• Slow start: The passing game didn't exactly sizzle early on Thursday, as receivers dropped catchable passes on three of the first five passes thrown. Two were bumped in the air and subsequently intercepted. (The slow start didn't last  receivers got a lot better as the day went on.)
• Goes both ways: The receivers weren't the only ones who had their share of bobbles. The defense also dropped a few interceptions, including one when linebackers Justin Smart and Pete Fleps converged on Zimmerman just as he was about to receive a pass from Willis. Fleps appeared to be in position to make an interception, but he and Smart and Zimmerman collided, and the ball fell harmlessly to the ground. Smart is bigger than his listed 225 pounds, and Fleps might be bigger than his listed 220, but even if those weights are accurate, that giives them 60 and 55 pounds, respectively, on the 165-pound Zimmerman ... who didn't make the catch, but at least he lived through the collision.
• It's all about teamwork: One of the nicer plays of the day was turned in early in the seven-on-seven session, when Justin Willis (I think) threw a pass into double-coverage down the right sideline. Freshman cornerback Keith Robinson got up in the air and tipped the ball backward as he flew out of bounds, right into the waiting arms of trailing Chris Banjo.
• Better safe than sorry: Linebacker Will Bonilla didn't work out with his teammates Thursday, citing a slightly tweaked hamstring. With the players taking next week off before reporting for two-a-days, Bonilla said he plans to sit out Friday, as well, just to make sure he allows his hamstring as much time as possible to heal.
• Scary sight of the day: Those who were around last year would have cringed, at least, when safety Rock Dennis and cornerback Ryan Smith closed in on wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. The three went up for the ball simultaneously, but Dennis and Smith collided, sending Dennis crashing to the turf ... and landing on his shoulder (he missed the 2007 season after breaking his shoulder in the preseason). But he bounced back up, and said after the workout that it didn't hurt at all.
• Best of the best: Several players who were sitting out one "drive" started talking on the sideline about the recent tests the Ponies have gone through to measure strength, speed, quickness, agility and jumping ability. A group of nearly a dozen players agreed unanimously that the best athlete on the team, pound-for-pound, is redshirt freshman linebacker Julian Herron. "He's a freak," defensive end Adrian Dizer said ... affectionately.
• Acknowledging the greatness of the SMU defense: Cornerback Bryan McCann was nice enough to point out that these reports are slanted toward the offense. So I assured him that he's make today's report. With that in mind, early in the session, McCann intercepted a pass and took off downfield, with nobody close enough to get near him. As he headed upfield, Dizer offered this note of friendly support for his teammate: "McCannn! Don't fumble!" ... a nod to McCann dropping the ball last year after an interception in the UTEP game.
You're welcome, Bryan.
