Practice (April 7, 2018) notes

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs practiced for a little over two hours Saturday in full pads — which were worn for the team's full-contact scrimmage-style drills, but also proved beneficial because of the chilly temperatures (it was barely over 40 degrees at the start of practice).

• While the players stretched at the beginning of practice, coaches wandered between them, offering words of encouragement. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee shouted "this is football weather!" Many of the players — and assembled media and fans — did not appear to agree, but it should be noted that Lashlee coached last year at Connecticut ... where it actually is a couple of degrees warmer today. Go figure.
• Among the players who were held out of practice: DL Jordan Gipson, WR Myron Gailliard, WR Alex Honey, WR Maracas Johnson, T Bryce Wilds, LB Noah Spears, LB Jordon Williams, S Rodney Clemons, LB Kyran Mitchell, G Nick Natour.
• Mixed day for the quarterbacks, who at times were sharp on short and intermediate passes, and connected on a few deep passes ... but also had a few throws get away from them because of some combination of the temperature and moisture on the ball. Head coach Sonny Dykes acknowledged the less-than-ideal conditions after practice, but did not accept them as an acceptable explanation for the errant throws, saying the Mustangs have to play through adverse conditions.
• With T Bryce Wilds out while recovering from injury, JUCO transfer Levon Livingston is working at first-team right tackle. Dykes said after practice that he expects Livingston to remain on the right, with Chad Pursley working with the first team at left tackle.
• The Mustangs spent considerable time working on the running game Saturday. At one point, RB Xavier Jones took a handoff, started up inside before bouncing outside and taking off up the left sideline — a run-of-the-mill, anything-but-noteworthy play until Jones was chased down by CB Ar'mani Johnson.
• LB Richard Moore has made his presence known in spring workouts, working out with the first team and handing out some physical hits, and did so again Saturday. When QB Ben Hicks couldn't find an open receiver downfield, he tucked the ball and headed upfield, only to be tracked down by Moore, who didn't tackle Hicks, but they met with some force, facemask-to-facemask. In addition to the unwritten rule about not hitting quarterbacks in practice, Hicks also was wearing a green jersey, which are issued to players who are limited in some way. He wasn't injured at all, but Hicks also made no effort to hide his opinion of the collision.
• One player who looks like he has bought into the new strength plan is DE Delontae Scott, who has looked more physical this spring. On one play in 11-on-11, Scott looped from his right defensive end spot into the middle of the line, split two blockers and basically dragged them with him on his way to the sack. It looked partly like a great play by him, and partly like a breakdown in the interior of the offensive line; chances are it was a little of both.
• Scariest sight of the day: RB Braeden West swung out of the backfield for a short screen pass. By the time he caught it, a couple of defenders were closing in and buried him — not a big deal, except West stayed on the ground momentarily, and got up hobbling, favoring his right leg as a pair of trainers helped him off the field. Dykes said after practice that he didn't have an update, but was relieved at the initial report that the source of West's pain appeared to be a hamstring, not the knee.
• During some earlier spring practices, Hayden Howerton and Nick Dennis got the majority of snaps at center. Harrison Barton got some reps at center with the second-team offensive line, with Howerton beside him at left guard.
• Hicks seems to be developing some chemistry with WR Brandon Benson, who made several catches on the sideline, a couple of which were through double coverage. At one point, Hicks dropped a pass over the outside shoulder to Benson, who made a great catch in front of Ar'mani Johnson ... who recovered on the very next play on a screen pass to WR James Proché. Johnson read the play well enough that he arrived in time to knock the ball away and tackle Proché at the same time.
• Maybe the hit of the day was made by Shaine Hailey, who blasted WR Armanii Glaspie, a transfer from TCU, after he made a catch on a crossing route. Glaspie popped right back up after the play, uninjured.