Observations from practice
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:15 amI wasn't out there the whole time, so I didn't get to take as many notes as usual, but here are a few nuggets:
• OK, it was the first day, and players are trying to impress head coach June Jones and his staff. But players visibly hustled more, within drills or when moving from one to the next. Jobs aren't going to be earned or lost in a single practice, and it's safe to say things will settle down in a week or two, but the players clearly were aware trying to make a good first impression for the new coaches.
• Special teams coach Frank Gansz didn't take long to make his presence known. Coach G walked around the field, barking into an electric bullhorn, for about a half an hour as virtually every player on the roster engaged in drills related to special teams.
• Two interesting sights in pass rush drills:
1) Adrian Dizer took part in every drill. After last season with a back injury, the 6-foot-6, 240 (as listed - rumor has it he's heavier than that) Dizer ran through all drills with the defensive line. Granted, it wasn't full contact - players worked out in helmets, jerseys and shorts, without pads - but just seeing Dizer out there and not on the side of the field with trainers was encouraging. Looked like he was moving pretty well. The training staff has done a great job getting him back in good health, and the strength staff is working hard to get him stronger. Presumably he has a way to go, but the mere sight of No. 30 out there was encouraging.
2) Admittedly, there are times when coaches use players - any players - to serve as "opponents" in a drill as they teach a new system. But there was something truly comical about watching 5-foot-9, 169-pound Jessie Henderson line up as a defensive end across from 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive tackle J.T. Brooks. Again, he was almost walking through the motions as offensive line coach Dennis McKnight was teaching technique and his blocking schemes, but Henderson looked like little more than a snack when lined up across from Brooks.
• Remember how former head coach Phil Bennett used to describe Logan Turner's throwing motion as a result of him having "a whip of an arm"? That's exactly what it looks like  as if Turner is whipping the ball at his receivers.
• For a quarterback who has had shoulder injuries in the past, Zach Rhodes appeared to have more velocity this spring than he did last year.
• Some jersey number changes:
- Logan Turner wore No. 11 (the number he wore in high school), although he has not yet been given that number on a permanent basis.
- De'Von Bailey is wearking No. 3 (after wearing No. 2 last year).
- WR/PR Josh Bryant wore No. 23 in practice (listed on the roster wearing No. 32).
- SS K.J. Ellis is wearing No. 38, instead of his listed No. 32.
• One of the most impressive players on the first day of practice was redshirt freshman WR Bradley Haynes. He appears to be every bit of his listed 6-foot-3 height and looks stronger than his listed 205 pounds. More importantly, he made all of the catches, both routine and the slightly off-target. He showed good speed and acceleration, separating from some defensive backs to get open downfield, and showed no effects of the knee injury that he suffered last year. He's very big and looks exceptionally strong. I'd say it's a safe guess that he's been working extremely hard in the weight room.
• It's Day One, and lots of things will change  probably many times. Nonetheless, the top two units on the offensive line were grouped like this:
FIRST) LT Kelvin Beachum, LG Sean Lobo, C Mitch Enright, RG Bryce Tennison, RT Tommy Poynter
SECOND) LT Vincent Chase, LG Josh LeRibeus, C Andrew Robiskie, RG Kelly Turner, RT J.T. Brooks
Future SMU quarterbacks in attendance: Braden Smith and Winston Gamso.
That's it for now. More to come.
• OK, it was the first day, and players are trying to impress head coach June Jones and his staff. But players visibly hustled more, within drills or when moving from one to the next. Jobs aren't going to be earned or lost in a single practice, and it's safe to say things will settle down in a week or two, but the players clearly were aware trying to make a good first impression for the new coaches.
• Special teams coach Frank Gansz didn't take long to make his presence known. Coach G walked around the field, barking into an electric bullhorn, for about a half an hour as virtually every player on the roster engaged in drills related to special teams.
• Two interesting sights in pass rush drills:
1) Adrian Dizer took part in every drill. After last season with a back injury, the 6-foot-6, 240 (as listed - rumor has it he's heavier than that) Dizer ran through all drills with the defensive line. Granted, it wasn't full contact - players worked out in helmets, jerseys and shorts, without pads - but just seeing Dizer out there and not on the side of the field with trainers was encouraging. Looked like he was moving pretty well. The training staff has done a great job getting him back in good health, and the strength staff is working hard to get him stronger. Presumably he has a way to go, but the mere sight of No. 30 out there was encouraging.
2) Admittedly, there are times when coaches use players - any players - to serve as "opponents" in a drill as they teach a new system. But there was something truly comical about watching 5-foot-9, 169-pound Jessie Henderson line up as a defensive end across from 6-foot-5, 305-pound offensive tackle J.T. Brooks. Again, he was almost walking through the motions as offensive line coach Dennis McKnight was teaching technique and his blocking schemes, but Henderson looked like little more than a snack when lined up across from Brooks.
• Remember how former head coach Phil Bennett used to describe Logan Turner's throwing motion as a result of him having "a whip of an arm"? That's exactly what it looks like  as if Turner is whipping the ball at his receivers.
• For a quarterback who has had shoulder injuries in the past, Zach Rhodes appeared to have more velocity this spring than he did last year.
• Some jersey number changes:
- Logan Turner wore No. 11 (the number he wore in high school), although he has not yet been given that number on a permanent basis.
- De'Von Bailey is wearking No. 3 (after wearing No. 2 last year).
- WR/PR Josh Bryant wore No. 23 in practice (listed on the roster wearing No. 32).
- SS K.J. Ellis is wearing No. 38, instead of his listed No. 32.
• One of the most impressive players on the first day of practice was redshirt freshman WR Bradley Haynes. He appears to be every bit of his listed 6-foot-3 height and looks stronger than his listed 205 pounds. More importantly, he made all of the catches, both routine and the slightly off-target. He showed good speed and acceleration, separating from some defensive backs to get open downfield, and showed no effects of the knee injury that he suffered last year. He's very big and looks exceptionally strong. I'd say it's a safe guess that he's been working extremely hard in the weight room.
• It's Day One, and lots of things will change  probably many times. Nonetheless, the top two units on the offensive line were grouped like this:
FIRST) LT Kelvin Beachum, LG Sean Lobo, C Mitch Enright, RG Bryce Tennison, RT Tommy Poynter
SECOND) LT Vincent Chase, LG Josh LeRibeus, C Andrew Robiskie, RG Kelly Turner, RT J.T. Brooks
Future SMU quarterbacks in attendance: Braden Smith and Winston Gamso.
That's it for now. More to come.
