Optional conditioning workout notes (6/21/12)

Post by **PonyPride** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:31 pm

Almost 40 players - mostly linemen and linebackers, it appears - are out on the field right now, getting in some running. Not a lot on which to report, other than the fact that some of the guys who appear to have taken their offseason conditioning fairly seriously (based on the fact that they are regularly at or near the front of their groups in sprints ranging from 50 to 100 yards) are, in no particular order:
WR Jeremy Johnson
LB Jonathan Yenga
NT Spike Davis
OT Ben Gottschalk
DE Margus Hunt
LB Randall Joyner
WR Gehrig Dieter
WR Bobby Waid

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Perhaps of more interest:

Assorted players also took part Thursday in voluntary seven-on-seven drills with some players from Midwestern State who came down from Wichita Falls. Some notes (some relevant, some not so relevant) that I didn't get a chance to post yesterday:

• Some serious arm strength on display Thursday. Every PonyFan knows QB Conner Preston can throw a long way, and rumor has it QB Garrett Gilbert has connected on a pass or two before he arrived on the Hilltop. Surprisingly strong arms, however, belong to WR Gehrig Dieter, who completed a few strikes from 50 yards out, and DE Elie Nabushosi, who played some QB in high school and threw strikes while casually running routes during warm-ups. Also firing tight-spiraled 40-yard strikes to each other during warm-ups: OLs Blake McJunkin and Taylor Lasecki.

• Several linemen are in attendance, including OT Ben Gottschalk, who missed all of the Mustangs' spring drills. Have not talked to him yet, but he seems to be moving around well in warm-up drills and doesn't look like he's in any pain.

• When the SMU defense was on the field, the opposing offense strung together three consecutive passes but thwarted the potential touchdown. On one play, CB Chris Parks and S Daniel Roundtree closed in on a receiver who appeared to be wide open, jumping in front to knock the ball away. Moments later, S Hayden Greenbauer reached around a receiver's neck to knock the ball away. It looked like he could have strangled the receiver a little, but the receiver didn't object, so any contact must have been minimal.

• He wouldn't claim to be in midseason form yet, but CB Kenneth Acker just made a nice over-the-shoulder interception in the right side of the end zone.

• QB rotation: Conner Preston working with the first-team offense, Garrett Gilbert with the second and Garrett Krstich with the third.

• Garrett looks good. He's reading plays from note cards, but has thrown a pair of early touchdown passes, one to Ryan Walker and another to Cole Loftin. Gilbert said a few weeks ago that his goal is to be healthy by preseason workouts, but he seems to have good velocity on his passes, which up to this point have been short and intermediate throws. He has yet to throw more than about 30 yards, but his throws (coming from a high release over his head) look crisp and pretty accurate.

• Acker made another interception in the right side of the end zone late in the session, although to be fair, the pass was badly under thrown and Acker simply curled off the receiver to make the easy catch.

• Staying after to throw on their own: QB Garrett Krstich and WR Gehrig Dieter.

• In attendance (but not participating): SMU-turned-Washington-Redskins CB Richard Crawford.

The PonyGrad · Post by **The PonyGrad** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:38 pm

I thought I recalled something like this:

• Several linemen are in attendance, including OT Ben Gottschalk, who missed all of the Mustangs' spring drills. Have not talked to him yet, but he seems to be moving around well in warm-up drills and doesn't look like he's in any pain.

Good to hear he seems to be doing well. Very important for a young OL to have a couple of veterans.

Junior · Post by **Junior** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:42 pm

Guys show up in good programs.

SMU89 · Post by **SMU89** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:41 pm

I had an optional conditioning workout today

westexSMU · Post by **westexSMU** » Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:47 pm

Thanks Pony Pride for your report. We appreciate your updates when possible.

Lotus · Post by **Lotus** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 4:48 pm

Thanks, PP.
I guess if he's running well, Dieter's knee must be feeling better.
If the transfer OT gets admitted and Gottschalk really is healthy, the offensive line doesn't worry me so much.

ALEX LIFESON · Post by **ALEX LIFESON** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 5:57 pm

40 players huh? I have friends on the staff at Baylor, and they claim to have averaged around 85 players per day last week.

couch 'em · Post by **couch 'em** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:21 pm

Did the SMU Mustangs defeat the MSU Mustangs?

lwjr · Post by **lwjr** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 7:35 pm

couch 'em wrote:Did the SMU Mustangs defeat the MSU Mustangs?

Reversal of fortunes