Observations from practice (8/14/21)
Posted: Sat Aug 14, 2021 2:35 pmThe Mustangs went through a split workout Saturday — half outside, half inside. The practice was spirited and by far the most physical I have seen thus far. Some observations:
• QB Tanner Mordecai continues to impress. He has shown off his arm strength and quick release before; Saturday produced more passes completed into tight windows, and he ran more than I have seen, and he is faster than I realized. I'm not saying he's Aldrick Robinson, but he clearly is not one of those guys who is a sitting duck if he wanders outside the pocket, either. Mordecai also showed off that he can — at times — get away with breaking the "don't throw off your back foot" rule. At one point in team (11-on-11) drills, he was flushed out of the pocket and rolled out to his right, and threw off his back foot while falling at an angle, with his momentum going away from the line of scrimmage. The pass was dropped, but what was notable was that he threw a rope of close to 40 yards, that hit the receiver in the hands, over the outstretched hands of the defender who had fairly tight coverage. It would be an incompletion in the box score, but it was a very impressive throw.
• RB Tre Siggers had an impressive practice Saturday. The graduate transfer from UNT doesn't look as big as his listed 5-9, 210, but he plays bigger than he looks. Siggers has good acceleration and balance, and is willing to run between the tackles, but he looked more powerful Saturday, running through numerous arm tackles and once running over two would-be tacklers at the same time. (That said, he was tripped up on the next play in the backfield by DL Darren Brown.)
• While talking about power running, it isn't unusual to see RB Tyler Lavine to fight his way through a would-be tackle. Watching him drive two would-be tacklers into the end zone, however, was impressive ... including to his offensive teammates, most of whom raced into the end zone to congratulate him.
• Nice to see LB Richard Moore doing more. Once the heart of the SMU defense, he missed most of the last two seasons before returning for the 2021 season. During team drills, he had at least three tackles in the backfield, including one on which he stopped Siggers in his tracks before he got to the line of scrimmage.
• At practice, chatting with coaches: fullback-turned-broadcaster Daryl "Moose" Johnston
• At times in 11-on-11 drills, cornerbacks jumped in front of receivers several times, but that aggressiveness needs to be finished off with interceptions. Brandon Crossley had one go through his hands and out of bounds when he had nobody in front if him on what would have been a defensive touchdown. Another defensive miscue turned into an outstanding offensive play, when Sam Westfall jumped a route for a would-be interception, only to have the ball slip through his hands ... and directly to WR Austin Upshaw, who managed to track the deflected pass and make the reception. Upshaw, who WRs coach David Gru recently called "the most valuable receiver we have", regularly got downfield and created separation with speed and precise routes. He made several catches downfield with little defensive pressure because of his ability to separate from defenders.
• Coaches often talk about wanting young players to get to the point where they can react and "just play" rather than thinking about their assignments. WR Dylan Goffney enrolled for the spring semester and took part in spring workouts, but he's still a freshman ... but he doesn't look like it. There is zero hesitation in anything he does. He has good size, speed and hands, and runs good routes. That's not a prediction of what his role in the rotation will be, but he is impressive.
• Also impressive in the passing game: WR Jordan Kerley. The Arizona State transfer also has good speed and size, and is an explosive leaper who regularly wins jump balls.
• The punters — Matt Fraanje and Brendan Hall — could have one of the more interesting battles of preseason camp. Each needs more consistency, but each also has the ability to really launch one when the mechanics all align properly.
• QB Tanner Mordecai continues to impress. He has shown off his arm strength and quick release before; Saturday produced more passes completed into tight windows, and he ran more than I have seen, and he is faster than I realized. I'm not saying he's Aldrick Robinson, but he clearly is not one of those guys who is a sitting duck if he wanders outside the pocket, either. Mordecai also showed off that he can — at times — get away with breaking the "don't throw off your back foot" rule. At one point in team (11-on-11) drills, he was flushed out of the pocket and rolled out to his right, and threw off his back foot while falling at an angle, with his momentum going away from the line of scrimmage. The pass was dropped, but what was notable was that he threw a rope of close to 40 yards, that hit the receiver in the hands, over the outstretched hands of the defender who had fairly tight coverage. It would be an incompletion in the box score, but it was a very impressive throw.
• RB Tre Siggers had an impressive practice Saturday. The graduate transfer from UNT doesn't look as big as his listed 5-9, 210, but he plays bigger than he looks. Siggers has good acceleration and balance, and is willing to run between the tackles, but he looked more powerful Saturday, running through numerous arm tackles and once running over two would-be tacklers at the same time. (That said, he was tripped up on the next play in the backfield by DL Darren Brown.)
• While talking about power running, it isn't unusual to see RB Tyler Lavine to fight his way through a would-be tackle. Watching him drive two would-be tacklers into the end zone, however, was impressive ... including to his offensive teammates, most of whom raced into the end zone to congratulate him.
• Nice to see LB Richard Moore doing more. Once the heart of the SMU defense, he missed most of the last two seasons before returning for the 2021 season. During team drills, he had at least three tackles in the backfield, including one on which he stopped Siggers in his tracks before he got to the line of scrimmage.
• At practice, chatting with coaches: fullback-turned-broadcaster Daryl "Moose" Johnston
• At times in 11-on-11 drills, cornerbacks jumped in front of receivers several times, but that aggressiveness needs to be finished off with interceptions. Brandon Crossley had one go through his hands and out of bounds when he had nobody in front if him on what would have been a defensive touchdown. Another defensive miscue turned into an outstanding offensive play, when Sam Westfall jumped a route for a would-be interception, only to have the ball slip through his hands ... and directly to WR Austin Upshaw, who managed to track the deflected pass and make the reception. Upshaw, who WRs coach David Gru recently called "the most valuable receiver we have", regularly got downfield and created separation with speed and precise routes. He made several catches downfield with little defensive pressure because of his ability to separate from defenders.
• Coaches often talk about wanting young players to get to the point where they can react and "just play" rather than thinking about their assignments. WR Dylan Goffney enrolled for the spring semester and took part in spring workouts, but he's still a freshman ... but he doesn't look like it. There is zero hesitation in anything he does. He has good size, speed and hands, and runs good routes. That's not a prediction of what his role in the rotation will be, but he is impressive.
• Also impressive in the passing game: WR Jordan Kerley. The Arizona State transfer also has good speed and size, and is an explosive leaper who regularly wins jump balls.
• The punters — Matt Fraanje and Brendan Hall — could have one of the more interesting battles of preseason camp. Each needs more consistency, but each also has the ability to really launch one when the mechanics all align properly.