Thursday (4/3) practice observations
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:21 pmLooks a little like ballet: Special teams coach Frank Gansz came up with a new drill that looked ... weird. He had the Ponies working on tackling in a drill in which the ball carrier and the would-be tackler approach each other at 45-degree angles. As they meet, the tackler drops into a pseudo-crouch, grabs the ball carrier under the shoulder pads and lifts him all the way up over his head. Turns out the rumor that Mikhail Baryshnikov had been added as a walk-on linebacker candidate was false.
Knockout punch?: New defensive line coach Bert Hill ran his charges through a series of drills involving large, foam practice dummies. In a nutshell: the defensive linemen were instructed to weave through the dummies like so many would-be blockers, while Hill barked out instructions. "Swim! Rip!" - dictating the moves he wanted his players to employ to get through the mock blockers. The fastest lineman through the drills: Anthony Sowe, who raced through the drills; second-fastest appeared to be Youri Yenga. The strongest "punch" getting past the foam dummies belonged to Serge Elizee, followed by Chris Parham and Zac Thomas. Most encouraging sight: Kyle DeGroat, who raced through the drill, seemingly pain-free.
Nice touch: Much has been made about Logan Turner's strong arm as the redshirt freshman has hurled countless passes as the Mustangs learn June Jones' new offense. But Turner showed Thursday that he's not just a fireballer: on several plays, he showed a nice touch that belied his relative youth. On one play, Zach Zimmerman swung out wide and turned upfield  Turner laid the ball over Zimmerman's outside shoulder, where only Zimmerman had a chance to make the play  which he did.
Under cover: Special teams coach Frank Gansz put the team through his coverage drills again. On one play, returner De'Von Bailey seemed to beat the coverage of Chris Butler, Shaun Moore, Ryan Moczygemba, and Mitch Enright, when he juked and changed directions several times before turning up the right sideline. But he forgot to tuck the ball securely, and as he turned upfield, he flung the ball backward into the end zone, despite being untouched. Oops.
Nose for the ball: It's impossible to get a legitimate feel for the specifics of how certain players are fitting in with the offense and the defense. But one defensive player has made a habit of ending up around the ball: Tyler Jones. The sophomore-to-be has made numerous interceptions and fumble recoveries in recent days.
Nothing wrong with a little humility: So many people have made an issue of head coach June Jones' celebrity and salary. But he certainly doesn't behave like someone immersed in a life of luxury: how many other head coaches with seven-digit salaries call the scout-team defenses? Not many - that's a job normally reserved for graduate assistants. But it makes sense, since the offensive guru wants to make sure his new offense sees a specific look from the defense. He even has stood in as a mock linebacker and defensive lineman in certain situations.
RED/BLUE SCRIMMAGE REMINDER: Many of the offensive drills in Saturday's scrimmage will be held in the north end of Ford Stadium, so fans are invited to sit in that end of the stadium to get the best possible view.
Knockout punch?: New defensive line coach Bert Hill ran his charges through a series of drills involving large, foam practice dummies. In a nutshell: the defensive linemen were instructed to weave through the dummies like so many would-be blockers, while Hill barked out instructions. "Swim! Rip!" - dictating the moves he wanted his players to employ to get through the mock blockers. The fastest lineman through the drills: Anthony Sowe, who raced through the drills; second-fastest appeared to be Youri Yenga. The strongest "punch" getting past the foam dummies belonged to Serge Elizee, followed by Chris Parham and Zac Thomas. Most encouraging sight: Kyle DeGroat, who raced through the drill, seemingly pain-free.
Nice touch: Much has been made about Logan Turner's strong arm as the redshirt freshman has hurled countless passes as the Mustangs learn June Jones' new offense. But Turner showed Thursday that he's not just a fireballer: on several plays, he showed a nice touch that belied his relative youth. On one play, Zach Zimmerman swung out wide and turned upfield  Turner laid the ball over Zimmerman's outside shoulder, where only Zimmerman had a chance to make the play  which he did.
Under cover: Special teams coach Frank Gansz put the team through his coverage drills again. On one play, returner De'Von Bailey seemed to beat the coverage of Chris Butler, Shaun Moore, Ryan Moczygemba, and Mitch Enright, when he juked and changed directions several times before turning up the right sideline. But he forgot to tuck the ball securely, and as he turned upfield, he flung the ball backward into the end zone, despite being untouched. Oops.
Nose for the ball: It's impossible to get a legitimate feel for the specifics of how certain players are fitting in with the offense and the defense. But one defensive player has made a habit of ending up around the ball: Tyler Jones. The sophomore-to-be has made numerous interceptions and fumble recoveries in recent days.
Nothing wrong with a little humility: So many people have made an issue of head coach June Jones' celebrity and salary. But he certainly doesn't behave like someone immersed in a life of luxury: how many other head coaches with seven-digit salaries call the scout-team defenses? Not many - that's a job normally reserved for graduate assistants. But it makes sense, since the offensive guru wants to make sure his new offense sees a specific look from the defense. He even has stood in as a mock linebacker and defensive lineman in certain situations.
RED/BLUE SCRIMMAGE REMINDER: Many of the offensive drills in Saturday's scrimmage will be held in the north end of Ford Stadium, so fans are invited to sit in that end of the stadium to get the best possible view.