So since the media is now confined to only watching the end of practices on certain days and I was lucky enough to be one of a few to see all of practice, 4 times this spring, plus the end of another, I thought I'd share some memorable moments that have stuck with me now that spring ball is going on 3 weeks completed, as well as share my opinions on a few topics.

I think first thing that stands out to me the most, is how much fun it was to watch one-on-one's between the D-Line and the O-Line. Usually you can't see this drill very good cause they do it on the other end of the fields but this time they didn't stop anyone from going over and watching within just feet away. That got the adrenaline going.

The defensive player had to get to a big over-sized bag hanging in the air from a chain connected to a long steal bar parallel to the ground that is then connected to another steal bar that is fastened to the ground. Both lines would line up but only one (predetermined) d player and one (predetermined) o player would actually go at the snap of the ball cause like I said it was one-on-one's. The bag was about where a QB would be after dropping back a few steps from shot-gun. So pretty far.

It's all kind of a blur now but one play stood out in-particular. It was Remington Peck going up against...(OK, I just realized its been so long now that I honestly can't remember if it was Fusi or Kanuch but I know with 100% certainty it was one of them. Both Fusi#50 and Kanuch#78 were up so often that I can't remember which one was against Peck on this certain play. Which ever one it was they were lined up in the right guard spot. I know that's Kanuch's normal position, but guys were taking reps at more than just their usual spot.)

Peck used a great bull-rush until more than half way to the bag and then did a masterful job feeling Fusi/Kanuch trying to push so hard back without having his arms extended, that peck got a piece of his jersey right at the top of this sternum area and just threw him forward (combined with doing a swim-move at the same time) with terrific force and quickness, getting to the bag very quickly and with the OL left in the dust. You could hear a lot of people audibly gasp at the same time because of how clean and forceful Peck pulled off the move. I was pretty shocked cause I had anticipated Peck getting best-ed even though the defender seems to have the advantage in this drill as the D line had more better moments than the O line did in the drill.

Kaufusi was the only outside LB that also took place in the drill and he did really well too as he got to the bag a handful of times. There was one play were Kaufusi looked just like the DE from Washington (#8 Hau'oli Kikaha) and Yeck looked like Yeck when they went against each other in the bowl game (ending in a sack for Kikaha). Kaufusi was looking more like I remember him in HS than he has ever before while at byu which was exciting. Kaufusi and Peck were definitely the top two performers on the D side of the ball during the drill. Yeck had some good moments too. I don't want to sell him short for the good he did do.

The other thing that stood out in the drill was that the first time JonRyheem Peoples took his rep, he lined up at NT over Alletto and just blew him backward all the way to the bag. After that he was pretty worthless and never came close to the bag again and Alletto and the others all stopped him. He was huffing and puffing the rest of the time even though he had long long rests in-between reps. What that says to me is...get in shape big man, and lose some lbs.

Overall, De'ondre Wesley did the best out of the OL imo even with a soft cast on his hand. Kafu was second, Lapuaho was third. But a lot of the OL did not participate in the drill. I counted 7 OL standing around in helmets only that didn't participate that day. (Mathews, Stringham, Kearsley, etc.)

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Opinion time on the DL and OL.

One of my bigger concerns with this years team is the depth at DE. Peck looks much improved and even though many may disagree, I think he is going to show to be just as good as Jan Jorgensen was. Peck looked stronger than last season this spring and I think is poised to have a good year. Rowley will also be good after the next four months of training is up.

However, would either of these guys be starters for FSU, Auburn, Wis, ND, etc? Probably not. Will they be as good as a Byron Frisch was for byu in the 90's? Probably Not. But they will be good. Behind them though? Tanner Balderee showed some potential imo and maybe Sione Takitaki, if not needed as badly at inside LB could be played at DE if he gets big enough. But really we will probably be using NT/DE types and will be seeing Kesni Tausinga and others at DE. We will be totally fine as long as injuries don't start to mount. That is were I am concerned. Most positions are deep enough right now to take an injury or two, but not DE imo.

I think at NT Travis Tuiloma shows more of an ability to play more plays in a row at 100% than Marquess Johnson did last year last year (better endurance for Travis) but that Johnson is a more explosive/powerful off the snap, even though like I said, I don't think he can keep it going for as long. With those two getting the majority of the reps at NT this year and some more depth behind them if Tuiloma is needed to play some DE, I think we will be fine at NT. Again, are they starters for the elite teams in the country? I don't think so but we only go up against a few of those types of OL's this year anyway. And Bronco has done very well on D through the years with some similar D-line talent.

As far as the OL goes, I like that with how much we sub our guys, there so much depth that there isn't going to be much of a drop off at all between the first and second team lines. We have four guys who I'd feel comfortable with at tackle. Wesely, Mathews, Lapuaho, Yeck. And even Wilcox if he is back for fall.

At center, Fusi showed imo that he is the starter for sure. He and Wesely are the two most locked in as starters imo. Then we know what we can get from Alletto. So good depth at Center.

Same at guard. Kafu looked good in spring as did Kanuch. Plus there is still Kearsley who started one game and then a 8 game starter(!) at guard, (betcha a lot of you didn't realize that) in Kyle Johnson, who body wise looks better than most of our O-linemen (fit and proportional) and is also listed in the two deep right now at RT, which shows his versatility. On top of that, Stringham can play both guard and tackle as well. He definitely looks the part and must be seen as talented by coach 2J since he has Stringham in the two deep right now even though he didn't even participate in spring ball due to shoulder surgery. (Try not to imagine him getting blown away on the last play of the game vs bsu. Oops, I just made you see it in your head again. Sorry.)

Anyway, I saw a lot encouraging play form the OL in spring ball and I know it is only spring but they are going to be play leaps and bounds better than last year. I'm not just trying to make myself believe that this year either. It is so obvious they'll be better imo. I think they may even out play our D line this year actually.

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Next post tomorrow will have some stories about what I saw on day one of spring ball on offense versus what I saw through to the last day of spring ball on offense (Hint: Oh crap, still??! - to - Awe Yeah:)!), WR vs DB one-on-one's, as well as WR and DB talk. Hope even though this isn't much that it at least makes the off-season a little more bearable as well as give us a little renewed faith in our prospects for finally having a really good season this year.