PonyFans.com practice report: (8/12/14)

[PonyPride]

• Redshirt freshman Jerry Saena has been moved back from NT to OT.

• Head coach June Jones said after Tuesday's practice that he has yet to determine his quarterback depth chart, but said he is hoping one passer will claim the job and make it his own, rather than any sort of rotation. Most assume that the job will go to either incumbent Neal Burcham or transfer transfer Matt Davis, but not everyone appears ready to concede the race to those two. Kolney Cassel had his best day of practice this fall, and perhaps since his arrival at SMU, firing accurate passes on everything from short crossing routes to deep heaves 30 or 40 yards downfield. In addition, freshman QB Jordan Severt got more snaps during seven-on-seven drills than he had been prior to Tuesday

• The passing game took a while to start clicking, and the argument could be made that with an uncertain quarterback position and at least two new starting receivers, the passing game is not yet performing at optimum efficiency. But there are signs that suggest it's getting better, highlighted by a spectacular catch by WR Darius Joseph, who ran a deep route up the seam of the field and leaped over three defenders to snag a high, 30-yard pass from QB Neal Burcham.

• A couple of famous football alums stopped by practice. Former RB Reggue Dupard was in attendance, as was former DL Aaron "Spike" Davis, who is almost unrecognizable after losing upward of 60 pounds since the worked out in a mini-camp earlier this summer with the Washington Redskins.

• Tuesday marked the first day of practice for WR Ryheem Malone, the former Houston Bellaire star who was named first-team All-District 20-5A as a receiver and district Special Teams Player of the year last season.

Malone spent much of the day in the role of an observer, watching other players line up and run routes, and getting advice from his teammates and receivers coach Jason Phillips.

"I'm excited to have him," Phillips said. "He's a good player who wants to be really good, and he has the talent to do it. Now we just have to watch him to see if he'll put in the work."

Malone committed to sign in February with SMU, but was not announced as part of the signing class until he met SMU's academic standards, which he did during the spring and summer.

"He committed to us, but he had some work to do academically," Phillips said. "If he can continue to improve, to work [deleted] what we teach him, he has a chance to be really good. But it's all up to him.

"He can really play. He can catch the ball, and he can run. More than that, he's incredibly competitive. We need more guys like him, guys who love to compete at anything, at everything."

While Phillips is excited to add Malone to his stable of receivers, and he considers Malone a very talented player, he said that Malone will be the guiding force behind whether or not he plays this year.

"It's up to him," Phillips said. "He's a good football player, but we have to let him learn, and we will. The other guys have the advantage of being here over the summer, and Ryheem didn't. But this week and next is about teaching and repeating things, so that will give him the chance to compete. This week and next are all about teaching and repeating, anyway, and he's a very intelligent guy, so I have no doubt he'll pick it up."

Phillips said that despite Malone's special teams prowess in high school, he will not join the special teams at SMU immediately.

"Not right away," Phillips said. "We're going to get him caught up on everything, and then, as soon as he's comfortable, we'll use him on special teams, because that's an area where he probably can get on the field."

• Another player who was not announced in February as part of the Mustangs' signing class, but now is in camp and performing well, is CB Will Jeanlys.

"I thought I was going to sign, but then I got a call from (SMU secondary) Coach (Derrick) Odum," Jeanlys said. "He said they were thinking of waiting, because of my injury. He said they might greyshirt me and bring me in in January."

Jeanlys missed his entire senior season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his right knee during spring workouts at Pope John Paul II in Boynton Beach, Fla. When he fell, it was right in front of Odum, who had flown down last spring to recruit Jeanlys.

"That was devastating," he said of watching his teammates last season. "We didn't have a great record, but we made it to the the championship game."

Now that he is at SMU, Jeanlys said his job is more simple than it was in high school, where he had to learn to play multiple positions (cornerback and safety, as well as receiver).

"I'm just playing one (cornerback) position now, and I like it a lot. "Coach Odum is a really chill guy, but he wants everything done at a fast pace. I know I have a lot to learn, so I try to get as much information as I can from the older guys."

Jeanlys said he has leaned heavily on veteran cornerback Horace Richardson, who has helped him with technique and positioning, and safety Troy Castle, who has been instrumental in helping Jeanlys understand the basics of the defensive scheme.

