That whole Sports Info/marketing deal for Simonson is rough to hear. That sounds like something that would happen at a JUCO or NAIA program, not a Big Sky/Mountain West program. If those mistakes are fact, that is embarrassing.

As for his physical attributes, if he's truly 6'6" and has wingspan, then yes, he has that. Is he quick enough and athletic enough? Not sure, I didn't watch him close enough like that. 295 is light. Typically, a Left Tackle is more in the 315-320 range, while a Right Tackle is a bit heavier. There are outliers in both directions I'm sure, but 295 is not far from where they'd want him and they can build him up if the athletic ability translates. If he has a hard time putting on weight, it will be an issue. I wish him all the best, he was by far the best OL in the unit last season and has a shot.

I love the enthusiasm, but...

They say winning cures everything. UC Davis is the winningest college football program in the region since Covid, is it not? If winning is the cure, why does it take so much begging, pleading, and promotions/giving away free tickets to fill a small stadium? The fact is, the Bay Area and Sacramento are truly not great football markets. If they were, Cal and Stanford would have been desirable commodities when the Pac 12 broke up. Nobody wanted them because there is no money there, and they sit in much better locales to pack stadiums and draw viewers than Davis ever will. The alumni base is full of people who don't care about football. God bless the small percentage that does, they are the ones doing the heavy lifting.

What is happening in Shredville is special for the FCS level. The Ags have yet to get past the Quarters, and people want to ascend into the abyss of the MWC and then the Big XII? I'd advise to be careful what you wish for. Let's see the "community", that is: the alumni, the surrounding area, and these "top markets" support this thing to a National Championship or two or three, actually prove they are building to compete at the FBS level (and not getting 70 hung on us in money games), build a strong financial foundation, then re-consider it when the program is actually ready and built for that level. Just my two cents.

I'll go out on a limb to predict the Flying Insects go 2-10 in year one of FBS/MACtion. Wins over Mississippi Valley and UMass.

He does a good job and from the limited content of his that I've consumed, he's been pretty spot on and loves what he does.

I agree with his projection. Top 4 seed, anywhere between 11-1 and 9-3 seems about right.

Funny, Sacramento has a small town feel to it despite the professional and "major" college sports presences in town. I always enjoy flipping on the local news there when I'm close

Advance apologies for the message board version of War and Peace below. I am a bit of a personnel evaluation nerd. I geek out on all of the NFL Draft talk and breakdowns this time of year:

Left Tackle is about length and feet. Length stems from body type/genetics, so those guys are ideally at least 6'4"+ with long arms. At the FCS level, 6'5" or so is about average from what I've seen, at least with the better teams. NFL Left Tackles will range up to 6'7"-6'8" even. Arm length and wingspan are critical because a great pass blocker wants to engage the defender at range, "keep him at arm's length" right? Keep his body off yours if at all possible. This requires a unique and freakish combination of length, technique, and upper body strength.

Pass blocking is basically like playing basketball defense while being allowed to box the opponent. Keep your body between the bad guy and the QB. Easier said than done, and the reason why those guys get paid so much.

Developing those traits takes time; you may find a 6'5"-6'6" kid who leans on people in high school but gets to college and his punch/arm extension collapses on him every time he sets because he doesn't have his man strength yet. That takes age and work in the weight room. Most 18 year old Tackles aren't as big and strong as 21-23 year old Tackles. That's just the way it works.

So, if we don't have the guy, , what do we do? Keep coaching the best man for the job who is most game-ready to play. If that's last year's Right Tackle, and he's only 6'3", so be it. How do we help him? Focus on his technique, give him a few tricks to add to his bag, and help him with the Tight Ends and Running Backs, throw some screens, whack them with pulling Guards and Tight Ends in the run game, do what you have to do to slow down the best opposing pass rusher. Then, concurrently, you continue to develop the longer, young kids like the one tall kid others have posted about. He has that frame you're looking for but he is still a boy as far as technique and physical development. Bring him along properly. The worst thing that can happen is throwing him out there if he's not ready and he gets beaten like a drum. Our hand may be forced if there's an injury so he has to be ready, but put that off for as long as possible and get him garbage time reps vs. lesser opponents.

One thing UC Davis has always been known for is player development. We aren't privy to who they went after in the Portal to replace an elite Left Tackle, but we will now move forward with who we have. We have an outstanding O-line coach and staff, including the head ball coach, who know what they're doing and understand the limitations of their personnel a hell of a lot better than I do. In Plough we trust.

There are a hundred ways to slice it as to where to align your big, traditional Defensive End type and your hybrid, Outside Linebacker/Edge type rusher. I can go into a dissertation on that, or we can settle for "every defense is different." Looking at our personnel, I would put the bigger cat to the run strength, often including the TE, and try to set the edge with the bigger body. You hear that from Kyle Shanahan all the time, the importance of setting an edge and evaluating how a defense will try to set the edge. Then you put the speed guy on the opposite side where he'll typically have a 1-on-1 with the Tackle. It probably all starts with personnel match ups: who is their weak link and how can we exploit him with our guys?

For the record, I do not question that we have a talented Offensive Line unit as a whole. I do question whether we have an actual game-ready Left Tackle to open the 2026 season. Fortunately, we have a few months to figure that out or grow into it. I am evaluating this team based on playoff potential, not it's ability to beat PSU, USD, Stetson, and Cal Poly.

Way to gut it out in the rain today! Thanks for the report. Did the transfer QB practice today, or did he get banged up in the scrimmage? Good to hear that Cleeland had a day, when the dust settles my money is on him, but long way to go. Any chance of Eason getting back out there before the end of spring ball?

