Caple's Practice Notes:
When Bryant moves to safety and Molden slides over to nickel, redshirt freshman Kyler Gordon typically takes most of the reps at cornerback (opposite Keith Taylor) with the No. 1 defense; redshirt freshman Dominique Hampton has practiced there some, too. Lake said Gordon and Taylor are currently tied in the standings for the coveted “Best Hands in the Room” award, given each spring and fall to the defensive back who finishes camp with the most interceptions. They each have two.
Gordon, the former Everett (Wash.) Archbishop Murphy standout, turned heads at last month’s Husky Combine, particularly with his 42.5-inch vertical jump. Bryant said that leap was no surprise: “We go play pickup basketball, and he’s dunking.”
Gordon (6 feet 0, 195 pounds) might be the best pure athlete on the team, and his coverage skills are apparent, too. So far this spring, he has intercepted two passes and broken up several others, and seems to be right on top of receivers even when they catch the ball.
“Kyler’s athletic, can jump, can move side to side,” Lake said. “It’s really more about him just continuing to grow, continuing to attack the football, and getting his man skills at a higher level, which he’s working on.”
Gordon, Bryant said, is “somebody who will make explosive plays by intercepting the ball and then being able to take it to the house. Just always being in that right position, no matter what happens pre-snap or post-snap. I feel like he’s always going to be right near the ball, right where he needs to be.”
Hampton and fifth-year senior walk-on Dustin Bush took most of the second-team reps at cornerback Wednesday, with Gilchrist playing some at nickel with that group, and sophomore Alex Cook and true freshman Cameron Williams at safety. Redshirt freshman Julius Irvin remains limited by injury, but he should be a factor in the safety competition once healthy. (So, too, should incoming freshman Asa Turner, who won’t enroll until the summer but attended Wednesday’s practice and followed the defensive backs from drill to drill as an observer.) Lake made sure to mention other incoming freshmen defensive backs Kamren Fabiculanan and Trent McDuffie as possible competitors for playing time, too.
Already, Bryant said, “I actually think this is one of the most competitive groups I’ve been a part of, just in terms of how we push each other — in the weight room, out on the field, who can get the most interceptions, who has the best individual drills.”
Said Lake: “It’s going to be an awesome, competitive camp with a lot of talented players, and we’re going to see what happens when the dust settles at the end of August.”
Other notes:
- Ulofoshio, Clark, Levi, and Tryon all had sacks. Ngata twice was within "sack" distance from Eason as he threw it but there was no whistle to indicate sack.
- Haener went 3 of 3 with the 1's against the 1's, and Yankoff got the reps with the 2's but only went 1 of 5.
- Henry went 2 for 2 from his max distance of 35 yards.
- Eason floated between the 2's and the 1's and got sacked a bunch, had short dump offs, and hit Bryant on an out route with a laser throw.
- Sirmon had a great drive hitting Ozzy twice, Lowe once, and Chico once.
- OL's were the same as all the other practices, with Norgaard subbing for Harris to get more experience at Center.
- Potato has been spending the last two practices mainly with the OLB group rather than DL group.