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We have quite and offense with a lot of difference mixes. Green was right on and looking real good. We are going to be hard to handle because we have so many weapons. Marshall can really shoot through the hole and around the end. Bruce was looking awesome. We have an awesome set of receivers. Holt looks like a seasoned vet already. Yes, he does make little rookie mistakes every now and then, but he also makes the tough catches and his route running is great. Orlando wasn't there Friday, not sure why.
There were was a couple of rookies on offense getting a lot of work-- RB Justin West and WR Darius Blevens. Blevens made an unbelievble catch on a fly pattern down the line. The CB had him blanketed, and the pass was underthrown just a touch, and Blevins hesitated just a split second and jumped up behind the CB and skied for the ball. His knees were over the defenders head, and he came down with the ball. The whole team was yelling like crazy, and Al Saunders sprinted all the way down the field to give him praise and a high five.
Dre Bly looked awful good too.
Saunders has the WR's in great spirits. Isaac Bruce is a different person. A news reporter wanted an interview with Ike, and Lyle went up next to them and did the rap music thing with his mouth, and Ike started rapping his response to the reporter. It was a gag. It went on for a few minutes, and then they both cracked up. Then the reporter finally got his interview. I got some pics of that episode. It was too funny. It was good to see that. The last few years I didn't see much of that, especially from Ike.
Got the opportunity to talk to several players.
Roland Williams got his two front teeth knocked out Thurs. night and was back on the field Fri. morning. He had to have temporary teeth put in along with braces on his whole upper teeth to hold them in place. He said he was in a lot of pain but he wouldn't sit out. Talked to Holcombe, and he said he was alright and he will be back in a few weeks. Henley said he would be back in a week, but he was limping noticably. Ernie Conwell has been working his tail off and hopes to be back as soon as possible. Cameron Spikes injured his achiles tendon and his knee, but it wasn't as bad as he thought it was.
The players I talked to are very excited about the team's potential. Now it's time for them to prove themselves.
Keith Lyle said he is real excited and the D was looking better than it has looked for a long time. Even Keith said Bly was looking really good. Said depth in the Dline is his only concern, but the starters were doing real well.
L. Little was in good spirits considering all he has gone through. It was good to see him out on the field playing his heart out. He is awesome. He said he is excited about how the team looks and what the offense is doing. He was laughing and telling me,"There's no way they can double our Wr's this year, and we have a Rb's that can fly and add tremedously to the passing game. Having a great running game with Faulk and Hill will open up the passing game and vice versa".
I believe our coaching staff has made tremendous progress with Saunders and
Martz. Our offense will keep defenses off balance and tired. That's the whole key. We need
ball control and to give our D a chance to rest. We have a good solid D, but if they are
worn out, it won't matter how solid they are. And I believe this offense will eat up a lot
of yards, a lot of yards !
My prediction is that we finish above .500. It hinges on our OLine and our Dline. We just
need them to be solid. I know that is a simplistic statement, but it's true. The rest of
the positions on both sides of the ball are better than they have been in a long long
time.