THURSDAY PRACTICE NOTES
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 7:03 pmThe Mustangs held a full-squad practice Thursday morning in Ford Stadium. Some notes:
Crossing lines: In the team's third practice session of the spring, the offensive line was juggled to try some different combinations. In some of the early drills, C Blake McJunkin took some reps with the first-team unit of LT Kelvin Beachum, Jr., LG Josh LeRibeus, RG Bryce Tennison and RT J.T. Brooks. The second unit consisted of LT Josh Emshoff, LG Kelly Turner, C Mitch Enright, RG Jordan Free and RT Sidney Nwangnu.
On the mark: With just three QBs in spring practice, Bo Levi Mitchell, Braden Smith and J.J. McDermott continue to get plenty of work. Smith, in particular, showed exceptional accuracy, snapping passes with a very quick release, often throwing where only his receiver could make the catch (if there was a defender present). Several times, he fired passes on out routes that were low and right on the sideline, where the ball would be incomplete or caught by his intended receiver. Mitchell was very accurate on numerous deep balls, despite significant wind blowing through the stadium.
How special: The Mustangs again conducted their four-on-one coverage drills, with a few highlights:
- LB Patrick Fleming and three linemen teamed up to corrall WR/KR Justin Willis, who juked back and forth, looking for a seam, before being nearly swallowed alive by OL Jordan Free.
- Arguably the best coverage of the day was turned in by the foursome of LB Victor Jones, RB Billy Dugal, LB Ryan Moczygemba and DB Jay Angotti, who collapsed on KR Bryan McCann, who retreated as he zig-zagged back and fourth before being locked up in his own end zone.
- One of the stranger sights in the drill was seeing E.J. Drewery as the return man. Most returners are smaller guys, but the 6-5, 219-pound Drewery looked quicker than expected. Against the quartet of walk=on DB Fred Leach, K Matt Szymanski, LB Andrew Ellison and DE Kevin Grenier, Drewery took a couple couple of steps to his right before turning upfield, splitting Ellison and Grenier and racing into the open field.
Non-hit of the day: In the same special teams drill, WR Terrance Wilkerson headed upfield against DB Ryan Smith, WR Emmanuel Sanders, Fleming and NG Evan Huahulu. As he headed toward the left sideline in an effort to turn the corner, Wilkerson was run over by Smith, eliciting "oohs" from a handful of teammates and spectators. But Smith had not planted his teammate - Wilkerson's feet slid out from under him before the would-be tackle, and he was on his way to the ground before Smith touched him.
Catch of the day: Turned in by WR Aldrick Robinson, the play wasn't so much about the catch itself as the body control involved. Robinson raced down the left sideline under a pass thrown by Mitchell that sailed a little, drifting toward the out-of-bounds line. Robinson leaped high to make the catch as he sailed out of bounds. But before landing, he had the presence of mind to twist around so he was facing the field and stick his foot out, planting his heel several inches in bounds.
Crossing lines: In the team's third practice session of the spring, the offensive line was juggled to try some different combinations. In some of the early drills, C Blake McJunkin took some reps with the first-team unit of LT Kelvin Beachum, Jr., LG Josh LeRibeus, RG Bryce Tennison and RT J.T. Brooks. The second unit consisted of LT Josh Emshoff, LG Kelly Turner, C Mitch Enright, RG Jordan Free and RT Sidney Nwangnu.
On the mark: With just three QBs in spring practice, Bo Levi Mitchell, Braden Smith and J.J. McDermott continue to get plenty of work. Smith, in particular, showed exceptional accuracy, snapping passes with a very quick release, often throwing where only his receiver could make the catch (if there was a defender present). Several times, he fired passes on out routes that were low and right on the sideline, where the ball would be incomplete or caught by his intended receiver. Mitchell was very accurate on numerous deep balls, despite significant wind blowing through the stadium.
How special: The Mustangs again conducted their four-on-one coverage drills, with a few highlights:
- LB Patrick Fleming and three linemen teamed up to corrall WR/KR Justin Willis, who juked back and forth, looking for a seam, before being nearly swallowed alive by OL Jordan Free.
- Arguably the best coverage of the day was turned in by the foursome of LB Victor Jones, RB Billy Dugal, LB Ryan Moczygemba and DB Jay Angotti, who collapsed on KR Bryan McCann, who retreated as he zig-zagged back and fourth before being locked up in his own end zone.
- One of the stranger sights in the drill was seeing E.J. Drewery as the return man. Most returners are smaller guys, but the 6-5, 219-pound Drewery looked quicker than expected. Against the quartet of walk=on DB Fred Leach, K Matt Szymanski, LB Andrew Ellison and DE Kevin Grenier, Drewery took a couple couple of steps to his right before turning upfield, splitting Ellison and Grenier and racing into the open field.
Non-hit of the day: In the same special teams drill, WR Terrance Wilkerson headed upfield against DB Ryan Smith, WR Emmanuel Sanders, Fleming and NG Evan Huahulu. As he headed toward the left sideline in an effort to turn the corner, Wilkerson was run over by Smith, eliciting "oohs" from a handful of teammates and spectators. But Smith had not planted his teammate - Wilkerson's feet slid out from under him before the would-be tackle, and he was on his way to the ground before Smith touched him.
Catch of the day: Turned in by WR Aldrick Robinson, the play wasn't so much about the catch itself as the body control involved. Robinson raced down the left sideline under a pass thrown by Mitchell that sailed a little, drifting toward the out-of-bounds line. Robinson leaped high to make the catch as he sailed out of bounds. But before landing, he had the presence of mind to twist around so he was facing the field and stick his foot out, planting his heel several inches in bounds.
