Tuesday (7/26/11) voluntary workout notes
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 9:17 pm• The Mustangs did some conditioning running in the morning, presumably because of the string of days with ridiculous afternoon heat. I didn't go, largely because it was in the morning and nobody offered to bring me coffee.
• Once the Ponies got outside for seven-on-seven drills (the linemen were inside doing agility drills, and the normal conditioning running was held in the morning — I didn't attend, because it was in the morning and there was no assurance that coffee would be provided), one of the nicest plays of the day was one of the first. Shortly after the drills began, QB Kyle Padron fired a pass into the left side of the end zone, where WR Steve Nelson outjumped CB Jeremy Gray — barely — to make a high, leaping catch.
• Watching from the sideline: former SS Rock Dennis.
• The most controversial play of the day looked innocent enough when it started. WR Ryan Walker caught a simple pass in the flat on the left side of the field, just beating CB Richard Crawford to the ball. Walker fell to the turf and the ball popped free, prompting the offense to claim it was a catch while the defense claimed it was incomplete. Several players looked at me for a ruling, which definitely didn't bode well, because no matter what I said, half of them would conclude I'm an idiot (don't say it). Anyway, it looked to me like Walker made the catch, rolled on to his back and the ball popped free as he started to roll toward the sideline. So the argument could be made that it was a reception and then a fumble — hard to say. Either way, a couple of defensive players ... let's just say questioned the call, but apparently they also forgot that sports writers are always right, because the offense backed up to take a mulligan (thanks to a stellar theatrical performance by RB Bryce Lunday, who called offsetting penalties on the offense and defense).
• Crawford got his revenge two plays later, cutting in front of Walker to make an interception in the end zone.
• On the next drive, QB Steve Kaiser overthrew his receiver on a deep crossing route, instead hitting DB Michael Sparling right in the hands for an easy interception. (The pass hit Sparling so cleanly that LB Vic Jones to announce that "Christmas comes early.")
• The dropped passes that appeared in Monday's workout were gone Tuesday, as several players made nice receptions, including some while fighting off defenders. On the final play of the session, WR Der'Rikk Thompson cut across the middle of the field on a crossing route, only to watch LB Cameron Rogers come across from the opposite side of the field for an interception.
• Once the Ponies got outside for seven-on-seven drills (the linemen were inside doing agility drills, and the normal conditioning running was held in the morning — I didn't attend, because it was in the morning and there was no assurance that coffee would be provided), one of the nicest plays of the day was one of the first. Shortly after the drills began, QB Kyle Padron fired a pass into the left side of the end zone, where WR Steve Nelson outjumped CB Jeremy Gray — barely — to make a high, leaping catch.
• Watching from the sideline: former SS Rock Dennis.
• The most controversial play of the day looked innocent enough when it started. WR Ryan Walker caught a simple pass in the flat on the left side of the field, just beating CB Richard Crawford to the ball. Walker fell to the turf and the ball popped free, prompting the offense to claim it was a catch while the defense claimed it was incomplete. Several players looked at me for a ruling, which definitely didn't bode well, because no matter what I said, half of them would conclude I'm an idiot (don't say it). Anyway, it looked to me like Walker made the catch, rolled on to his back and the ball popped free as he started to roll toward the sideline. So the argument could be made that it was a reception and then a fumble — hard to say. Either way, a couple of defensive players ... let's just say questioned the call, but apparently they also forgot that sports writers are always right, because the offense backed up to take a mulligan (thanks to a stellar theatrical performance by RB Bryce Lunday, who called offsetting penalties on the offense and defense).
• Crawford got his revenge two plays later, cutting in front of Walker to make an interception in the end zone.
• On the next drive, QB Steve Kaiser overthrew his receiver on a deep crossing route, instead hitting DB Michael Sparling right in the hands for an easy interception. (The pass hit Sparling so cleanly that LB Vic Jones to announce that "Christmas comes early.")
• The dropped passes that appeared in Monday's workout were gone Tuesday, as several players made nice receptions, including some while fighting off defenders. On the final play of the session, WR Der'Rikk Thompson cut across the middle of the field on a crossing route, only to watch LB Cameron Rogers come across from the opposite side of the field for an interception.
