PonyFans.com practice report (April 11, 2015)

[PonyPride]

Green jerseys (limited participation): Evan Brown, Braylon Hyper
Yellow Jerseys (out): Nick Natour, Garrett Kristich, Nate Halverson, K.C. Nlemchi, Shakiel Randolph, Ajee Montes, J.R. Richardson, Elie Nabusoshi, Zach Wood, Cameron Smith, R.C. Cox, Cedric Lancaster, Dylan Dickman
• Running back K.C. Nlemchi confirmed what has been rumored for days: he recently had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon and said he is out for the year.
• Every offense has elements that are simpler or more complex than others. Several players — Prescott Line, Nate Halverson and Matt Davis — agreed that the offense the Mustangs ran under the previous coaching staff was complex because of the different reads that players all over the field had to make. The offense taught by new head coach Chad Morris is more complex because it has a lot more formations from which plays are run.
• A lot of practice was spent in "team" (11 on 11) scrimmage-situation drills, with most of the snaps going to the first- and second-team units; the third-team players did not see much time.
• It seems like Darrel Colbert has moved in front of Hicks into the No. 2 position at quarterback. Ben Hicks got a few drives, and Jordan Severt got a couple, but Davis was No. 1 and Colbert was No. 2.
• Running back Daniel Gresham played a lot today, getting the first snaps with the first-team offense. Once he gets his momentum going he is tough to stop. He doesn't have elite top-end speed to run away from players (when he broke free for a run of about 50 yards, he was caught from behind by CB Jesse Montgomery), but is very strong. Not very shifty, but when he put his head down and moved the entire pile, his sheer power was very evident.
• Those who questioned whether Prescott Line has a role in the Morris offense were right to do so — he has a lot of roles. He played some running back and had a couple of nice runs, but he also spent a lot of time as a third receiver. Gresham was the H-back/tight end, and with Line as a third receiver in the slot, it give the offense a power two-tight end look. Gresham in the backfield in that situation was a great power running combo. Line said after practice that he loves the multiple roles — two different receiver positions, fullback and two different receiver positions, and is getting more comfortable, despite the fact that he never has played receiver at any level of football.
• The big switch on the offensive line was William Barns starting at center and Taylor Lasecki playing guard. Barns played much better than two weeks ago. The entire offensive line was much-improved. With Lasecki at guard, and Brown and Hyder out of the lineup, Barns was backed up at center by Keyfer Roberts.
• Courtland Sutton wasn't as visible today, in part because of the job Montgomery did on him. Shelby Walker made a couple of plays, and with the second team Chase Schultz — who transferred from Louisiana Tech, where he played quarterback, made some nice plays as an outside receiver.
• With Zelt Minor out, it was interesting to see Spencer Conley (listed at 6-3, 260) selected as the player to take Minor's spot on the defensive line. The pairing of the second string tackles, Spencer Hollie and Nick Reed, was really impressive. Reed made plays all day, and Hollie had back-to-back plays during the two-minute drill, sacking the quarterback and then batting a pass down.
• With Wood out (neck stingers — said he'll be back in practice this week), Justin Lawler got the start at end and was really impressive. Wood struggled last week against Chauncey Briggs, but Lawler held his own, even getting a big sack at the end in the two-minute drill, chasing Matt Davis down from behind. He made several plays during the day and looks huge (he is listed at 6-3, 254).
• Robert Seals saw a lot of time at defensive end with the second team behind Lawler and made a couple of plays, including a sack.
• The Mike linebacker position looks good. Anthony Rhone has been a stud throughout camp, and Nick Horton, who intercepted a Hicks pass at the goal line, really stands out as having a strong burst. There are times during the running game where he waits on his heels for the ball to come to him, and gets driven back. But that can improve with experience.
• Will linebacker looks really strong as well. Jonathan Yenga looked good and looks a lot more comfortable than he did at the start of spring workouts, when he was tried at the "Star" linebacker spot on the strong side. Derek Longoria played well as his backup. Carlos Carroll is working with the third team and had a pick-6 on a trick play when the offense ran a jet sweep from the 3-yard line with Darius Joseph, who tried to throw the ball back to Matt Davis. Carroll was there, reached back with one hand and tipped the ball before pulling it in and taking it the entire length of the field for the score. On the next play, the offense went right back at Carroll, completing a short touchdown pass to Gresham.
• Shakiel Randolph (knee) sat out Saturday's practice, and was replaced at the "Star" linebacker spot by Jackson Mitchell and Kyran Mitchell, each of whom runs well for a linebacker but can is not the cover man Randolph — the converted safety/cornerback — is. The Star position has to be filled by someone who can take blocks on the strong side, but also run and make plays in coverage.
• At safety the big change was that Troy Castle spent much of the day working with the first team, ahead of A.J. Justice. Jordan Wyatt, who made a lot of plays two weeks ago, saw very limited time on the day.
• At corner, the big move was Will Jeanlys starting over Horace Richardson, although once the scrimmage got more serious with the two-minute situations, Richardson went back in with the first team. Montgomery looked good — really physical — taking J.R. Richardson's spot. J.R. Richardson (ankle) was on the sideline on crutches.
• Two weeks after a practice in which the offense spent much of the day passing, much of Saturday's workout was spent working on the running game against the base defense. Nothing fancy — just line up and play.
• When the ball did go into the air, there was more of a focus on the vertical passing game — more deep passes — than in the past few weeks. Several passes of 40 or more yards.
• The offensive line was better than it has been the last couple of weeks, and as a result, the offense was more effective in the beginning. The offense was slowed down as the scrimmage progressed, but there weren't a lot of jailbreak situations like last time.
• Two long touchdown passes — one to Sutton and one to Walker — were called back because of penalties.
• Matt Davis made some really good decisions on when to scramble and when to throw the ball away. He is the clear No. 1 quarterback.
• There are so many real game situations practiced, this team will be much better prepared to perform in game situations, especially the younger players. They even practiced the victory (quarterback taking a knee at the end of a game) formation.
• It's obvious why Morris sees so much potential in Hicks — the freshman quarterback has a ton of talent, with a quick release and strong arm. But he also looks, at times, like a freshman. He completed passes all over the field, but also got picked off by Nick Horton and safety Christian Burks when he zeroed in on the receiver (Schultz both times). Hicks later made a great read on an inside blitz and got the ball out quickly to a wideout, only to have Horace Richardson make a fantastic play to break up the pass.
• Jonathan Yenga said the Will and Star linebacker positions are very similar — same type of position, although the Star is on the strong side and has to be drop into coverage more often.
• Yenga also said everyone's head was swimming on the defense a week ago, so the coaches stopped doing new installs of defensive schemes for the spring, opting instead to focus on executing what already has been installed.
• Lots of recruits — maybe 200? — were in attendance for another Junior Day.
• Injured players Cameron Smith, Elie Nabushosi and R.C. Cox worked the chains marking first downs and the line of scrimmage.
• Punter Jackson Koonce kicked off, while Shelby Walker got the first reps at both kickoff returner and punt returner.
• Several incoming freshmen were in attendance, including receiver Xavier Castille, tackle Bryce Wilds, linebacker Austin Corbett and linebacker Matt McNew.
• Lots of former SMU players in attendance, including offensive lineman David Richards, guard Josh Hickman, defensive end Mercury Hall and linebacker Putt Choate.
• Receiver Jordan Ingram no longer is listed on the team's on-line roster.

