THURSDAY (July 10) CONDITIONING WORKOUT report

[PonyPride]

One way to break up the monotony of offseason workouts: make them into a competition. After lifting and running sprints, the team was split into freshmen and upperclassmen, and a representative was chosen from each for a race, the gist of which was a five-yard run through a ladder that was stretched out on the field, then sideways high-stepping over a series of foam pads, followed by another five-yard run through a ladder. The upperclassmen were represented by wide receiver Aldrick Robinson, who many feel is the fastest pure sprinter on the team, while the freshmen were represented by B.J. Lee. The pair got off to a fairly even start, but when they got to the foam pads, Robinson pulled ahead. Once he got to the second ladder, he started to gain real separation from Lee — who had run a 4.37 in the 40-yard dash Monday .... with presumably dead legs after lifting weights before taking the field. Robinson "won" by more than five yards, only to be disqualified after it was determined that he had missed a couple of "rungs" in the second ladder. The event was re-run, and in the second heat, CB Bryan McCann smoked fellow DB Ryan Smith.

• Learn from your elders: While the skill-position guys worked in their seven-on-seven format, many of the linemen call it a day and head for the air conditioning inside Ford Stadium. But while the quarterbacks and receivers and defensive backs ran around in the heat, senior noseguard Serge Elizee was holding a one-on-one tutorial with freshman Evan Huahulu. Elizee showed Huahulu specific hand techniques and footwork to help shed blockers and pointed out how to get into offensive line gaps more quickly.

• Watch where you're going: Much of the attention has gone to the guys throwing and catching the passes, but the defense also is getting used to each other, specifically in the secondary. On one play, receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Simeon Thomas got crossed up, allowing safety DeMikel Shankle to camp out under the ball and make the interception.

• Bombs away: He sat out spring practice, but Justin Willis hasn't lost any arm strength — a trait he showed off early in the drills when he fired a 55-yard strike in the back of the end zone to Aldrick Robinson, who had blown by a pair of defensive backs to gain several yards of breathing room by the time he got to the goal line.

• Space isn't everything: Of course, getting open is only half the battle. B.J. Lee did the same thing, blazing past the defense into the end zone, but before the ball arrived, DB Chris Banjo — seven or eight yards in front of Lee — shot up in the air to knock the ball down.

• Don't shoot! Part of being a successful quarterback is not only making an array of passes, but knowing which passes not to make. In the first few days of seven-on-seven drills, the quarterbacks fired passes downfield, almost without regard to coverage. They were visibly more careful Thursday, tucking the ball several times, not risking what would have been sacks in a regular game.

• On target: The quarterbacks appeared more accurate Thursday, probably in part because they're getting used to their new receivers. Notably more accurate was Justin Willis, who was the sharpest of the passers Thursday, throwing some with a lot of velocity and others with touch — but more with accuracy than he had been before during earlier sessions.

[kent dorfman]

Good to hear that Willis is looking strong.

[WildHorse]

Thanks for another great report!

[kull]

nice report

[GeorgiaMustang]

I love the reports. Do you have any updates on the LB situation. I'm curious to know how Odiari is looking. I can't wait until the opening game.

On a side note, I will be watching the Rice game in the Raleigh, NC area. Does anyone know of a good sports bar to go to to watch the game?

[PonyPride]

The seven-on-seven sessions are really skeleton sessions — mostly just DBs against the QBs/WRs/RBs.

[pony warrior]

Justin Willis is now accurate, has now found arm strength and touch? It has been reported that he doesn't have the best arm ( Bo Levi Mitchell) or the most accurate (Braden Smith).
Are you saying Justin is FINALLY putting it together?

[PonyPride]

Justin Willis is now accurate, has now found arm strength and touch? It has been reported that he doesn't have the best arm (Bo Levi Mitchell) or the most accurate (Braden Smith).
Are you saying Justin is FINALLY putting it together?

I'd say 51 touchdowns in two seasons say a lot more than a workout in shorts and no pads or helmets, as far as whether he is "putting it together."

Yesterday's workout didn't mean anything in terms of who might start in the fall, or in terms of him being a better quarterback. He does seem to be making his decisions/reads a little bit more quickly, and yes, he threw some beautiful passes, but take it for what it's worth: these are voluntary workouts without pads, without some players who have class or other obligations, and without a defensive threat (there are token defenders running around, but it's not like the quarterback has to worry about getting smacked). He had a nice day throwing the ball Thursday. Here's hoping he has more of them.

[Stallion]

Really -its Flag Football w/o the Coaches-means essentially NOTHING-except that the players are getting some fresh air and exercise and maybe some familiarity with schemes

[OC Mustang]

Really -its Flag Football w/o the Coaches-means essentially NOTHING-except that the players are getting some fresh air and exercise and maybe some familiarity with schemes

Didn't know you coached. Ask Evan whether it meant something that Serge took time with him. Ask the receivers whether they can truly develop on the field rapport playing video games or in formal coached practices.

Sometimes you demonstrate that you know a lot, and sometimes we'd think you did if you simply kept your mouth shut.

[Stallion]

OK Badass but what does that have to do with which QB is going to start at QB. They are not fighting for a job in conditioning drills PERIOD

[Alaric]

I love Stallion. what a hardass

[kull]

I love Stallion. what a hardass

we all do, he keeps it real.

[sweetlady]

How are the defense players looking? #49 Johnson...how's he looking?

[pony warrior]

It's not just exercise or the coach's wouldn't have had the freshmen come up early. It does mean something to the coach's. Are you saying they aren't paying attention to what is going on? There are battles going on for positions and most important they are at the beginning of coming together as a team, JJ's team. Don't downplay the importance to the freshmen and to the old team, looking over thier shoulder. Of course the final decisions will be made in the fall, but this is the beginning of the process.