SATURDAY AFTERNOON PRACTICE notes

[PonyPride]

• How special: The Ponies re-convened Saturday afternoon for a 90-minute session geared mostly toward special teams, meaning Coach Gansz was holding court. Several things stood out in stark contrast to years past:
-- The team spent a complete hour on special teams. Can't remember the last time I saw the team spend that long on special teams.
-- Like the other groups in practice sessions, the session was constant teaching, right from when the Ponies broke the huddle for a Kellis Cunningham kickoff. Gansz stopped them and had them re-huddle so they could break evenly and uniformly, saying his team is "going to be better than everyone in the league, in everything we do" ... right down to how they break a huddle.
-- Attention to detail: Gansz makes his calls in practice based on game situations, so rather than telling Thomas Morstead to just line up and punt, the instruction comes with a specific game situation (i.e. "we're down 10 with 11 minutes to go") ... Not sure if those calls were the reason, but intensity seemed much higher than during special teams drills in years past.

• Bombs away: Morstead is at it again. After spending part of his summer outpunting some of the best punters in the nation, he let it rip Saturday afternoon, sending several high, long punts with very tight spirals. Many went over 60 yards in the air, and the longest of which traveled about 75 yards. On the fly.

• Bombs away - part II: Kellis Cunningham's kickoffs were a little deeper than last year, but more importantly, they were higher ... which, of course, gives the Ponies' cover unit more time to get downfield and get to the kic returner.

• Catch of the afternoon: Cunningham hit a line drive on one kickoff, sort of a high squib kick that took on a knuckleball effect the way it wobbled through the air with no spin. Undaunted, guard Bryce Tennison (playing in the row of blockers immediately in front of the returner) jumped up and fielded the ball cleanly.

• New numbers: Robert Mojica changed from 21 to 26 when he moved from offense to defense the other day, but because two players on the same unit can't share a number and defensive back Brett Haness already is wearing No. 26, Mojica showed up Saturday afternoon wearing 15. In addition, return specialist/running back Jessie Henderson practiced in No. 25. Whether he stays with 25 isn't clear, though. He could be changing because La'Cori Johnson already had 25, but if Johnson has moved to defensive back, as was the case this morning, Henderson presumably could retain his No. 9 jersey. Stay tuned.

• Hustle award: Gansz stressed - heavily - the importance of getting different kick units on and off the field quickly, and getting set quickly. At one point, he started to implement a "clock," counting down seconds through his headset microphone. In the transition from one unit to another, Kelvin Beachum, Jr., was late getting on the field. With just under than 10 seconds on Gansz' "clock," Beachum realized where he was supposed to be and sprinted about 45 yards across the field and got set in place. No false start, no offsides, and Morstead's kick was good. Remember how "athletic" was the first word used to describe Beachum when he was recruited in 2007? Most haven't had a chance to see it, because he redshirted last year, but he is extraordinarily fast for a lineman.

[kull]

nice

[MrMustang1965]

I stopped by Ford for a few minutes Saturday afternoon and witnessed Morstead's 75-yd. bomb. Unbelievable!!! I was there while Gansz was calling out the situation "Game is on the line! 4th down!" with the FG unit at the 15-yd. line.

Once again, great reporting, PP! Keep it up! (Yeah, yeah...I know...TWSS)

[George S. Patton]

Morstead struggled on some of those last-second field goal attempts. But the one he did make was a knuckleball. But his punting was unbelievable.

Julian Herron mentally checked out and was sent off the field in place of DeMyron Martin. But Gansz didn't chew him out. He just said something, "Julian, you're struggling with this. I understand that. You'll get it.''

Special teams execution can make the difference in winning one or two games.

BTW, the 9-year-old thought Bo Levi Mitchell was cute. Yes, we've gotten to that stage now. God help me.

[ALEX LIFESON]

[quote="George S. Patton"]Morstead struggled on some of those last-second field goal attempts.

The last couple of years, he has missed some field goals, when there was just the smallest bit of pressure involved. He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

[MrMustang1965]

He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

TWSS

[ALEX LIFESON]

Watched season three last night

[perunapower]

He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

TWSS

Excellent execution. Definitely gold medal worthy.

[expony18]

He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

TWSS

Excellent execution.

TWSS?


p.s. 65 gets an A today

[couch 'em]

He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

TWSS

Excellent execution.

TWSS?


65 gets an A today

TWSS?

[SMUFan]

Sorry to go careening back on topic ... but when was the last time the Ponies had a 90-minute special teams practice? I'm ecstatic to read about this.

[smitty329]

Morstead struggled on some of those last-second field goal attempts.

The last couple of years, he has missed some field goals, when there was just the smallest bit of pressure involved. He needs to step up, and bang some home when it counts.

Gansz used a microphone and on-field PA system as he shouted instructions Saturday. Part way through the drills, he called the sideline folks together and gave them some instructions with the microphone off. From that point forward, they were active in shouting instructions ensuring everyone was aware what formations needed to be on the field. I noticed that on the last couple of field goal attempts on Saturday - the sideline - encouraged by Morstead waving his arms - made noise before and during the attempt. Not exactly 30,000+ in a hostile environment but the best they could do that day perhaps? Maybe nobody knows this is an area for improvement more than Morstead. I wonder if they can fit the PA system used at Ozzfest this past weekend into Ford to simulate crowd noise?

[George S. Patton]

Sorry to go careening back on topic ... but when was the last time the Ponies had a 90-minute special teams practice? I'm ecstatic to read about this.

It's probably the only practice I'm going to make but I am an ardent believer in sound play in the kicking game.

Traditionally, you could always count on us for 3 blunders in a game -- blocked punt, missed PAT, poor coverage or some other combination. You cannot let this part of the game go awry because it can influence field position.

More importantly, you've got to get kids excited about playing it because they usually don't think it's exciting.

But how many games have we seen lost because of something fell apart in that area? Too many.

[RednBlue11]

if we can win the battle for field position or at least make the other team have the drive 80+ yrds every time they touch the ball this will play a big factor in us hanging around and giving us a chance in close games

[Dooby]

Interesting Special Team comment from Michael Irvin on today's radio show. He returned punts in high school and wanted no part of it in college. One of the older guyes said that if he didn't want to return punts, all he had to do is drop one and Jimmy Johnson wouldn't let him do it again. So Jimmy Johnson sent him out there for a punt return against Rice his first year and Irvin basically admitted he dropped the punt on purpose.