2016 SPRING PRACTICE PROGRESS REPORT: Offense

We’re basically at the mid-way point of Marshall’s spring practice schedule so I thought I would take a look at what players have made waves inside Joan C. Edwards Stadium and the Chris Cline Athletic Complex. Head Coach Doc Holliday has been pretty clear throughout the spring that the staff uses it as an opportunity to develop younger players. With so many losses at key positions, it’s important for the younger players to gain experience in live action scenarios. We’ll cover which players have stood out and which players fans will need to remember for this season.

Offensively speaking, the staff has to replace Deandre Reaves, the team’s MVP from 2015, as well as its top rusher, Devon Johnson, from a year ago.

Luckily enough for new running backs Coach Pepe Pearson, Marshall was able to get experience from the young trio of Tony Pittman, Hyleck Foster, and Keion Davis. (LINK- SPRING RUNNING BACKS PREVIEW)

There were plenty of questions surrounding Foster’s future position (one-time the slot WR of the future) entering the 2016 season with Reaves’ departure, but the emergence of senior hybrid tight end Emanuel Byrd has quieted those questions.

Byrd’s ridiculous athleticism coupled with the staff’s desire to get the “best eleven” on the field has landed him as Reaves replacement.

Marshall’s defense has basically had no answer for Byrd this spring as he’s too physical for defensive backs and fast enough for linebackers to struggle covering him. It’s clear that Byrd’s confidence is growing with his playing time. Look for Byrd to be a match-up nightmare all season long and to be one of Chase Litton’s favorite targets.

Along with Reaves departure, Marshall suffered the losses of Davonte Allen, Angelo Jean-Louis, and Emanuel Beal throughout the 2015 season. Allen finished the season as Marshall’s leading receiver in receptions and yardage. While Jean-Louis and Beal’s departures were felt in 2015, it was the future of the “X” and “Z” positions that saw the most repercussions.

Enter red-shirt sophomores Michael Clark and Gator Green. (LINK- SPRING WIDE RECEIVERS PREVIEW)

Clark came to Marshall in 2015 virtually unknown, but in his first spring with the Thundering Herd, he’s became a mythical figure among Herd Nation. At 6 feet – 7 inches tall, Clark possesses a smoothness that would suggest he’s been playing the position for years. Well, Clark has as much game experience at the Division-I level as I do so I guess you could say he’s a freak. I’ve attended four of Marshall’s six practices this spring and Clark has made a “wow” play in all four. If he can continue his play when the lights come on in August, Marshall fans will be looking for #7 jerseys without the name (Byron) Leftwich on the back.

If Clark is the Goliath of Marshall’s spring practice, I guess you could say that Green has been the David. At 5 feet – 8 inches tall and weighing in at 159 pounds, Green is one of the smallest players on the roster, but his play of late has been huge. Almost forgotten after a freshman season in 2014, when he played sparingly, and 2015 season that he red-shirted, Green has made the most of his chance this spring. He’s catching everything thrown his way it seems like and is playing much bigger than his 5’8 frame would allow. You can almost see Green’s heart busting out of his jersey every time he goes up for a jump ball or he cuts across the middle of the field after securing a catch.

It looks like Coach Mike Furrey has been able to push all the right buttons with these two so far and hopefully it’ll continue throughout the rest of 2016.

With only one starter (Sebastian Johansson) lost from 2015 and the return of Clint Van Horn (medical red-shirt), Coach Alex Mirabal’s offensive line is expected to be a strength of the 2016 team.

Here’s what is extra scary for opposing defenses, they’re only going to get better as the year goes on.

Fred Binot, a reserve lineman in 2015, and Levi Brown, red-shirted, are both taking first-team reps this spring. Binot has supplanted Sandley Jean-Felix and Brown is playing in place of injured Nate Devers. (LINK- SPRING OFFENSIVE LINE PREVIEW)

Binot’s “nastiness” (according to Mirabal) is the biggest reason he’s playing over Jean-Felix at this point. Binot is a devastating run blocker on the edge and with Marshall’s dedication to running the ball in recent years, it’s a vital part of being a starter.

Brown, the youngest starter on the offensive line, has taken full advantage of his chance. “I don’t think Levi is just going to let Nate have his job back when he gets cleared. Nate better be ready to win it back,” Holliday said. Brown is one of the most athletic (can do a standing backflip) linemen on Marshall’s roster at 272 pounds. Brown, like Binot, possesses that “nastiness” that Mirabal is looking for.

Regardless if Binot and Brown sustain their starting positions for the remainder of spring or not, these two are most definitely starters of the future.

Two weeks into spring practice, it’s easy to see the potential on the field. As Holliday always says, it’s about turning that potential into production at this point.

Byrd, Clark, Green, Binot, and Brown are all players that this applies to and if the 2016 offense is going to reach their potential, we’ll need production from all five.

If Litton and his receivers can build chemistry this spring and off-season, Marshall’s offense will be as deep as it’s been since Holliday arrived.

Tune back in tomorrow when I look at the defense after two weeks of practice.

Discuss the mid-spring progress report and much more on the Old Fairfield forum!