March 27 practice notes

[PonyPride]

• Zach Rhodes is getting some practice time at WR in addition to his time at QB. Head coach Phil Bennett said Rhodes is too good an athlete not to get him on the field, and said that his speed alone makes him a threat outside. Bennett insisted that Rhodes will continue to play QB, as well, and that the offense will include packages that feature Rhodes at both positions.

• Speaking of WRs .... in addition to Phillip Burley being out this spring while recovering from his knee injury, Devin Lowery will not play in Saturday's Red/Blue game because of a pulled hamstring, and Jay'Mond Cleveland's hamstring has lingered long enough that Cleveland will go ahead and graduate with his class this spring.

• Last one off the practice field again: DE Adrian Dizer.

• Bennett said he and the offensive coaches have been thrilled with the decision to slide Ben Poynter to left tackle, and insert Mitch Enright in the starting lineup at center, saying both players are adjusting more quickly than expected. He also said that once starting guards Caleb Peveto and Sean Lobo return, the overall talent of the offensive line obviously will get a big boost.

• Saturday's Red/Blue game will be called pretty conservatively, allowing the Ponies to iron out the kinks in many of the more basic packages while nicked-up players heal.

• Among the players not dressed Tuesday: Peveto, Lobo, TE Vincent Chase (knee), CB Jonathan Lindley (knee), Lowery, Burley, DE Jordan Johnson (foot), OL Josh Hickman (knee), OL Brad Lankford (thigh contusion) and LB Taylor Bon (hamstring).

• The first-team defensive line in practice had Patrick Handy and Kyle Griffin at DE, and Charlie Berry and Chris Parham at DT. Bennett said senior DE Cory Muse will reclaim his starting position when he's healthy.

• Bennett lauded the play of several young defensive backs, including CB Tim Crosby, CB Bryan McCann and SS Bryce Hudman.

• There's a major infusion of speed coming to the Hilltop: Bennett said that at a recent track meet at Jesuit College Prep in Dallas -- which has a traditionally slow track -- incoming freshman WR Aldrick Robinson smoked his competition, clocking an electronically timed 10.25 in the 100. That is flying.

[mr. pony]

Thanks for the update, Pride. So, no Cleveland Saturday or this fall? He's done?
Is Columbus still out?

[davidsmu94]

really glad to see that Aldrick is running well, can't wai to see him on the cinders next spring!

[PonyPride]

Thanks for the update, Pride. So, no Cleveland Saturday or this fall? He's done?
Is Columbus still out?

Yup -- Cleveland is done.
Givens is still out. He's still pretty weak. (Get better soon, CG!)

[HFvictory]

• There's a major infusion of speed coming to the Hilltop: Bennett said that at a recent track meet at Jesuit College Prep in Dallas -- which has a traditionally slow track -- incoming freshman WR Aldrick Robinson smoked his competition, clocking an electronically timed 10.25 in the 100. That is flying.

Aldrick is fast, however the official time from the meet he is credited with was a 10.54. The 10.25 apparently had some problems with it and his times have been consistently in the 10.5 range. Still very fast.

[MAROON]

Yep, I also heard the Blue/Red scrimmage will be very basic play calling. The real scrimmage with all the wrinkles was last Saturday. This one coming up is just for show....all the real grading of performance was done last Saturday

[westexSMU]

[quote="PonyPride"]• Zach Rhodes is getting some practice time at WR in addition to his time at QB. Head coach Phil Bennett said Rhodes is too good an athlete not to get him on the field, and said that his speed alone makes him a threat outside. Bennett insisted that Rhodes will continue to play QB, as well, and that the offense will include packages that feature Rhodes at both[/quote].................................Coach Bennett says "Rhodes is too good an athlete not to get him on the field." Enough said.

[Bergermeister]

the Blue/Red scrimmage will be very basic play calling.

You mean just our goalline plays against Rice?

[PhirePhilBennett]

• Zach Rhodes is getting some practice time at WR in addition to his time at QB. Head coach Phil Bennett said Rhodes is too good an athlete not to get him on the field, and said that his speed alone makes him a threat outside. Bennett insisted that Rhodes will continue to play QB, as well, and that the offense will include packages that feature Rhodes at both positions.

So this year he will play WR, then they will move him next year to S, then PB will say "You know, he's a great QB, I should never have moved him." Then he will go back to WR.

see Devon Lowery, et al.