Practice (August 17) observations
Posted: Sun Aug 18, 2019 2:18 amThe Mustangs hosted an event Saturday to give fans their first peek at the 2019 team. As expected, the drills were extremely bland, showing little. Numerous players sat out, presumably while nursing nagging minor injuries, although head coach Sonny Dykes has shown a willingness to give certain players a day off, if only to reduce the miles on their tires.
A few notes:
• The passing drills were simple and almost worthy of a walk-through: full-team against no defense, pass routes against no defender, etc. That said, QB Will Brown looks notably stronger, with added bulk and significantly more velocity on his throws. None of the quarterbacks was winding up and going for top velocity or distance, but Brown's passes have a different look than last year. So far in camp, he has looked more accurate than last year, and definitely throws harder than he did a year ago.
• One of the first drills was harder than it initially looked. The quarterbacks took a "snap" and threw high, looping passes over the shoulders of receivers ... who were looking straight back into the setting sun. Yes, it was at (maybe) half speed, and no, there was no defense, but considering the angle of the sun, it's amazing any of the passes were caught.
• The practice included a lot of game situational work — getting the offense off the field and running the field goal team on, linking up in different formations, etc. ... and then running plays without a defense.
• LB Richard Moore got minimal work — head coach Sonny Dykes said Moore's minutes would be monitored throughout camp — so Richard McBryde, the transfer from Auburn, made his debut. There was almost no hitting of any kind, but McBryde (listed at 6-1, 232) looks like he has decent mobility, which should pick up when he becomes more familiar with the defense and his assignments within it.
• Best catch of the day was by Reggie Roberson, who caught a quick slant while wearing CB Brandon Stephens around his neck.
• QB Shane Buechele was not the only athlete from his family in attendance — his father, former Texas Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele was there to watch.
• Best tackle of the day was made by the father whose young son ran out on the field — Dad showed pretty good quickness, wrapped up with both arms and carried his son back to the safety of the sideline.
A few notes:
• The passing drills were simple and almost worthy of a walk-through: full-team against no defense, pass routes against no defender, etc. That said, QB Will Brown looks notably stronger, with added bulk and significantly more velocity on his throws. None of the quarterbacks was winding up and going for top velocity or distance, but Brown's passes have a different look than last year. So far in camp, he has looked more accurate than last year, and definitely throws harder than he did a year ago.
• One of the first drills was harder than it initially looked. The quarterbacks took a "snap" and threw high, looping passes over the shoulders of receivers ... who were looking straight back into the setting sun. Yes, it was at (maybe) half speed, and no, there was no defense, but considering the angle of the sun, it's amazing any of the passes were caught.
• The practice included a lot of game situational work — getting the offense off the field and running the field goal team on, linking up in different formations, etc. ... and then running plays without a defense.
• LB Richard Moore got minimal work — head coach Sonny Dykes said Moore's minutes would be monitored throughout camp — so Richard McBryde, the transfer from Auburn, made his debut. There was almost no hitting of any kind, but McBryde (listed at 6-1, 232) looks like he has decent mobility, which should pick up when he becomes more familiar with the defense and his assignments within it.
• Best catch of the day was by Reggie Roberson, who caught a quick slant while wearing CB Brandon Stephens around his neck.
• QB Shane Buechele was not the only athlete from his family in attendance — his father, former Texas Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele was there to watch.
• Best tackle of the day was made by the father whose young son ran out on the field — Dad showed pretty good quickness, wrapped up with both arms and carried his son back to the safety of the sideline.