Practice (8/5/17) notes and observations
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 5:53 pm• Saturday's practice was attended by several SMU football alumni, including All-America DB Russell Carter, OL Blake McJunkin, WR Erwin Wilburn, WR Tony Newsome, DB Jay Harvey, DE Andy McCleneghen, LB Carlos Carroll.
• Head coach Chad Morris said Tuesday that QB Ben Hicks has lost about 15 pounds since last year, and there's no reason to disbelieve Morris — Hicks looks completely different. It's hard to tell with the naked eye, but he looks a step quicker, especially when rolling to his left, when he showed the ability to get to the perimeter and then stop more quickly to set his feet and get a throw away.
• QB D.J. Gillins got a lot of reps, which makes sense considering Hicks is entering his third season and QB Rafe Peavey was in practice and meetings during the 2016 season, although had to learn opposing offenses each week while running the scout team. Gillins showed off a strong arm, firing strikes on mostly short and intermediate passes.
• The early part of practice included a running drill in which a running back lined up behind three blockers who were across from three defenders in a contained space less than 10 yards wide. Very simple drill: blockers trying to open running lanes, while the defenders tried to shut down the play. A lot of players rotated through, but among those who stood out were RB Kayce Medlock and S Michael Clark. Clark made several tackles, while Medlock showed the burst of acceleration Morris raved about when Medlock was recruited ; even lined up against DBs, nobody was going to catch Medlock once he got through a gap. One of the most impressive plays came when DTs Ken McLaurin and Pono Davis teamed up to drive three blockers back into the ball carrier to end the play.
• Among those wearing yellow (out) jerseys were WR James Proché, DT Mason Gentry, DL Jordan Gipson, RB Xavier Jones and TE Corey Rau. Among those wearing green (limited) jerseys were S Rodney Clemons, DT J.T. Williams, LB R.C. Cox, CB Christian Davis and G Jerry Saena.
• Morris talked during the spring and at the beginning of camp about the improved depth, and it's clearly evident. Not only has recruiting improved in terms of pure talent, but there are several young players who can play multiple positions. Demerick Gary can play DE or slide inside to DT. Harrison Barton, Hayden Howerton, and Jacob Todora can move around and play multiple positions on the offensive line. As Morris said Tuesday, freshman Elijah McQueen might get a look at linebacker in some situations. Such flexibility and depth, of course, allows the coaches to shuttle fresh players in and out of the lineup.
• DE Dimarya Mixon, the Mesquite, Texas native who transferred from Tennessee, definitely looked the part, and drew raves from the coaching staff after several plays. It's still too early to determine exactly where he fits in the rotation, but he appears intent upon forcing his way into the rotation ... probably soon.
• Several players were tried at kickoff returner, including S Kevin Johnson, WR Tyler Page and CB Justin Guy-Robinson.
• Speaking of Page, it's too early to determine how he will be used this year, but he sure doesn't move like a guy who suffered a season-ending knee injury in November while playing quarterback at Friendswood High School. He is showing good speed and stopping ability, and seems to be cutting and changing directions pretty smoothly. If he sat out any reps, I didn't see it.
• JUCO transfer K Kevin Robledo got in some kickoffs. Most of the ones I saw came down very near the goal line, give or take a couple of yards, and he seems to get really good height on his kicks.
• Some "live" (11 on 11) drills were run with a football soaked in water. For good measure, some players got hosed down while lining up before plays, too. It had to be a test, as far as playing through the distraction of rain ... and it was hot enough that nobody objected.
• The defensive front looked strong in one short-yardage drill, giving up very little ground and getting good penetration at the line of scrimmage to make multiple tackles in the offensive backfield.
• One of the rituals at the start of every camp is identifying players, like Hicks, who clearly have worked hard to change their bodies in preparation for the upcoming season. One player who looks visibly different is DE Hunter Thedford, who has added more than 20 pounds since the start of last season. He seems to carry the 266 pounds well on his 6-7 frame, at one point knifing through the offensive line and chasing Hicks down from behind for a sack.
• Head coach Chad Morris said Tuesday that QB Ben Hicks has lost about 15 pounds since last year, and there's no reason to disbelieve Morris — Hicks looks completely different. It's hard to tell with the naked eye, but he looks a step quicker, especially when rolling to his left, when he showed the ability to get to the perimeter and then stop more quickly to set his feet and get a throw away.
• QB D.J. Gillins got a lot of reps, which makes sense considering Hicks is entering his third season and QB Rafe Peavey was in practice and meetings during the 2016 season, although had to learn opposing offenses each week while running the scout team. Gillins showed off a strong arm, firing strikes on mostly short and intermediate passes.
• The early part of practice included a running drill in which a running back lined up behind three blockers who were across from three defenders in a contained space less than 10 yards wide. Very simple drill: blockers trying to open running lanes, while the defenders tried to shut down the play. A lot of players rotated through, but among those who stood out were RB Kayce Medlock and S Michael Clark. Clark made several tackles, while Medlock showed the burst of acceleration Morris raved about when Medlock was recruited ; even lined up against DBs, nobody was going to catch Medlock once he got through a gap. One of the most impressive plays came when DTs Ken McLaurin and Pono Davis teamed up to drive three blockers back into the ball carrier to end the play.
• Among those wearing yellow (out) jerseys were WR James Proché, DT Mason Gentry, DL Jordan Gipson, RB Xavier Jones and TE Corey Rau. Among those wearing green (limited) jerseys were S Rodney Clemons, DT J.T. Williams, LB R.C. Cox, CB Christian Davis and G Jerry Saena.
• Morris talked during the spring and at the beginning of camp about the improved depth, and it's clearly evident. Not only has recruiting improved in terms of pure talent, but there are several young players who can play multiple positions. Demerick Gary can play DE or slide inside to DT. Harrison Barton, Hayden Howerton, and Jacob Todora can move around and play multiple positions on the offensive line. As Morris said Tuesday, freshman Elijah McQueen might get a look at linebacker in some situations. Such flexibility and depth, of course, allows the coaches to shuttle fresh players in and out of the lineup.
• DE Dimarya Mixon, the Mesquite, Texas native who transferred from Tennessee, definitely looked the part, and drew raves from the coaching staff after several plays. It's still too early to determine exactly where he fits in the rotation, but he appears intent upon forcing his way into the rotation ... probably soon.
• Several players were tried at kickoff returner, including S Kevin Johnson, WR Tyler Page and CB Justin Guy-Robinson.
• Speaking of Page, it's too early to determine how he will be used this year, but he sure doesn't move like a guy who suffered a season-ending knee injury in November while playing quarterback at Friendswood High School. He is showing good speed and stopping ability, and seems to be cutting and changing directions pretty smoothly. If he sat out any reps, I didn't see it.
• JUCO transfer K Kevin Robledo got in some kickoffs. Most of the ones I saw came down very near the goal line, give or take a couple of yards, and he seems to get really good height on his kicks.
• Some "live" (11 on 11) drills were run with a football soaked in water. For good measure, some players got hosed down while lining up before plays, too. It had to be a test, as far as playing through the distraction of rain ... and it was hot enough that nobody objected.
• The defensive front looked strong in one short-yardage drill, giving up very little ground and getting good penetration at the line of scrimmage to make multiple tackles in the offensive backfield.
• One of the rituals at the start of every camp is identifying players, like Hicks, who clearly have worked hard to change their bodies in preparation for the upcoming season. One player who looks visibly different is DE Hunter Thedford, who has added more than 20 pounds since the start of last season. He seems to carry the 266 pounds well on his 6-7 frame, at one point knifing through the offensive line and chasing Hicks down from behind for a sack.