Spring football is nearing its conclusion as the team wrapped up its tenth practice of the spring Friday evening, and has only five to go before reaching the 15-practice maximum granted by the NCAA. As we enter the final week of spring practice ahead of next Saturday’s spring game, here are 10 things we have learned through the first 10 practices of the spring:
1. THE DEFENSE HAS BEEN FLYING AROUND.
Throughout Coach Gill’s media availability this spring, he has frequently praised the defense, saying they have been “flying around.” With 7 returning starters from 2015, the defense was expected to be the leader of the team entering 2016.
2. JUCO TRANSFER SOLOMON MCGINTY HAS LOOKED IMPRESSIVE.
McGinty was the first individual Coach Gill singled out for grabbing his attention this spring. McGinty is a JUCO transfer that entered the spring the starter at the spur safety spot, and it sounds like he is adjusting seamlessly. After Avery James’ dismissal from the program, an experienced presence like McGinty was needed in the secondary.
3. GILL HAS BEEN PLEASED WITH THE DEFENSIVE LINE.
He singled out Tolen Avery, who is getting an extended look this spring due to Erwin Dessources still recovering from an injury he suffered at Charleston Southern in November. Jaron Greene, Spencer Cook, and Juwan Wells round out the starting group. Plug in Will Brown and a healthy Dessources, and Coach Singletary has a solid nucleus of 6 guys to rotate up front.
4. THERE IS NO SET TIMELINE ON NAMING A STARTER AT QB.
Coach Gill said he will sit down with Offensive Coordinator and quarterback coach Joe Dailey at the end of spring practice, and if they feel comfortable naming a starter then, they will. I would expect the battle to go into the summer and fall camp once Stephen Calvert joins the group.
5. MASHA HAS IMPROVED THROWING THE FOOTBALL.
With his athleticism, the only question mark Stephon Masha has is his throwing ability. He looked a bit shaky in his ability to stretch the defense during the limited game action he has had thus far in his career, but both Gill and Dailey have singled out his improvement in this area.
7. YEARICK IS LEARNING HOW TO SWIM.
It was comical to hear the multiple references to Yearick and learning how to swim in separate conversations with Gill and Dailey. Gill said he was “swimming a bit.” Dailey said, “He’s done a good job transitioning. Most guys they start sinking, start drowning, day 2, day 3 early on spring ball when you’re a mid-year freshman guy. He’s done a really good job staying above water.”
8. THE OFFENSE HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT.
It starts at the quarterback position and it continues to the line, receivers, and backs. Each position lost long-time starters and the replacements are still trying to find their rhythm. Fortunately, there’s still over 5 months until kickoff at Virginia Tech in September.
9. HARTMAN SWITCHED TO LEFT TACKLE.
After starting 23 games and 16 consecutive at right tackle, rising junior Tanner Hartman has been switched to left tackle this spring. Max Sommer started 10 of 11 games at left tackle in 2015 while protecting Josh Woodrum’s blindside.
6. SWANSON IS MAKING A PUSH IN THE QB BATTLE.
Many hadn’t factored in the 6’6” junior walk-on from LCA into the mix for the open quarterback position and rightly so. Entering the spring, mid-year enrollee and true freshman Rudiger Yearick was already slotted ahead of him. But, as Coach Dailey mentioned, he has shown vast improvement from last season.
10. WE KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT LIBERTY’S NEW OFFENSE.
With practice closed to the public, it has been very difficult, nearly impossible, to learn much of new offensive coordinator Joe Dailey’s offense. Gill said, “(there) may be a few things we try to do a little differently.” Dailey went a little bit further, stating, “we’re not going to change much at the quarterback position. We’re going to do what we’ve always done, we’re just going to change a couple things schematically.”
