I wasn’t going to give my thoughts but what the heck…
Shocked by the crowd for a Spring game. It felt similar to what we would get for an actual game during the dark days of RE2.
Really disappointed with the format. I mean if it is an open practice, then say that. Don’t promote as a game. And if it’s a practice, give the crowd some insight into what is going on. I am sure everyone on the field knew what they were doing but nobody in the crowd did. People sitting around us were either chatting with each other or heading to 45 minute merchandise line. It was tough to stay focused on what was happening on the field.
My first impression when I entered the stands and looked out on the team warming up was they seemed to lack size. Did anyone else have the same impression?
But what I will say what they lacked in size they seem to make up in overall team speed.
Like the Spring practice in 2024, the defense looked better than the offense.
We didn’t get enough reps to evaluate Merklinger, but I was not impressed with the other 3 qbs. So many over thrown balls missing wide open guys. I saw Osborne during Toledo’s bowl game and I know he is better than what he showed today and he did make a few good throws mixed in with bad ones.
As for Merk, how do you get hurt in a game when there is no contact? I think the same thing happened to Evers during the open practice. Hopefully it’s not a sign he is injury prone. Some guys are.
Finally, sticking with Merklinger a couple of weird observations: 1) I was surprised that when he came back on the field in shorts, he didn’t stay very long to watch the rest of the practice along with other players not in pads. And 2) when he did leave the field, he had his right hand hidden under his shirt as if not show the brace he was wearing. I thought that was weird. Candle’s comment that he didn’t know what was going on with him was also weird.