Hennessy was a multi year Trinity League starter at O Lu. I saw him play on TV once in high school, didn't pass the eyeball test but the announcer kept saying "Tyler Hennessy with the reception". Big time pass catcher. That receiver group is going to be fun. Same with the RBs.

Left Tackle has me legitimately concerned. Is there an actual, legit Left Tackle body in the building? Don't tell me it is going to be a freshman; that ain't happening and if it does, the Ags will go through QBs at an alarming rate. There's plenty Plough can do schematically to cover for the LT, but that's no way to live when the rest of your roster is loaded and you're starting a rookie QB. I know, I know, it is only April and I pray that someone will call me out on this after 4-5 games once it works itself out!

Anyone with a breakdown of the OL play, particularly the Tackles, from Saturday?

I agree that it is still early and there is a lot to be decided. I believe that we have two outstanding coaches for the position and they have until early-August to work it out. Poor decision making and holding onto the football too long are things that must be broken with experience and film work. We're in a good spot with several talented options under center. If anyone recalls, how does this compare with last spring's QB battle at this point in time?

"...holding on to it, trying to make something happen, and take the sack." The byproducts of today's 7v7 culture. That and kids not caring about turnovers and just chucking it up rather than throwing it away or punting.

He wouldn't have too many suitors given the injury anyway. Not for a one and done guy who wouldn't have been there for Spring Ball anyway. Moot point, glad he's back on our side!

Were the reps split pretty evenly between the two QBs?

So, it sounds like the QB competition continues to be back and forth. Doesn't sound like either guy lit it up. Probably didn't see a lot of the top receivers Saturday, or Fish getting many carries/touches. Here's a question for anyone that has been around a few practices: does the Offense seem to operate any better under one guy or the other? I'm sure Taylor's perspective will go a long way with Plough, lot of respect there, I'm just curious if there is anything you see aside from the execution that might be an advantage for one over the other?

Defensive line is what we thought it would be. Sounds like Coombs is happy with the Defensive depth development and from all indicators, D is well ahead of the O which is exactly what one would expect at this juncture. Throw the Connors Bros. into the mix and that side will be even better. I really don't see areas of concern or weakness on that side of the football, and you go several deep at most positions without a massive drop off. Great thing about that is the development of long term depth beyond just this season.

Another scrimmage Saturday, yes?

So they practice today, Spring Game tomorrow, and all the Picnic Day activities? Last year featured an evening drive-by at a local park if I recall, good times. Hoping for sideline reporter SailorGabe to keep bringing it with the breakdowns.

Rep distribution tomorrow will maybe tell us something about where the QB competition stands heading out of spring ball and into training camp. Sounds like it will likely be 50/50 with a lot of neutral coachspeak after. This thing is going to last until approximately the weekend of August 8-9.

You'll also have a feel for what the O-line is really going to be tomorrow. The Defense will crank it up and you will see pressure unlike they've seen in the last couple weeks, unless the head ball coach puts a governor on them. Things will really speed-up for the OL tomorrow; we'll know where the cracks in the wall are after tomorrow. It will also be an opportunity to see the mettle of the QBs because they will be live and they will be harassed, hurried, and hit. That is what I would be evaluating; how does he respond, how does he lead, when the stuff hits the fan. Because it will. It's spring ball and rare is the Offensive Line anywhere that ever dominates the spring game.

TE depth concerns me at this juncture. SailorGabe likes Pohlman, that's good to hear, but nothing is really ready yet behind him it sounds like. Still have a few months to go and develop, big summer for the young guys. What sort of shape will Williams return in?

I'm looking forward to hearing about the Safeties. We're elite at Corner, we hopefully have a healthy, All-American candidate playing for pro scouts returning at one of the Safety spots, and it sounds like there's a solid group of suspects to fill the spots around him. The Idaho transfer is the one I really want to hear about. You need 5 that can play in Coombs' scheme.

Tomorrow will be fun. Prayers up for the Ags to come out healthy these next two days!

I liked that Rhode Island RB, he popped a couple long ones if I recall. Someone, I think SailorGabe, mentioned some contain issues at practice and the spill phiosophy of the D. I think those outside runs were what URI got us on, while Illinois State just shoved it up our tailpipe with inside zone. Could be wrong, my memory has been known to go hazy at times.

Spit my water out on that one :rofl:

Got it. That rush LB position was productive last season with those guys. Those guys will be an effective presence.

I was speaking mainly to the body type more than the depth chart, that takes care of itself. We will need two at each position, and it will be interesting to see how it shuffles the first time one comes out. That size range seems to be what the DC and LB coach are looking for with speed being the premium. I only thought the linebackers were manhandled in one game (the last one), but so was the D-Line. 42 rush attempts by ISU is all you need to hear. There were times in other games where they were manipulated out of the box based on scheme/formation and a Safety was asked to fill in the space against the run, but hopefully that is something they looked at in the winter. Plenty of programs at both the FBS and FCS levels play with 6'-6"2" 220ish LBs, even if they fudge their roster heights. Those bodies need to be able to stand up in the playoffs when a team from Middle America decides to roll up it's sleeves and challenge you with inside zone for two thirds of their offensive snaps in a football game

The kicking game last season was death by a thousand cuts. Squib kicks, poor kickoff placement, missed field goals, blocked punts. Somehow, we were a Top 10 team in spite of it. I don't think I will ever get over the blocked punt vs. Idaho State.

I do not want to have to boycott the Winters Buckhorn if we can avoid it. The several hundred dollars I spend there once every year would be better invested elsewhere if they're supporting the chumps across the Causeway. What a great place to watch Sac State vs. Buffalo in some MACtion on a Tuesday night :down: Rocco needs to get to the bottom of this. Even if we can flip the Winters location and plant a flag there on Saturdays, it will be a small victory for Aggie Pride. Otherwise, spread the word and boycott!