From the pressbox (LIVE UPDATES)

[BUS]

I think that changing the numbers is super smart.
Just in case someone is watching or scouting.

Special Teams have to be special. It would be good to see some intricate plays come from the Special Teams.

Go Mustang Militia
FIGHT

[SMU 86]

New round of kickoffs: Szymanski's first kick went 6 yards deep in the end zone.

For the non-math majors out there, that's 76 yards.

With the change in jerseys are you sure that is Szymanski?

[BUS]

Are they kicking in the other direction? Wind and stuff changes?

[PonyPride]

Four players rotated (kicking drill now over) fielding kickoffs: B.J. Lee, Deonte McDade, Darius Johnson and Chayse Joubert.

[PonyPride]

Now into kick coverage drills, in which three guys race downfield, and the return guy tries to get around them or split between them.

Darius Johnson got a nice reminder that running is easier when there are gaps — when he tried to split two coverage guys, Zack Line grabbed him by the head. Thankfully, Line left Johnson's head attached.

[PonyPride]

I think one number 9 is Chase Kennemer.

OK, I'm not hallucinating. There are now THREE guys wearing No. 9, and one is Kennemer ... although he wasn't one of the two I was looking at earlier.

[SMU 86]

Glad Zach remembered that they are teammates.

[PonyPride]

Very entertaining drill for kickoff returns: two guys pair up, and take off one a few yards apart. The lead guy gets to within a few yards of a foam dummy and turns to protect it (as if blocking for a return man). Some would-be tacklers try to run through their blockers, some go around to reach the dummy/return guy.

Margus Hunt just ran over Ryan Moczygemba.
Keivon Gamble did the same to walk-on DB Taylor Weaver.
Chase Kennemer did a nice job blocking Zach Line, standing him up and driving him out of bounds.

[PonyPride]

WRs running uncontested deep routes — nice over-the-shoulder grab by Brad Haynes.

[ponydawg]

Is Al R. practicing today, or resting the hammy?

[PonyPride]

About 60 players (so far) on the turf inside Ford Stadium for the first part of a split afternoon practice session. The first half is supposed to be dedicated to special teams, after which the team will move out to the Pettus practice field for offense and defense work.

Players jogging and stretching now.

Seems I got inaccurate information earlier — supposed to be close to the end here, and we're still in Ford.

[Cadillac]

I think one number 9 is Chase Kennemer.

OK, I'm not hallucinating. There are now THREE guys wearing No. 9, and one is Kennemer ... although he wasn't one of the two I was looking at earlier.

OPSEC is getting out of control!


-CoS

[Billy Joe]

How does Hunt look? Does he look like he has never played football before or is he adjusting to this game?

[PonyPride]

How does Hunt look? Does he look like he has never played football before or is he adjusting to this game?

Somewhere in between. He's not nearly as lost as he was in the spring, but he obviously still has a lot to learn. There are times when he does things that aren't teachable — getting into the backfield almost as fast as the ball is snapped, using leverage to fend off blockers who hit him low — and there are times when he looks like he hasn't played a game yet. He clearly enjoys learning the game, and is visibly better every day. Still a lot to learn, but he gives indications that his physical gifts could translate into a pretty decent player.

[PonyPride]

Is Al R. practicing today, or resting the hammy?

Practicing, although there's nothing going on that would stress his (or anyone's) leg much. Almost walk-through pace on team drills.