Friday's practice had about seventy-five special guests: coaches attending the two-day coaching clinic at Memorial Stadium. Otherwise it was a rather light session in anticipation of tomorrow's scrimmage. Most of the action involved the QBs, who are becoming involved with the offense in increasingly creative ways. Here are some highlights courtesy of Nam (who appeared to be the only writer tweeting from the practice).
Boehm and Hinder: Beyond the QB Role
First, Boehm and Hinder continue to try different roles in the offense. This is now the second time those two have spent a healthy amount of time outside the pocket, so we can safely toss the appeasement explanation out the window. This is appears to be a serious attempt to incorporate them as receivers and running backs in addition to an occasional role as QB.
this happened before I got here -> RT @jared_w: @onelifeonemic boehm took some reps at wr again during early drills
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Boehm also spent some time at QB in the red zone.
Boehm takes a QB power run into the end zone, twice
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Dykes and Franklin have been doing plenty of experimentation with Boehm and Hinder near the goal line. With Dykes-Franklin's fondness for the diamond formation in the end zone, look for Boehm and Hinder as possible QB subs.
By the way, file that Boehm thing away for later. Gives us a good short yardage option.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Boehm was also impressive as a WR. It's great to see him become well integrated into the offense after being an afterthought during the first half of spring practice.
KYLE BOEHM OUTJUMPS CED DOZIER
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Now this is an interesting wrinkle. Unless this is a poor choice of words, Boehm took a direct snap out of the diamond formation.
Boehm takes a direct run from the Grizzly, Barton stones him short, but lets him score since...well, no contact.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Will the coaches begin to incorporate the wildcat into the diamond? That could be a nightmare for opposing DCs, as Dykes and Franklin already do a fantastic job of forcing numerical mismatches in the diamond.
Just for the sake of tradition, Boehm also operated as a passing QB.
Boehm with a TD pass in the red zone.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Hinder wasn't completely left out of QB duties. He saw some light action under center.
Good effort by Bryce Treggs to turn a sure loss on a screen into a 15 yard gain. Stumble and dive. Hinder at QB still.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
CGB reader MCB_ear had a great idea on how we can take the diamond to the next level: 4 QBS IN THE BACKFIELD AT ONCE
Can't wait for this play: We can call it the QuadQBear
Goff takes the snap and hands off to Boehm at RB who reverses to Kline at FB(?) who cannons it to Hinder out wide for a TD.
Is this legal? doesn’t matter.
Who would have thought that the red zone packages with Boehm and Hinder would become one of the most interesting developments during spring? Of course, we have an ongoing, traditional QB battle between Kline and Goff.
Kline vs. Goff: Separation Anxiety
The fight continues as neither QB has really separated himself from the other. At this rate, this battle will last into the summer. It's tough to see either one separating himself during the final week of spring.
Goff did not have the best day on Friday.
McClure picks off Goff in red zone, takes it 100 the other way
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Goff almost picked again. Defense definitely won those 3 plays in the red zone. Boehm in at RZ drills now
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Goff with a good pass over the middle to Bouza for like 15
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
then overthrows Treggs by a good 10 yards.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Goff's trademark accuracy was off the mark Friday night. We'll see if he bounces back during Saturday's scrimmage.
Kline, however, had a better-than-usual outing.
Give that guy at BI some credit though, Kline HAS played better tonight.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Who says Kline can't move? Runs for 10 around the left side. After two of his 2nd team linemen are pancaked...
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
He and the other QBs may have some chemistry going on. Here he completes a pass to Boehm:
Then checks down to an RB for 15. Boehm in the slot, Kline at QB. Kline rolls left, throws to Boehm, draws PI, broken up
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
He also tossed some passes to Hinder.
Kline throws wide to Hinder.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
Kline floats a ball into the end zone, caught by Stephen Anderson. I think it's a TD from here.
— Nam Le (@OneLifeOneMic) March 16, 2013
The biggest takeaway from Friday's practice is that this Boehm-Hinder experiment looks like it's the real deal. We'll have to see how much Dykes-Franklin use those two during Saturday's scrimmage. Keep an eye out for multi-QB sets in the team's red zone packages. Having Boehm/Hinder serving as a triple threats out of the diamond could be an absolute nightmare for opposing defenses. I'm glad I'm not Andy Buh during the final week of spring ball.