Dejuan Tribble recovered and knocked it away to save a TD. The previous trip, the white offense had 1st down on the Maroon 15 before three consecutive sacks - one by LB Nick Larkin, one by Toal, and one gang tackle - knocked them back to 4th and 27. They brought a lot of heat from the corners.

DB Meuller, who Blackmon beat for two TDs in the previous scrimmage per the paper, made a nice play on the opening play of 2nd half when backup QB Karim Nokali threw a fly pattern bomb down the left side. The pass was where it had to be, but he got there in time and knocked it down.

Sign of what Blackmon might do. On 3rd and 11, BC set a screen for Blackmon. He made a nice shake and bake to pick up the first. Impressive part of the play was actually not #1, it was Porter delivering the ball on the money with Toal in his face. He took a shot but made the play. A few plays later, Kiwi got his hands up and tipped a ball, but Blackmon adjusted and caught the tumbling ball for no gain.

It looked like the starting WR set would be Lester, Blackmon and #84 Kevin Challenger. But I thought Maroon's WR Taylor Sele and Gonzalez did more with the ball in their hands than Challenger. I dont know if the squads were "balanced" or truly 1st team / 2nd team. Lester looked the most complete, ran good routes, separation, blocking down field. Blackmon still looked a little lost at times, having to be told to be tight or offset on the line.

Of the TE's, #88 Chris Miller looks like the pass catching TE of the bunch. He had a couple of nice catches including a patented "BC QB throws ball towards ground" catch. Pass catching FB Mark Palmer was nowhere to be seen. I dont know if he's injured, but I didn't see him.

Best play that wasn't ... Double pass, overhand "lateral" from Maroon QB Ryan to WR Gonzalez. The defense came up and it looked like the screen the the White squad had been using. Gonzalez hit streaking Sele, who took it about 50 yards to the house. Illegal procedure brought it back, but it was a cool play and would have put it away for Maroon.

Making presence felt from the new players: (1) RSF WR #2, Brandon Robinson had two catches I saw for about 10 yards (he may have had more). One was 10 in the air - he took a hard hit, but held on. The other was a 5 yd out and he made a move to make it to the 1st down line. (2) RSF CB # Kevin Akins, with White down by a TD with under three minutes running time to go, he rolled over in coverage and stopped WR Taylor Sele short of the first down (held to about a 6 yard gain, but it had chance to be 20+) to get the ball back for his team.

PLAY OF THE GAME - White gets ball back with about three minutes of running time remaining at their own 15. First play - screen right to Blackmon, 1st down. Second play - fade left to Blackmon, 8 yd gain, out of bounds. Then the bomb ... the DB jammed Blackmon at the line, Maroon D in cover 2 or cover 3. Blackmon broke free and streaked up the sideline. The DB came over and could have put a lick on him, but instead went for the pick and didn't get it. Blackmon made the catch, where he knew a hit was coming. Instead the Safety knocked the DB out of the play and #1 took it to the house. 50 yards on the ground, 20 or so in the air on the pass. BC goes for two (you know it is spring when O'B is doing that) and didn't convert. The White team lost, but in a real game, they would have kicked the extra point and gone to OT.

Summary - The defense looked very solid. DE and LB are the strength of the team. The OLine needs more time working together, particularly protecting off the corners and working with RB's in blitz pickup. They had trouble running inside. WR corps looked better than I expected. I liked Ryan, but I think Porter will be the starter. QB #10, RSF Chris Crane, I thought looked more like a traditional drop back QB than Nokali. The nod goes to Crane over Nokali for 3rd string from what I saw. At RB, I didn't see Ross at all, but Jolon Dunbar played both ways as did a tailback. I couldn't tell who the tailback was by number, but I though it was Calendar because he was wearing another shirt to play for the other squad. LV Whitworth and AJ Brooks handled the ball between the tackles. They usually sent #32 Andrew Calendar around the outside. I dont think he'll redshirt a TB that is already there, but he did it with Porter.

Having been to a bunch of spring games, I'd say it was better than most. I've seen far more points in past years, but usually due to someone making a mistake. The low score this year was due to solid defense. There are many reasons to look forward to fall.