Thursday practice observations

[PonyPride]

Stopped by practice Thursday night. Some impressions:

• The old man of the secondary still has it. Early in the scrimmage-style portion of practice, senior SS Joe Sturdivant read the play, jumped in front of the intended receiver on a short out route, picked off a pass from QB Corey Slater and got his foot down inside the sideline before rolling out of bounds.

• Remember when WR Rey Pellerin was recruited, and showed up on campus looking like he'd get blown away in a light breeze? He clearly has hit the weight room and has gotten much stronger. After catching a quick slant tonight, he ran through tackles by LB Reggie Carrington and Sturdivant before eventually being brought down by CB Jonathan Lindley. Two years ago, Pellerin doesn't get those extra yards.

• One of the nicest catches of the evening: At the snap of the ball, WR Jay'Mond Cleveland turned toward the center of the field, looking for a screen pass. The ball was pretty far out in front of "Cleve," who reached out and snared the pass left-handed.

• Lindley has good size for a corner, but was no match for Pellerin, who used all of his 6'3" height and long arms to snag a pass on the sideline that was well out of Lindley's reach. Just for good measure, Pellerin got his feet down in bounds and tacked on several more yards before being driven out of bounds.

• After getting hit while throwing, QB Justin Willis threw an erratic pass that Carrington picked off and returned with a convoy of blockers. Had it been a real game, Carrington could have walked into the end zone.

• The Ponies' most celebrated position change got more encouraging Thursday night. QB-turned-TE Chris Phillips has shown he can catch and run with the ball. Tonight he chipped a DT and stood up OLB Damon Hurst on his way into the backfield. Phillips didn't look totally natural doing it, but he also didn't look like he'll shy away from contact.

• CB Bam Blackmon took an unusual approach to defending a receiver Thursday. Willis threw a quick screen pass to WR Joe Ferguson, who got his hands on the ball as Blackmon arrived. Unable to reach the ball, Blackmon basically ripped Ferguson away from the ball, rather than stripping the ball out of his hands. The ball fell exactly where Ferguson had caught it, while Blackmon threw Ferguson to the side. Not a big play, but definitely odd to watch.

• DT Brandon Bonds is lighter, leaner and definitely quicker than in years past. Bonds consistently got into the backfield throughout practice, once burying RB Johnnie Fitzgerald so hard that it was a relief to see Fitzgerald pop up (unhurt) as quickly as he did. Bonds looked great Thursday night.

• RB James Mapps is going to frustrate some defenders this year. Imagine getting run over by DeMyron Martin and Johnnie Fitzgerald all game, and then having to chase Mapps. He's fast and elusive, but he's also very adept at crouching behind the offensive line and shooting through gaps. Fill in your own analogies, but he's going to be tough to chase.

• The final play of practice by "the regulars" featured a great catch by WR Bobby Chase in the very back corner of the end zone. Sure, he pushed off a little on Jonathan Lindley to create a little separation, but Michael Irvin made a career out of doing that.

• Preview of the future? On one of the last plays of practice, QB Eric Johnson threw a high pass down the sideline. Looked like it was going to sail out of bounds, but WR Phillip Burley leaped, twisted almost 180 degrees and snatched the ball over La'Cori Johnson.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Thanks for the highlights of the practice! September can't get here fast enough.

[BringBackThePonies03]

Keep the updates coming, its always nice to know more inside information on the team and how they are performing...

[Sasser Rules]

Once again, you guys give us a better peek inside practice than the DMN or Daily Campus ever will. Nice update!

I'm especially glad to hear that Pellerin is picking up where he left off last year, and that maybe Cleveland will be back in the rotation this year.

How did Ryan Kennedy look?

[mavsrage311]

Is practice open to the public? I think it is...but what time is good to go on what days? I'd love to go to one or two

[RGV Pony]

I'm concerned about Pellerin running through Carrington's tackle and Lindley being "no match" for him. Good for Pellerin; alarming to think about Tech's WRs vs. the same guys.

[ponydawg]

"After getting hit while throwing, QB Justin Willis threw an erratic pass "

Why is our QB getting hit during practice? I thought normally they didn't hit the qb?

[PonyPride]

"I'm concerned about Pellerin running through Carrington's tackle and Lindley being "no match" for him. Good for Pellerin; alarming to think about Tech's WRs vs. the same guys.

To be fair, Pellerin was running at full speed when got to Carrington, who had just fought off a blocker and I don't think got a really good grip on him. All I meant by Lindley being "no match" was that Pellerin is taller, and on that play got much higher. Lindley also made several very good plays in last night's practice.

"After getting hit while throwing, QB Justin Willis threw an erratic pass "

Why is our QB getting hit during practice? I thought normally they didn't hit the qb?

Not hit hard. Looked to me like someone (I couldn't see who) was trying to knock down his arm. He wasn't hit hard, but his throwing motion was interrupted, that's all.

[2112]

thanks for the info!

[M Street Stang]

Call me a pessimist, but I consider Pellerin an average Div I receiver. Not a good sign if he is "having his way" with our starting right CB. You think Tech might throw over there a few times?

[ponyboy]

You're a pessimist.

[Stallion]

very accurate description of Pellerin career so far-but I did see some signs of growth in Pellerin. He's got to take it to the next level and prove it.

[Ikus]

Agreed, I thought Pellerin made significant strides in the second half of 2005. Hopefully that progress will continue in his senior year.

[M Street Stang]

Don't get me wrong...I really like Pellerin and he could develop nicely. Clearly, he is a receiver that needs a big play guy on the other side. Maybe Chase or Burley could be that guy. To this point, he has been average. We tend to think some of our players are really good because we see them every week and they look good in a uniform. Put him on a Big 12 or Pac 10 team and he is the 4th or 5th receiver.

[mr. pony]

Thanks, Pride. Great reporting.