Former players getting plenty of press

So, everyone should know by now that Larry Hart was drafted in the fifth round by the Jaguars. The UCASports story quotes Larry saying that they have no plans to move him from his customary defensive end spot. Larry becomes the highest drafted Bear ever (round 5, pick 12, 143 overall) and joins three other defensive lineman that the Jags chose during the draft. The Jaguars own Web site admits that “The post-draft grades aren’t likely to be kind to the Jaguars.”

“We wanted to create more rush. I did not envision drafting four defensive linemen. It just worked out that way,” [General Manager Gene] Smith said.

Marquez Branson wasn’t drafted last season, but after being signed as a free agent and spending the entire season on the practice squad in Denver, it looks like the timing may be right for him to make the 53-man roster. That’s according to 2nd year head coach Josh McDaniels:

McDaniels says he’s found Scheffler replacement

Josh McDaniels said Friday night the player most likely to replace Tony Scheffler at the Broncos’ “receiving” tight end position is Marquez Branson. Undrafted last year out of Central Arkansas, the 6-2, 241-pound Branson spent his entire rookie season on the Broncos’ practice squad.

“You didn’t see him last year but we have very high expectations and high hopes for him,” McDaniels said.

“He was Antonio Gates and all those guys last year on the (scout) team. Did a nice job for us in terms of showing our defense what we wanted him to do. Learned a lot.”

And finally, we find out that former Bear baseballer Todd Gossage has found a new home – in Canada. He starts the 2010 season with the Sussex Skyhawks, and independent team in the CanAm League. The season starts Thursday.

Post-Spring Football Wrap (pt.2)

Mistakes from pt.1: Austin Emerson was also out of the scrimmage with a broken hand (I think). I didn’t see him anywhere and only wrote down the people in jerseys but not pads. Also, I think we all knew that Smothers was QB2. I just didn’t type it in that way.

Other things that stood out to me:

1. I’m going to first restate how many redshirt freshmen were getting some serious time out there. Some of them looked like they had the natural physical ability/size to be very good players. Not sure how many of them will still be out there that much when the fall gets here, but it was still good to see.
2. Some players that stood out to me and will make an amazing battle for the mike linebacker spots: Frank Newsome and RsFr Keaton Stigger. And then there’s also Brett Orr. If the guys on the outside can play as well as the guys in the middle, the linebacking corp could be able to fill the very experienced shoes that left last year. Stigger may have earned the big stick award from the last scrimmage. (Update: Lamar Moore played SLB last year, not MLB like I previously “misremembered.”)
3. Both QBs showed some good running ability, and the runs may have resulted in even more yardage if they weren’t whistled down on first touch. Smothers is very fast out there, but Dick also showed some ability.
4. More on the QBs – neither are completing a high percentage like we’ve seen lately. Dick did have some short/screen passes knocked down from what looked like poor blocking by offensive linemen. I’ll be interested to see just how much the offense is different than years past.
5. Bobo looked big and strong, but he fumbled twice.
6. As was stated in the ucasports and cabin stories, Hinton and Adams are extremely explosive. Coach (who was wearing a mic) was sure to let everyone hear the praise for TJ after his long catch and run. “That’s what we were missing last year.”
7. Derek Owens may have a larger role in the offense that just a placeholder. Of course, the depth chart gets much more crowded with the injured returning and the fall.
8. We’re already a very young team on offense. (We’ve got four seniors on offense and 10 on defense.) I’ll be a little surprised if many or any of the freshman recruits aren’t redshirted.
9. Said it in part 1, but I’ll say it again: Chase Dixon looks very big out there.
10. Is it fall yet? When does practice start again?

Oh, and I left off the special teams depth chart last time:
Kick return 1: 8 – Robey and 9 – Adams
Kick return 2: 88 – Owens and 3 – Jackson
Punt return 1: 5 – Hinton
Punt return 2: 13 – Dumas
K/P/PK: Still some kid named Carmona