Who's In & Who's out

 I took a minute to jot down a few thoughts from the scrimmage Saturday with the season opener a little over 3 weeks away.  

• Format - HCHF puts on a great format for the event.  The offense usually starts around mid field or back deep in their own side of the field until they either score or get stopped.  That's followed by a FG attempt or PAT on the plus side stuff.  There's a lot of different combo's out there particularly after the first 45 minutes or so when there may be 2nd and 3rd teamers mixed in on certain drives.  The other big key is no tackling.  So that obviously hurts a guy like Salter and to a lesser degree Brewer who may have eluded a sack for a big play.  It also inhibits the run game as a big part of the run game is breaking tackles.  It's really kind of like 7 on 7 with the lines going at it full speed plus some live special teams reps.  
• QB Play - Of course that's everybody's first question about the "22 Flames.  Brewer looked to have a great command of the offense and where to go with the ball.  He climbed the pocket when it got crowded and was probably the most accurate of the 4 QB's.  It feels like he's the guy that can run the offense with the most efficiency at this point in time.  JB saw quite a few early reps with Brewer and appears to have really trimmed his body up.  However, he really had a rough day in just about all facets.  The INT wasn't his fault as the TE tipped a perfect pass up for the pick 6.  Salter started rough with a sack and fumble on a poor RPO player on the first 2 plays before rebounding to put up a really strong effort.  Salter has athleticism that nobody else can match.  If Salter can continue to increase his capacity to run the offense he's going to be hard to keep off the field.  The ability to roll out and throw on the run and extend plays with his legs and something that Liberty has gotten used to with Malik the last couple years.  Hampton had his moments as well but looks to be a year or so away from being able to seriously challenge for the starting job.  He provides a different look than the rest of the room with his height and provides a power running game.  All in all I'd be very surprised if Brewer isn't the starter in 2 weeks.  It wouldn't surprise me if the leash is short though. 
• Kicking Game - Liberty's kicking game has produced some big moments the last few years but has really lacked consistency particularly inside the 40.  The FG's started off a bit shaky as well but all 3 guys Beck, Lenderink & Brown all got going and made the bulk of the kicks.  Not sure if this plays out but Lenderink seems to have the strongest leg.  It could be that Brown or Beck is the inside 40 guy and Lenderink is the long range guy.  
• DL Play - The DL is absolutely loaded.  You really don't lose much of anything with the top 8 there and maybe not even the top 10 guys.  Further, the young guys like Bazile are super impressive as well.  The Rev (Khristian Zachary) may get double digit sacks.  He was incredibly active.  The overall depth will probably keep any one player from wracking up too many sacks.
• Peterlin - I wasn't familiar with him but the young man who is a walk on I presume really flashed against the 2nd and 3rd sting.  I believe he had 2 TD's and 5 overall catches.  Not sure if he will factor in or not but he certainly showed something Saturday.  The WR core has been banged up the last couple years and have had some hamstring type issues already this year.  
• RB's - Malik Caper was already down with an ankle and it sounds like TJ Green may be knicked up as well as he missed Saturday.  That led to Treon Sibley getting some carries as he came in as a RB and he looked pretty good.  I think Hunter will get a lot of work and Shedro will always have his role.  Caper was trending towards a short yardage role ala Peyton Pickett.  This looks to be the deepest and most talented RB room the Flames have had.  
• Facility upgrades - The cabanas look great.  This along with the berm seating which also allows Flames Kids Club members to be seated and play on is a great addition both practically and aesthetically.  It really takes the stadium to another level.  The new field turf looks good as well with some different scripting and of course the CUSA logo.  The seats for the west side appeared to be in boxes under the concourse.  Hopefully they are able to all be installed prior to the opener.  

Here's a few predictions that are sure to go wrong.

• I think Daijan Anthony becomes the lock down corner and ends up being a mid round draft pick either this year or next.  He was excellent at the end of the year and he has the size and physicality that NFL teams like at the position.  What a find he was from DII Shepherd.
• The Rev gets 10 sacks.  As noted earlier the rotation may not allow anybody to get double digit sacks but I think the Rev has the best shot.  He's so disruptive. 
• Mike Smith Jr leads the team in tackles.  This isn't going out on a huge limb but he looks like he could be a game wrecking do it all type LB that Liberty has sorely needed.  
• Dae Dae Hunter goes over 1000 all purpose yards.  I'm not sure that he will get 1000 rushing because Shedro and Green will get their touches but when you add in receptions I think he surely gets it.  I bet he has 2 or 3 long TD's as well. 
• Demario Douglas leads the team in receptions, yards & TD's.  Again, not a huge gamble here but I think he's going to have the ball in his hands a lot with a chance to do damage. 
• OL play is much improved.  Coach Klenakis is a passionate firey throw=back type of a coach that looks like he pushes you to the brink but also gets the best out of players.  Add in all the new talent that has come in and a change in philosophy and I think the Flames line becomes a strength.  The OL play was good in 2020 but we've never really been able to blow the opposition off the line and I think we have a chance to do that in some games this year. 
• Record wise my heart says 9 and 3 but my gut tells me 8 and 4 and another bowl win to finish 9 and 4.   I feel like we beat BYU or VT, maybe both.  I also feel like there's a decent chance we drop 1 of the UAB, ODU or USM games.  I doubt it's UAB being the home opener but they will want revenge from last year should be pretty fired up.  

I'm obviously a baseball guy first and wont' do a lot of football stuff beyond the spring scrimmage, fall scrimmage and recruiting but I appreciate the number of you that reached out about the coverage from Saturday.   ASOR and others do a great job on Football and this is more because I enjoy it and to give just a little more commentary on our beloved Flames.  Stay tuned, I'll have some updates from the diamond coming up as well as fall practice starts today as well.