Spring practice day 5: Defense shines again

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Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. Photos by Brad Graverson//Daily Breeze

Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. Photos by Brad Graverson//Daily Breeze

 

A notebook for the day is coming here. It leads with tight ends coach Rip Scherer‘s return to coaching and the progress with his position group

Here are photos from practice.

Here are video interviews with Scherer, Nate Starks, Soso Jamabo, Jaleel Wadood and Jacob Tuioti-Mariner. (You can also scroll to the bottom of this post for higher quality video of Scherer)

Here are notes/observations for the day:

— As has been a theme for the first few days of practice, the defense seems to be winning most of the time. The defense regularly gets into the backfield during scrimmages to blow up plays and gets turnovers.

— Defensive end Takkarist McKlinley had little trouble getting into the backfield during the second scrimmage period to drop running back Soso Jamabo for a tackle for loss. Not too much later, Matt Dickerson came around the right side of the line almost untouched to “sack” Josh Rosen (sack is in quotations because quarterbacks are not really live during spring practice and can’t be tackled).

— Linebacker Jayon Brown picked off backup Mike Fafaul in the first scrimmage. Safety Jaleel Wadood came close to another interception, but dropped it.

— The offense did make a few plays, including a nice touchdown pass from Fafaul to tight end Austin Roberts as Roberts took it on a crossing route, turned quickly up field and split a couple of defenders. Rosen made some good throws under pressure and dropped a pass into the waiting arms of Eldridge Massington. He also threw a touchdown to Jamabo on a screen.

— Offensive lineman Andre James had a difficult day in one-on-ones, getting beat by Dickerson and Keisean Lucier-South. Dickerson used a slick swim move to easily get around James.

— Offensive lineman Kenny Lacy struggled in one-on-ones a few days ago against Nick Terry, but had a better performance Wednesday, which included a great rep that kept Terry neutralized completely.

— Kickers JJ Molson and Andrew Strauch each made three of their five kicks at the end of practice. Both were short on the 50-yarder at the end while Molson also missed from 37 yards and Strauch missed from 44.

— Cornerback Marcus Rios remained on the sideline after straining his groin in practice last Saturday. Linebacker Josh Woods was a new addition to the injury crew, will follow up on the specifics at the next practice.