PonyFans.com spring practice report (March 19, 2014)

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs migrated inside Gerald J. Ford Stadium for the first time this spring Wednesday morning.

• Among those in attendance: a tall Cincinnati Bengals DE named Margus Hunt.

• C Taylor Lasecki took some reps at RG and LG; when he did, freshman William Barns stepped in at center.

• DL coach Bert Hill said that there has been no change in the projected starters — LDE Beau Barnes, NT Darrian Wright and RDE Zach Wood — but said he has been been impressed by the progress of the backups, including DEs Zelt Minor and Elie Nabushosi, who he said are "pushing" Barnes and Wood.

"We're going to play the best players," Hill said. "I wouldn't say Beau and Zach are going to get fewer minutes, but those other guys are getting better, so when they play, we won't see as much of a drop off. Zelt and Elie are getting better all the time, but Beau and Zach are getting better, too.

"Somebody with more experience is able to execute the fundamentals better, or faster. So as the younger guys get better, they play faster. They understand the game more, and they get to the right place and get their hands to the right place faster. We work it, work it, work it, and the more you do it, the better you do it. (NT) Gareth Riley-Ayers is the living example of that. He shows up, looks like he's too small, but he works his butt off. He shows up and works, and never complains about anything, and he's the perfect example of how good technique can make up for not being as big as someone else."

Of course, while Hill said he has been pleasantly surprised by Riley-Ayers, who is listed at 5-11 and 276, not all of his interior players are anywhere close to undersized, including Spencer Hollie (6-4, 310) and former OL Jerry Saena (listed at 6-5, 270, although he said a few weeks ago that he already is up to about 330).

"Those guys have a lot of potential," Hill said. "Jerry isn't doing any contact, because he's coming back from a shoulder (injury), but he's learning the position. They both have great size, so when they get their technique, they could end up being really good. You can see them starting to do things faster in practice, which means they're getting there. They're making progress."

While Minor forced his way into the DE rotation last year as a true freshman, Hill began grooming the other freshman linemen, including Hollie and DEs Justin Lawler and Mason Gentry, who were allowed the luxury of learning during their first years at SMU.

"We were able to redshirt those guys, and that's going to help them a lot in the long run," Hill said. "They have good size, and all three of them are good athletes. I know it seems like you're getting the same answer about each guy, but we teach consistency, and we're looking for them to execute their fundamentals faster and faster. They know who to look at, where to put their hands, how to step up and make plays."

• C Taylor Lasecki said he enjoys playing guard, after taking snaps at both guard positions during Wednesday's practice.

"I liked it — it's fun," Lasecki said. "I'll do whatever they want me to if it helps the team, and it helps to show versatility. Of course, it's different — you don't snap the ball, you have to get low in a two-point stance, and you get to pull more — but it's not a huge transition. I can play any one (of the three interior positions)."

When Lasecki moves out to one of the guard spots, he is replaced in the middle by freshman William Barns, who has impressed Lasecki through the team's first five workouts.

"He's good, and he has a chance to be really good," Lasecki said of Barns. "I'm there to help him, making calls and things like that because he's young, but he knows what he's doing. He's smart — I think that's as important as anything — so he's picking everything up pretty fast."

A junior in the fall, Lasecki is the resident dean of an offensive line that will have no seniors in 2014. He said that while the offensive line is not yet a finished product, he is encouraged by the play of several of his younger teammates.

G Daniel McCarty is "very physical — he's a fighter," Lasecki said. "He's doing really well, especially in the one-on-ones."

While Lasecki got some time at guard, another combination with which the Mustangs have experimented in practice involves Chauncey Briggs sliding in from LT to LG, with Seaver Myers stepping in at LT. The move, Lasecki said, is as much a part of Myers' improvement as it is a reflection of the Mustangs' ongoing search for versatile players (like Briggs) who can play at multiple spots on the line.

"Chauncey can really play — he's big and physical, and he can play tackle or guard," Lasecki said. "Seaver is getting a lot better, too. A lot of young players go through a change in mindset — they go in and do their work, and then at some point, they start doing extra work because they know what it takes to get on the field and be successful. Seaver's a good athlete and a smart guy, and he knows what he needs to get done what needs to get done."

When Myers and Briggs are on Lasecki's left, with Chewy Chamagua at RG and Kris Weeks at RT, Lasecki said the line is big enough and athletic enough to draw at least measurable comparisons to the most experienced line in recent SMU history.

"When we go with those five … we're a pretty big line," Lasecki said. "That line almost looks like the all-senior line we had a few years ago, with (RG) Kelly Turner, (LT) Kelvin Beachum and (LG) Josh LeRibeus (as well as C Bryce Tennison and RT J.T. Brooks). We don't know yet who will be playing, but if we go with that group, as we get stronger and get our technique and assignments down, we should be big enough that we should be able to muscle guys up and create some holes. If we can get the same mindset those guys had, we could be pretty good."

Lasecki said he is intrigued by backup OT Bo Antunovich, who is now five practices into his football career.

"Bo has never played football before," Lasecki said. "It would be like me going out for the soccer team — I would have no idea what I'm doing. But he could be good. He has the strength, he's smart, and he really wants to learn. He works hard."

[Junior]

anything to say on the QB situation?

[ponyscott]

Thanks for the detailed report...