PonyFans.com practice report(s) — 8/14-16

[PonyPride]

Sorry for the compilation, but this is a compilation of practice reports over the last three days.

• CB J.R. Richardson, whose offseason was derailed because of illness, has worked out on a limited basis for the last couple of days. No timetable for his return has been given, but there was some concern that he might not play at all this season, so his presence on the field, even in light drills, is encouraging.

• The Mustangs are still in the stage of giving newcomers (freshmen and transfers), as well as players who are moving to new positions, a lot of reps in practice, so the players who are making plays now won't necessarily be the same ones who line up in a couple of weeks at Baylor.

• One player who has gotten notably better over the last few days is freshman WR Shelby Walker. In his first few practices, Walker, like many new players, appeared to be a little lost, but he is improving. He lost two DBs Thursday with a veteran double move on the sideline, and made three diving and/or sliding catches in seven-on-seven and team (11-on-11) drills.

• Since ditching the braces he wore for two years on his surgically repaired wrists, LB Derek Longoria has come up with more turnovers. In Thursday's workout, he turned in one of the top defensive plays in defensive drills of the day when he out-leaped a mock WR and twisted his body around to snag an interception that was thrown well behind him. Terrific catch.

• If Longoria's wasn't Thursday's defensive play of the day, that honor probably should have gone to freshman R.C. Cox, a freshman walk-on linebacker from Gurnee, Ill. (whose bio can be found HEREand whose high school highlights can be found HERE). After S Courtland Sutton deflected a pass, Cox dove for the ball, snagging the interception about six inches above the ground.

• After reporting about the passing game's struggles Wednesday, it's only fair to point out that the passing offense got much better over the next few days. QBs Neal Burcham, Matt Davis and Kolney Cassel have gotten the vast majority of the snaps with the first- and second-team offenses, and they all finished the week better than they started. Cassel, in particular, looks better; a year ago, he fell into the category head coach June Jones refers to as players whose "heads are swimming," but fast-forward a year and he is far more decisive and accurate with his throws. Burcham looked much better on his deep passes, dropping several over his receivers' outside shoulders on routes along the sideline, where the passes would reach either their intended targets or nobody at all, and finding his target on deep seam routes. Several were caught for touchdowns. In addition to his normal array of passes that he and the other QBs throw every day, Burcham's athleticism and ability to improvise are coming out; on one play Thursday, he started toward his right, reversed field when approached by an oncoming DE, and while running to his left, lofted a soft pass down the sideline WR Aaron Stafford. It wasn't a pass that showed off arm strength; on the contrary, it showed off his ability to control his arm strength, is it is very easy when running full-speed to air-mail a pass into the seats, but Burcham's throw was right on target.

• Does volume matter? Not in the grand scheme of things, but when the Ponies split into team (11-on-11) drills, it's clear that the defense feeds off its own enthusiasm. One of the constants throughout preseason camp is the constant noise generated on the defensive sideline during such drills…

• He might have joined the team until Tuesday, but freshman WR Ryheem Malone is forcing people to take notice. He's not big (listed at 5-9, 170), and he might not be the fastest pure sprinter on the team (although he sure isn't slow), but Malone runs crisp routes, catches almost everything and has an ability to shake defenders with his elusive running after making the catch. During the mostly-freshman sessions, he is getting lots of passes thrown his way … and making plays when he does.

• Austin Kent, the former quarterback-turned-deep snapper, has decided to give up football, according to head coach June Jones.

• When he signed with SMU last year, everyone knew WR Jeremiah Gaines was a big, strong target who could create mismatches against smaller DBs. But in his first year as a Mustang, he spent much of the season working in the slot. Now working outside, he is being used in a number of ways on short, intermediate and deep passes. But not to be overlooked is his ability as a blocker. Gaines is a willing blocker who has absolutely manhandled some of the DBs who try to get through him to reach a ball carrier.

• There was some discussion earlier this week about whether redshirt freshman Spencer Hollie is working as a DE or NT. He's working in the middle.

• LB Caleb Tuiasosopo, who missed a few days with an apparent knee injury, was back on the practice field Saturday.

