Thursday (7/14/11) 7-on-7 notes

[PonyPride]

• While the majority of the skill players started loosening up on one end in preparation for Thursday's seven-on-seven session, senior WR Cole Beasley gathered the freshman receivers on the other end for a position-specific training session. Beasley said he was putting his young teammates through some of the first basics of playing receiver at the college level.

"What to do if a linebacker comes across the field, trying to take your head off, how to get off the line of scrimmage when the other team is in press coverage," said Beasley, whose father was his head coach at Little Elm (Texas) High School. "I want to coach whenever I'm done playing."

Beasley wasn't the only veteran sharing insights with freshman teammates: LB Victor Jones also held a similar tutorial session with freshmen Stephon Sanders, Robert Seals and Jonathan Yenga.

• Mike Loftus, who has his eye on both the placekicking and punting jobs, was kicking on the south end of the field while the seven-on-seven drills were going on at the other end. Loftus connected on each of a series of intermediate field goals (about 33 yards) and launched several punts across the field, ranging from about 35 to 55 yards (after what would have been the line of scrimmage). LB Ja'Gared Davis fielded several of the punts, including one when he turned and raced toward the wall on the east side of the field, hauling in Loftus's punt over his head, Willie Mays-style.

• It wasn't football-related, but it was hard not to take notice of one display of athleticism Thursday afternoon: while watching the seven-on-seven drills from the sideline, CB Daren Kitchen ran a couple of steps toward RB Jared Williams, jumped up ... and over him. Yes, he did a slight splits to get over him, but it was hard not to envision the 6-2 Kitchen lining up against a tall receiver and using his absurd leaping ability and long arms to knock passes away. The 5-foot-9.5-inch Williams is not the tallest guy in the world, but the leap was really impressive, nonetheless.

• One of the most impressive players Thursday was WR Jeremy Johnson, who made an array of catches from the SMU quarterbacks, including dump-off passes when the QB checked down, deep crossing routes and a touchdown when he shook two defensive backs and slipped over to the back corner of the end zone to snag a pass from QB Kyle Padron.

• One freshman who has not been working out is OT Taylor Reich, who tore the fascia ligament in his foot six weeks ago while playing pickup basketball. Reich said he does not know when he will be cleared to work out with his teammates, but was glad to avoid surgery.

[cutter]

coolness.
thanks.

[PonyExpress]

Would have loved to see Davis making that Willie Mays catch. If you're talking about his famous over-the-shoulder catch where he caught it and turned to fire the ball back toward the infield, that's not a play many linebackers can make. Hell, that's not a catch many receivers or defensive backs can make, either.

Once again, on behalf of PonyFans everywhere, and especially those of us who live out of town, thanks for the updates.

[Corso]

I would assume Reich was headed toward a redshirt year, anyway, to add the strength needed for that frame, but that sounds painful. Hope you feel better soon.

[Ponymon]

I tore my Achilles tendon and partially tore another tendon over a month ago during a trip to New York. The pain the first day was tremendous but haven't felt any pain since that day. As a matter of fact, I flew back to Dallas and didn't have a clue of the tear until I got behind the wheel of my car and couldn't push the accelerator forward. Then I knew I might have a problem, which I confirmed on my visit to the orthopedic surgeon. Surprisingly, they did not operate but put me into a splint. The tendon has apparently grown back together, which was confirmed on my last trip to the Doc. Now in a boot for 4 more weeks and 2 months or so of rehab after that!

[S....M....U]

great stuff. and glad to see cutter is back

[cutter]

great stuff. and glad to see cutter is back

thank you, kind sir (but, really I'm still mostly lurking).

[aaives481]

Love the notes on Kitchens and Johnson. Both guys are going to be studs.

[PonyPower]

I agree. I think Jeremy Johnson is starting before the season is over.