(Much of this report compiled through notes compiled by PonyFan JasonB.)

[No Quarter]

Thanks to both of you for the report.

[ponyscott]

Thanks...very good info.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Excellent report. Thanks!

[mrydel]

Appears my source's source on KC was wrong in regard to his injury. Hate to hear he is out for the year.

[jimhagle]

Great report!

[malonish]

What happened with Ingram? I missed it...

[No Quarter]

An ignorant question, but following Achilles surgery are you in a cast or boot and on crutches, or what?

[mrydel]

Mine was 30 years ago so I am sure things have progressed. But mine was completely severed and I was in a hip to toe cast for about 6 months. Stability while healing is very important.

[PonyPride]

Nlemchi's surgery was a couple of weeks ago, and he said he'll be on crutches for another month or so.

[No Quarter]

The report mentioned "maybe 200" potential recruits being present. How does that compare with similar events at TCU and Baylor and so on?

[JasonB]

My estimate was 200 or so. One of the front office people said they thought up to 500 might show up. There were folks filtering in and out as the practice went on, so I think a few of the recruits were going on tours and stuff.

I have no idea how many show up at TCU or Baylor. But I don't think there were ever more than 50 at one time under June.

[Pony4Life]

Such a shame for KC. Hope he recovers fully.

Great report, guys.