Friday practice report
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:38 pmOff schedule: Friday's practice was scheduled originally to be held at 8:30 a.m., but was postponed until the afternoon because of inclement weather that ripped through north Texas Friday morning.
In rotation: Four players —WR Darius Johnson, WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Justin Willis and RB Shawnbrey McNeal — returned punts at the start of practice. For the most part, the punts were fielded cleanly, although McNeal muffed one that hit his hands, bounced between his legs and rolled 10 yards behind him.
Jumping the gun: The defensive line ran a drill in which four linemen lined up and DL coach Bert Hill simulated a center snapping the ball and barking out signals in a quarterback's cadence. The drill is designed to get the linemen to watch the ball before moving, rather than listening to Hill's hard count. Hill only induced DE Margus Hunt into jumping a couple of times.
Drop the subject: For the second time this week, the WRs got off to a sloppy start catching the ball. In early skeleton (no defense) passing drills, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Loftin, Charles Clay, Zach Zimmerman, B.J. Lee and A'Darius Medford each had at least one case of the drops.
On the plus side: Not all of the WRs had a bad afternoon practice — Brad Haynes was exceptional, making numerous catches, including one high reception between Ss Bryce Hudman and Tyler Jones, and another leaping catch late in the practice when he outleaped double coverage to haul in a 30-yarder on the right sideline.
Playing a larger role: RB Shawnbrey McNeal took a majority of the snaps in the team's 11-on-11 drills and showed off his much-hyped speed on a number of sweeps and draws. Head coach June Jones said after the practice that nothing should be read into McNeal's expanded role, and reiterated that he hasn't been notified by the NCAA about McNeal's request for a waiver that would allow him to play in 2009 without sitting out the required year because of NCAA transfer rules. Instead, Jones said, McNeal got more snaps because he needs more work in the offense, and Chris Butler and Bryce Lunday already know the system.
Strangely equipped: The guys in the equipment room are among the most underappreciated in the entire athletic department, putting in very long hours from the beginning of preseason camp through the end of the season. Nonetheless, it's clear they hate me (and the other media), as many players wore numbers other than their own Friday afternoon despite the absence of a second practice. Among those in new numbers: SS Rock Dennis wore 71, FS Chris Banjo wore 76, DT Evan Huahulu wore 6, DE Marquis Frazier wore 10, QB Kyle Padron wore 12 ...
Catch of the day: Haynes had several nice grabs Friday, but the best of the day was probably turned in by WR Darius Johnson, who ran a deep out route to the right sideline, tipped the ball into the air, twisted his body around and reached backward over his head to pull in the pass with one hand. Hard to tell if he got a foot inbounds, but the grab was exceptional.
Taking advantage: Tyler Jones made the most of an overthrow by QB Kyle Padron, whose pass sailed over WR Josh Bryant and into Jones' waiting arms.
Practice makes perfect: K Matt Szymanski was perfect in the team's field goal drills, drilling all seven attempts through the uprights, including a pair of 47-yarders.
Got him covered: When Youri Yenga moved from DE to LB, the immediate focus was on his ability to rush the passer from a stand-up position off the edge. But he also is getting better in coverage. On one play Friday, he dropped into coverage and picked up WR Terrance Wilkerson on a crossing route, stayed with the fleet wideout and dove to knock away the pass — impressive for a guy who has been running coverage drills for all of a couple of weeks.
In rotation: Four players —WR Darius Johnson, WR Emmanuel Sanders, WR Justin Willis and RB Shawnbrey McNeal — returned punts at the start of practice. For the most part, the punts were fielded cleanly, although McNeal muffed one that hit his hands, bounced between his legs and rolled 10 yards behind him.
Jumping the gun: The defensive line ran a drill in which four linemen lined up and DL coach Bert Hill simulated a center snapping the ball and barking out signals in a quarterback's cadence. The drill is designed to get the linemen to watch the ball before moving, rather than listening to Hill's hard count. Hill only induced DE Margus Hunt into jumping a couple of times.
Drop the subject: For the second time this week, the WRs got off to a sloppy start catching the ball. In early skeleton (no defense) passing drills, Emmanuel Sanders, Cole Loftin, Charles Clay, Zach Zimmerman, B.J. Lee and A'Darius Medford each had at least one case of the drops.
On the plus side: Not all of the WRs had a bad afternoon practice — Brad Haynes was exceptional, making numerous catches, including one high reception between Ss Bryce Hudman and Tyler Jones, and another leaping catch late in the practice when he outleaped double coverage to haul in a 30-yarder on the right sideline.
Playing a larger role: RB Shawnbrey McNeal took a majority of the snaps in the team's 11-on-11 drills and showed off his much-hyped speed on a number of sweeps and draws. Head coach June Jones said after the practice that nothing should be read into McNeal's expanded role, and reiterated that he hasn't been notified by the NCAA about McNeal's request for a waiver that would allow him to play in 2009 without sitting out the required year because of NCAA transfer rules. Instead, Jones said, McNeal got more snaps because he needs more work in the offense, and Chris Butler and Bryce Lunday already know the system.
Strangely equipped: The guys in the equipment room are among the most underappreciated in the entire athletic department, putting in very long hours from the beginning of preseason camp through the end of the season. Nonetheless, it's clear they hate me (and the other media), as many players wore numbers other than their own Friday afternoon despite the absence of a second practice. Among those in new numbers: SS Rock Dennis wore 71, FS Chris Banjo wore 76, DT Evan Huahulu wore 6, DE Marquis Frazier wore 10, QB Kyle Padron wore 12 ...
Catch of the day: Haynes had several nice grabs Friday, but the best of the day was probably turned in by WR Darius Johnson, who ran a deep out route to the right sideline, tipped the ball into the air, twisted his body around and reached backward over his head to pull in the pass with one hand. Hard to tell if he got a foot inbounds, but the grab was exceptional.
Taking advantage: Tyler Jones made the most of an overthrow by QB Kyle Padron, whose pass sailed over WR Josh Bryant and into Jones' waiting arms.
Practice makes perfect: K Matt Szymanski was perfect in the team's field goal drills, drilling all seven attempts through the uprights, including a pair of 47-yarders.
Got him covered: When Youri Yenga moved from DE to LB, the immediate focus was on his ability to rush the passer from a stand-up position off the edge. But he also is getting better in coverage. On one play Friday, he dropped into coverage and picked up WR Terrance Wilkerson on a crossing route, stayed with the fleet wideout and dove to knock away the pass — impressive for a guy who has been running coverage drills for all of a couple of weeks.