• Head coach June Jones has never required his receivers to be big, and with the likes of Malone, Cedric Lancaster, Deion Sanders, etc., running around, that has not changed. Even junior Darius Joseph, who finished second on the team (and second in school history) with 103 receptions last year, is not huge, listed on the SMU roster at 6-0 and 190 pounds. But he is strong, and is a veteran who knows how to use his size to his advantage. Several times over the last few days, Joseph has been the target on intermediate and deep passes, and while he might not tower over every defender or run a blinding 40-yard dash, he knows how to use his body to shield the ball from defenders, many of whom have had no chance of even knocking passes down.

• Practices have been visited this week by scouts from several NFL teams, including the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.

• While the Mustangs might have solidified most of their starting offensive line (OTs Chauncey Briggs and Kris Weeks, and C Taylor Lasecki are back, and head coach June Jones has said that freshman Evan Brown has a chance to start at RG), the coaches are not done trying combinations. Seaver Myers and Daniel McCarty both have gotten a lot of work at LG, and most players have practiced at at least two positions. As some coach (can't remember which one) said, versatility multiplies depth.

• When he was recruited, RB Darius Durall was supposed to be the quick, shifty one …. but during RB/LB one-on-one drills, he ran right through and over LB Anthony Rhone, who enjoys an advantage of three inches and 38 pounds over Durall. That's not an indictment of Rhone at all — coaches and teammates alike have said he has had an outstanding preseason camp. But it sure looks like Durall has found his way into a weight room since he signed in February.

As if to stand up for himself, Rhone was back in the action on the very next play, corralling RB Kevin Pope, a senior who is listed at seven pounds heavier (222) than Rhone.

• Speaking of Durall, head coach June Jones said after Saturday's practice that WR Deion Sanders would retain his role returning kickoffs after doing "a good job for us last year," but said Durall could join Sanders in the job.

• One player who has been mentioned by coaches and players as a young player worth watching is DE Mason Gentry, who played just one year of football before signing with the Mustangs. Defensive coordinator Tom Mason said this week that despite long arms, Gentry has been putting in extensive work in the weight room, already benching "about 400 pounds," and that strength is starting to show. No, he's not a finished product, but his physical gifts are intriguing. On one play Saturday (against fellow defensive players filling offensive roles), Gentry stopped "RB" Anthony Rhone in his tracks … but only after busting through two would-be blockers to get to Rhone.

• Saturday's defensive play of the day: during team (11-on-11) drills, S A.J. Justice stood out from the crowd — literally — when he rose above a throng of WRs and DBs to make a twisting interception in a crowded end zone.

• Later in the same drills, QB Neal Burcham fired a pass over the sideline toward WR Ryheem Malone, who was able to keep his feet down, tip the ball up with one hand and then haul it in.

• WR Daijuan Stewart was impressive Saturday, making a couple of tough catches in traffic and a back-shoulder grab as he fell out of bounds.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
It's no secret that the media is as athletic as anyone on the field (just go with me on this one), which made it all the more surprising when a reporter — didn't get his name, but I think he edits PonyFans.com — took a less-than-graceful nosedive as the final horn blew Saturday morning while reading notes instead of looking down to see the canyon-sized hole where the turf meets the strip that looks like a baseball warning track around the field, at the base of the brick wall. OK, that "canyon" reference might be a bit of a stretch, but I was reading my notes, planning interviews, and once gravity kicked in, it was over. Thankfully, there were plenty of witnesses who were more than willing to laugh. Fear not: injury was avoided (remarkably, considering the incompetence of the whole scene), so the season opener is not in doubt.

Obvious lesson: don't read and walk, as the combination can be hazardous to your health.

[Smu_rise]

Accurate, informative, intruiging, and entertaining. Good job, "PonyFans"!

[JoeKidd]

Great report PP, glad you're alright after what could have been a devastating athletic injury that could have derailed your whole season. On that note glad to see that JR is making some progress, we sure need him at CB.

[Planter's Punch]

Great update. Has June ever used a wide receiver with Jeremiah Gaines height and weight (6-2 230)? He could become a great asset in the red zone! From what I have read about the run and shoot, he is definitely on the taller and heavier side of what they want in a receiver.