With the health of Horace Richardson (knee) unknown, and with fellow cornerback J.R. Richardson also sidelined for a while, Jeanlys said he realizes that there is a very real chance that he not only suits up, but dresses, in a few weeks when the Mustangs open their 2014 season in Waco against Baylor.

"That just makes us work harder," he said when asked about the possibility of opening his college career on the road against a team that averaged 52.4 points per game last season, before adding that even if he gets thrown in against the Bears, he does not anticipate nerves being a problem.

"I don't get nervous," he said. "I get ready."

ON GUARD
The Mustangs will have two new starting guards in 2014 after the graduation of 2013 starters Ben Gottschalk and Ben Hughes. With nearly three weeks to go before the Ponies open the 2014 season against Baylor in Waco, nothing is finalized, but based on practice, two of the players competing for the starting jobs are sophomore Seaver Myers and true freshman Evan Brown.

Myers was recruited to SMU as a tackle, and acknowledged that he had never played guard "in his whole life," which naturally made the transition feel strange to him.

"It's more mental than physical," said Myers, who said he now carries 303 pounds on his 6-6 frame. "You still have to worry about inside guys, but physically, it's probably easier. At tackle, you have to be able to cover more space."

The best part about the move, Myers said, is when he gets a chance to stand up and pull on running plays.

"I love that," he said, "because you can hit them easier. I'm bigger than the guy I'm hitting, and I'm running (before contact is made). It's fun to run them over."

Despite the fact that Brown and the other freshmen are just over a week into their first college football experiences, the Carroll High School (Southlake, Texas) graduate, who won't even turn 18 until September, said he is not surprised to be working his way up the pecking order of the Mustangs' offensive line so quickly.

"(Playing) is what I came to do," Brown said. "I was able to go up to (offensive line) Coach (Wes) Suan and watch film with him, start learning the plays, and then I took it outside and worked a lot with (center Taylor) Lasecki. He taught me so much, just the ins and outs of the system, and what the calls meant. He really helped me get started."

Not surprisingly, Brown said the biggest differences between his blocking assignments and what he was asked to do at Carroll are most significant in pass protection.

"In our run-blocking, we did a lot of zone, kind of like what we do here," Brown said. "But the pass-blocking here is more complex. I feel like I pretty much know what to do, but the defenses are so much better. We'll so many more stunts — the defenses are so much more complicated. College players are so much smarter and faster than high school guys, so I'll have to get better."

Brown, who was named first-team all-state last year by the Associated Press, Texas Coaches Association, Texas Sportswriters Association and Dave Campbell's Texas Football magazine, also is playing guard for the first time. At Carroll, he played tackle in his sophomore and junior seasons before moving to center as a senior.

The 6-3, 305-pound Brown, who already is among the strongest players on the team, said he doesn't know if he has finished growing.

"I don't know," he said. "My dad's about 6-5, and my mom is 5-10, so maybe I'll grow some more. I hope so."

[JoeKidd]

Man, I continue to be really really nervous about our lack of depth at CB and our secondary overall. Also I know we're only 1 week into camp and NB is in the 1 spot for the first time with some new receivers, but I also feel like a chicken on a hot plate when I hear that our passing game is not clicking....you have nothing else in this offense so I sure hope it progresses over the next 2.5 weeks.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Very interesting addition with Malone. He is a guy that could help us in more than one area.

[East Coast Mustang]

The Saena experiment at NT didn't last long.

NT depth is going to be an issue next year with Wright graduating. I think we are better off leaving Minor at DE, but next year at NT it's:

Nick Reed
McCleneghen (6'6 260- not ideal size for nose tackle)
Hollie

We didn't recruit a DT last year and have none committed for 2015. Would be nice to see the staff get in on two local DTs- Jalen Goss from SOC and Sami Awad from Duncanville. Both have FBS offers

[ojaipony]

Myers just must be really soft (I understand that Evans is a really good player, but you should NOT be letting a true freshman take your spot - this guy was so heavily recruited and has ideal size - just seems a little "doughy soft" to me -- hope he proves me wrong). Also, our CBs are going to get absolutely TORCHED (losing JR is probably the biggest issue on this entire team). And, if Evan thinks defenses are much better in college than high school, wait until he says Baylor's and aTm's.

