PonyFans.com practice report: March 24, 2016

[PonyPride]

• The most astute of PonyFans might have noticed that WR Courtland Sutton was a bit of a handful for some opposing DBs in 2015. While head coach Chad Morris said that Sutton is working to refine his craft through things like sharper route-running, the fact remains that the combination of size, speed and hands that he brings to the position presents a considerable challenge for any DB. Morris and his staff (like every coach at every school) apparently like the combination Sutton presents — true freshman Kevin Thomas is another big body who can make plays and is a ferocious blocker, and now it appears that SMU might have a third outside threat with big potential. Listed at 6-4 and 198, WR Alex Honey is leaner than Sutton but presents a similarly tall target. Honey was one of the first players Morris singled out Thursday as among those who have had a strong start to his spring workouts, and he showed why, using his body to shield the ball from would-be defenders on short and intermediate routes, and then going up and over smaller defenders for high passes and on deep routes. After redshirting in 2015, this is not to suggest he is a mirror image of Sutton, at least not yet. But run Sutton, Thomas and Honey out wide, and it’s easy to see why coaches and quarterbacks alike light up at the idea of big receivers with the speed to get deep.

• Another feature: Honey and Thomas each ran over a DB thanks to a well-aimed stiff-arm.

• Since he was hired by SMU, Morris has said he wants physical receivers who can block downfield for teammates running with the ball. When RB Xavier Jones caught a quick screen pass during team (11-on-11) drills, WR Myron Gailliard headed upfield and took out not one but two LBs on the play — not bad for a player whose 5-9, 174-pound frame is more reminiscent of Nic Moore than Courtland Sutton or Jeremiah Gaines.

• Mitchell Kaufman, who played in 2015 at tight end, is back at his high school position: linebacker.

• Several players, including many linemen, are wearing an extra protective shell on the outside of their helmets. They look a little unusual, but if they can help prevent or reduce concussions, they’re well worth it.

• Interesting chat with DL Zelt Minor (who, incidentally, says he is about 10 pounds under his listed weight of 285). Minor sat out of practice Thursday because of what he said was a “pinch” in his shoulder, but said he expected to miss only one day. Instead of asking him about his own progress or that of his fellow defensive linemen, I asked him about the offensive linemen who he faces every day in practice. At first I asked who stood out to him, and he diplomatically complimented everyone, saying how they all have improved, etc. When I asked who has done the best job on the offensive line, he quickly answered “Coach (Dustin) Fry.” He said that what Fry has done with the SMU blockers in just one year "is incredible" and said that the offensive linemen "don't even look like the guys last year" (presumably in their performance, not their physiques, although there are a few who appear to be considerably leaner, stronger, etc.) That seemed like a nice compliment to Fry, and a way of sharing praise among all of the offensive linemen. But then he added, "but if I have to say one guy who just jumps out, it's Chad Pursley." I reminded him that in interviews during the season, Morris and offensive coordinator Joe Craddock had said that SMU coaches use some kind of software that rates offensive linemen using criteria that is not readily evident to fans and media, and that Morris and Craddock had said Pursley had ranked as one of the nation's elite tackles. "He should be," Minor said.
(Bear with me — this is paraphrasing) Minor said fans and media don't see it because linemen often go unnoticed, but he talked about how smart Pursley is, said he has "amazing" feet and never stops working. He also praised the fact that Pursley "never says anything, either, in practice or games." Minor said Pursley just shows up, does his work and plays. Never complains about everything.

I figured that was the end of Minor's praise for Pursley, until he pointed out that Pursley is still young (he'll be a redshirt sophomore in 2016). Purely is listed on the SMU roster as carrying 280 pounds on his 6-4 frame. "He's really good now," Minor said. "Just wait 'til he gets bigger, and then check him out."

• Some quarterbacks will say that one pass that is harder than many realize is the screen pass to a running back leaking out of the backfield. It looks simple enough — just turn and flip a short toss to the running back and let him head upfield. But when throwing over an oncoming defensive end or linebacker, the pass becomes more difficult. The first obvious risk is that the ball gets knocked down, or in the worst-case scenario, intercepted. When the quarterback compensates and puts a little more air under the ball, it can sail a little, which is what happened to QB Darrel Colbert in team (11-on-11) drills on a play that turned into a defensive highlight. When he turned to toss a short screen to RB Xavier Jones, he found himself staring at an oncoming defensive end, and his throw to Jones floated. Jones got up high enough to tip it ... right into the hands of CB Jordan Wyatt, who was closing fast on Jones. By the time Jones turned to look for his own deflection, Wyatt was halfway to the end zone.

