* The highlights from Saturday's scrimmage, released by the university, are brief, but in some cases noteworthy. The highlights don’t run long enough to see what kind of play was run, how long or short the gain was, and who was beaten or victorious at the line of scrimmage, but we’re able to see the final instance of the tackle.
It isn't a perfect look at what went on, but it's better than nothing.
Here is what I noticed (in order of the clips):
* Keon Coleman with a deep reception vs Antoine Booth.
* Tank Brown with a touch sack of Anthony Russo against AJ Arcuri. (Harold Joiner was also on the field for that play). Drew Beasley was the other defensive end on that play, but was successfully blocked by Jarrett Horst.
Brown looks thick, athletic and streamlined. Might just be the camera but I swear he has taken a half inch off his waste line since last week.
Brown is listed as a linebacker. We saw him work as a defensive end earlier this week in practice, both as a stand-up DE and with his hand in the dirt.
I'm starting to figure Brown in as a potential playing group guy, if not a definite playing group guy. I wouldn't have assumed that would be the case a week or two ago. I didn't know what to think of him, as a former four-star recruit who didn't get on the field at Minnesota last year.
* Noah Kim, on a half-roll, passing to tight end Trenton Gillison with defensive end Michael Fletcher pursuing him. Gillison, with the catch and turn upfield, looking like a tight end should.
Gillison is listed at 6-4, 245, the same as last year, but he looks a little stronger and leaner.
* Michael Dowell had an interception. We didn’t see who threw the pick. The pass was intended for Tre Mosley.
Dowell, Angelo Grose and Kalon Gervin were also on the field, almost certainly as part of the first-string defensive backfield.
* Terry Lockett is shown at the tail end of making some sort of play, being tackled as he crosses a yard-line, possibly the goal line.
* Harold Joiner is shown getting a carry, executing a cutback and getting prepared to take on an unidentified safety. We don’t see the result of the play or the tackle, but it appears to be the first-string defense with Xavier Henderson at safety. Noah Harvey and Quavaris Crouch are the linebackers on the play, and Ronald Williams is at cornerback.
Williams and Crouch are big-framed, athletic guys. They look the part, and that's why Tucker brought them in as transfers from SEC schools.
When I watched a CB contact drill last week, Williams looked more comfortable than anyone coiling, extending and hitting. He's a specimen.
In my opinion, it's a good sign that Williams and Crouch are getting reps with the ones. They have the frame and the horsepower. They just need to get acclimated to the system and this scrimmage might have been a nice step in that direction.
* Crouch is making a tackle on an unidentified running back, with Michael Dowell assisting. Tight ends Tyler Hunt and Gillison are in on the play. Angelo Grose and Noah Harvey are also part of the defensive unit on that play.
* Jordon Simmons is seen with the ball, being tackled in the flat by Kalon Gervin. Judging by the action in the backfield in the background, this looks like it was a pass play to Simmons.
Offensive guard Blake Bueter, who has missed some time with an ailment, was in on the play.
Gervin’s tackle was a good, clean leg wrap, executed at a good clip of speed. Gervin said improved tackling is one of his goals for August camp and the season, and he provided a good, crisp, open-field tackle on that one.
Xavier Simpson and Chase Kline were also on the field for that play.
* Crouch with a heavy tackle on Elijah Collins. Crouch arrives with a forearm up high. Collins' upper body blast back from Crouch's force.
Nickel back Darius Snow, CB Chester Kimbrough, LB Noah Harvey, safety Tate Hallock, DT Derrick Harmon and CB Emmanuel Flowers were also on the field for the defense for that play.
* Redshirt freshman WR Christian Fitzpatrick is shown having gotten deep for a reception, with Hallock and Kimbrough. It appears that that play went for a touchdown, based on the congratulations he was getting on the sideline after the play from Luke Campbell, Eli Collins and Jalen Nailor.