I have high hopes for Hollie at NT. Certainly looks the part. Does he have a mean streak?

I like to hear that Malone is ultra competitive. I want a roster of crazy competitive guys with chips on their shoulders who have tons of pride and absolutely REFUSE to let Baylor score 70 on us no matter what. Don't think we have many on this squad. I want more T Reed types.

[Junior]

I want a roster of crazy competitive guys with chips on their shoulders who have tons of pride and absolutely REFUSE to let Baylor score 70 on us no matter what. Don't think we have many on this squad. I want more T Reed types.

not me.

I just want a group of guys who are just glad to be here. just want to do what they can to contribute to the team. you know, take it one day at a time.

i want a bunch of gym rats, guys who bring their lunch pail to work. maybe a coach's son.

guys who never take a play off. give 110%. kids that are sneaky fast or will try to outsmart you on the field. maybe a student of the game.

[ojaipony]

I want a roster of crazy competitive guys with chips on their shoulders who have tons of pride and absolutely REFUSE to let Baylor score 70 on us no matter what. Don't think we have many on this squad. I want more T Reed types.

not me.

I just want a group of guys who are just glad to be here. just want to do what they can to contribute to the team. you know, take it one day at a time.

i want a bunch of gym rats, guys who bring their lunch pail to work. maybe a coach's son.

guys who never take a play off. give 110%. kids that are sneaky fast or will try to outsmart you on the field. maybe a student of the game.

ok, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I LOVED "the U" teams of the late 80s so that tells you my perspective.

[JasonB]

I don't know if Myers and Brown are battling for a spot. I think both guard spots are open, and it may be that Brown is working at McCarty's spot? I haven't heard a peep about him all camp?

[Junior]

I want a roster of crazy competitive guys with chips on their shoulders who have tons of pride and absolutely REFUSE to let Baylor score 70 on us no matter what. Don't think we have many on this squad. I want more T Reed types.

not me.

I just want a group of guys who are just glad to be here. just want to do what they can to contribute to the team. you know, take it one day at a time.

i want a bunch of gym rats, guys who bring their lunch pail to work. maybe a coach's son.

guys who never take a play off. give 110%. kids that are sneaky fast or will try to outsmart you on the field. maybe a student of the game.

ok, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I LOVED "the U" teams of the late 80s so that tells you my perspective.

my post was an attempt at humor. tried to work in as many metaphors as i could.

[Grant Carter]

[quote="ojaipony"]I want a roster of crazy competitive guys with chips on their shoulders who have tons of pride and absolutely REFUSE to let Baylor score 70 on us no matter what. Don't think we have many on this squad. I want more T Reed types.

not me.

I just want a group of guys who are just glad to be here. just want to do what they can to contribute to the team. you know, take it one day at a time.

i want a bunch of gym rats, guys who bring their lunch pail to work. maybe a coach's son.

guys who never take a play off. give 110%. kids that are sneaky fast or will try to outsmart you on the field. maybe a student of the game.

ok, we'll just have to agree to disagree. I LOVED "the U" teams of the late 80s so that tells you my perspective.

my post was an attempt at humor. tried to work in as many metaphors as i could.[/quote]
Attempt was an accurate description, I will give you that.

[footballdad]

Word from camp is that Brown is a monster. Zelt Minor has been really good and none of the O Lineman have been able to handle him. Brown not only handled him in one drill last week, but the entire team was shocked when Brown actually pancaked him. Brown & McCarty 2 nice interior pieces going forward. Although as someone else mentioned, haven't really heard much about McCarty so far.

[Junior]

Attempt was an accurate description, I will give you that.

i'm sorry you have no sense of humor.

[Grant Carter]

Attempt was an accurate description, I will give you that.

i'm sorry you have no sense of humor.

Don't be so sensitive. I do have a sense of humor. I am sorry your attempted joke was not funny.

[Junior]

Attempt was an accurate description, I will give you that.

i'm sorry you have no sense of humor.

Don't be so sensitive. I do have a sense of humor. I am sorry your attempted joke was not funny.

i know. i wasn't offended. was just a little too long without any drama on here.

[ojaipony]

my post was an attempt at humor.

Mine too.