• Two players — redshirt freshmen Alex Melvin and Davis Luster — shared punting duties when the team went to "live" punt drills. (Josh Williams did some punting on the sideline during practice, and if he got in this drill, I missed it because I was furiously scribbling these award-winning notes.) Melvin's punts had better distance — his long was 47 yards — but Luster's punts were higher, with all but one a perfect spiral.

• DE Hunter Thedford has changed his jersey number. He now wears No. 88.

• One of the players Morris singled out for having had a good start to his spring is CB Jess Montgomery, and he looked pretty good Thursday, offering solid coverage on several deep routes, including one when (in the live scrimmage section of the workout) Colbert threw deep to WR Ryheem Malone, who had gotten a step behind Montgomery. Malone made a nice leaping catch — especially considering he was staring into the sun — but Montgomery stayed with him, went up and ripped the ball away to erase what would have been about a 45-yard completion.

• Coaches have made no secret of their excitement about redshirt freshman WR James Proché, for his potential on both offense and in the return game. On an end-around, he froze a defensive end with a couple of quick fakes and started to turn the corner. But before he could make any positive yardage, he was run over by LB Anthony Rhone, who had read the play perfectly and dropped Proché for a six-yard loss.

• The offense had a potent stretch at one point with QB Ben Hicks at the helm, thanks in part to some serious athleticism from the receivers. First, he fired a strike to WR Courtland Sutton, who stiff-armed the CB covering him and raced untouched down the sideline for a touchdown of about 50 yards. After the extra point, Hicks remained in the scrimmage with the offense, and on the first play, reached down and to his right to snag a low snap with one hand, regrouped and handed off to RB Xavier Jones, who split two defenders and outraced the defense to the pylon for a 59-yard touchdown. On the next play, Proché fought through defensive pass interference to make a high 44-yard catch. Proché then capped off the series by catching a screen pass, on which he should have been tackled, but was able to juke two defenders and pick up 12 yards.

• The scrimmage wrapped up with a "win or lose" segment. The ball was placed just outside the 1-yard line. Simply put, a score meant the offense won, and a stop meant the defense won. The drill was run twice, and the defense won both:

On the first snap, RB Braeden West took the snap and was swallowed up by LB Carlos Carroll just as he got the ball. Defense wins.

When the teams lined up again, freshman RB Aphonso Thomas got the call on a run up the middle, where he ran right into DE Michael Scott and LB Mitchell Kaufman.

• Offering one more chance for points, the special teams went on the field for a 35-yard field goal, which sophomore Michael Armstrong clanged off the left upright ... and through.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Thanks for the update, appreciate your fine work.....as always.

[ponyscott]

Thanks so much...this was very informative as i know the new staff doesn't allow much. Good stuff!!

[mrydel]

Nice to see Mitchell Kaufman at LB. we need a lot of help there and he has shown to be versatile. Looking forward to seeing how he does.

[Hoop Fan]

Sounds like the defense is holding its own in practice. We know from last year the offense can move the ball on most anybody and should only improve. Special teams were pretty good last year, so if the defense can start to find some mojo and play making, we can improve in a hurry as a team even if we do give up some points.

[JoeKidd]

Thanks as always for the update PP.

[Mustangsabu]

Great stuff. I was beginning to wonder when the outlandish optimism and bravado would begin to germinate.

Bring on Baylor!

[JasonB]

Sounds like the defense is holding its own in practice. We know from last year the offense can move the ball on most anybody and should only improve. Special teams were pretty good last year, so if the defense can start to find some mojo and play making, we can improve in a hurry as a team even if we do give up some points.

The defense absolutely dominated the offense for a lot of spring practice last year... something to keep in mind. That said, the offense in the spring didn't have all the frosh WR and RB and a couple of linemen were sitting out.