Notes from Thursday's practice

[PonyPride]

Just a few notes:

Dropping into a crowd: Two of the best passes of the day were thrown into heavy traffic: QB Kyle Padron spotted TE/WR Pat Fleming headed upfield along the right seam. Padron arched a perfect pass over the defense, hitting Fleming in the hands. Fleming wasn't able to haul it in, but the confidence and accuracy Padron showed by even attempting the pass was not there at the beginning of last season. Later in the morning session, QB J.J. McDermott threaded a pass into quadruple coverage to WR Ryan Walker, who dropped the pass, but the fact that McDermott saw Walker through the crowd and got the ball to him was impressive.

Catching on: One of the real bright spots in Thursday's practice was DB-turned-WR De'Von Bailey. Playing the position for the first time since high school, and after taking a year off (http://www.ponyfans.com/features/index.php?id=155), Bailey made an array of catches, including one when he rose up on a deep route over the middle to make a catch with FS Chris Banjo zeroing in on him, and moments later, when he ran a quick curl route on the right side of the field, dove toward the sideline, got both feet down in bounds and made a stretching catch of a low pass that was several feet over the sideline.

Defensive play of the day: Just minutes after Bailey's sideline grab, the defense got one of its own. QB J.J. McDermott threw a quick out route to Walker, only to have CB J.R. McConico jump the route and dive in front of Walker to make the interception.

Out on the strip: The defense is placing more of an emphasis on creating turnovers this spring. One of the better plays of the day was turned in by CB Jeremy Gray, who raced up to cover a WR on a quick screen pass. When the ball got through to the receiver, Gray wrapped him up, stripped the ball and pounced on it for the recovery before the receiver even located the ball.

[davidpaul123]

Thanks for the updates PP!!

[lwjr]

PP,
Thank you for the updates. Getting excited for the upcoming fall season.

[Football4ever]

PP,
Thank you for the updates. Getting excited for the upcoming fall season.

Im really excited, and its only April. Guess thats better than January

[that's great raplh]

Go ponies