August 8 practice notes

[PonyPride]

Number changes listed in other thread.

• DeMyron Martin looks leaner and faster than he did in the spring, when he looked better than he did last year.

• How many games did Jessie Henderson miss last year? He looked awesome today. He ran hard, and shot through gaps like someone was chasing him with matches. Looked stable on the ankle, and accelerated very quickly.

• Zack Sledge got a little notoriety last year for his post-practice throwing sessions with Bobby Chase. This year's throwing partner: Vincent Chase.

• Coach Bennett was quoted in the DMN Wednesday as saying freshman QB Logan Turner "has a whip of an arm." He throws from a 3/4 arm slot, if that, but Coach Bennett is right, Turner gets the ball out extremely quickly.

• It's true that gaudy weight room numbers don't always translate to effective play on the field any more than less-than-stellar numbers in the weight room mean someone can't play. However, strength clearly doesn't hurt. DE Patrick Handy was one of three players who cracked the 500-pound plateau on the bench press this spring. In full team drills this afternoon, Handy absorbed a shot from LT Ben Poynter — and held offcharging TE Vince Chase with one hand, without budging an inch. For good measure, Handy stood up Chase, then separated from both blockers with a spin move back toward the center of the field, where he made the tackle.

• Several offensive linemen are sporting Mohawk haircuts. Ben Poynter, Caleb Peveto, Joe Holmes, Tommy Poynter, Kenard Burley and Mitch Enright showed off their 'dos at practice Wednesday afternoon. Ben Poynter said the idea came from a conversation he and Peveto had four years ago when they were true freshmen. Peveto's father, Cal, was a linebacker at A&M, where a group of players shaved their heads in a show of unity. Poynter and Peveto came up with the idea as true freshmen and held on to it for four years. Some linemen — Sean Lobo, Ross Nigh, Brad Lankford, etc. — are waiting until after Friday's media day (and corresponding pictures) before getting shorn.

• Last week, a leaner-looking Justin Willis said he had lost about 15 pounds through increased intensity in offseason workouts. When practice ended Wednesday, the team broke up into groups to run conditioning sprints. Finishing first on every sprint for the group that included quarterbacks and running backs: Justin Willis.

[SmooPower]

Henderson played 7 games last year. I like mohawks and speedy quarterbacks.

[ThadFilms]

.... the team broke up into groups to run conditioning sprints. Finishing first on every sprint for the group that included quarterbacks and running backs: Justin Willis.

That's awesome... you got to like that. Not only for his speed, but you know even in a "non-competitive" sprint, he's still trying to win.

[jkflamebo]

our hopes and dreams hinge on jwill this year. he needs to stay healthy all year

[PonyPride]

When he spoke last week about his improved conditioning, Willis said he is notably faster. Looked like it Wednesday.

[perunapower]

That stuff is really exciting. I can barely wait for Sept. 3.

[93Mustang]

A quicker, faster Willis sounds great. Not to be critical of his season last year which was among the finest freshman seasons by any SMU QB ever, there were times when I wished he'd tucked it and run rather than wait around in the pocket for something to develop. The Ramon Flanigan shotgun/designed roll out run play that Rossley called every other down in 1996 would get us about 10 yards a pop if they called it for Willis. It would also keep defenses more honest on the pass rush. I really hope this is the year of corner turning . . .

[OC Mustang]

A quicker, faster Willis sounds great. Not to be critical of his season last year which was among the finest freshman seasons by any SMU QB ever, there were times when I wished he'd tucked it and run rather than wait around in the pocket for something to develop. The Ramon Flanigan shotgun/designed roll out run play that Rossley called every other down in 1996 would get us about 10 yards a pop if they called it for Willis. It would also keep defenses more honest on the pass rush. I really hope this is the year of corner turning . . .

My preference is that he runs for 1st downs straight at the sideline, and he leaves the grunt running to Martin. If Martin shows up, and CUSA defenses are kept honest to covering the run, then Willis is arguably THE most dangerous player on the field.

"Willis under center...sends Chase in motion left to right...sees man coverage...LBs cheating up...Willis is back to hand off right to Martin, fakes the handoff...OOOH OOOH...Willis launches one over the middle...no safety there...Givens behind the coverage...catches it in mid stride...40...30...20...10...Touchdown Mustangs!"

[The PonyGrad]

A speedier Willis is less likely to get wiped out in those no-line movement off-sides plays!