MONDAY (July 14) CONDITIONING WORKOUT report

[PonyPride]

• The team again was divided into groups for conditioning workouts. The linemen had 18 players in their group. On a couple of sprints, Serge Elizee, Torlan Pittman and Kevin Grenier won their heats, but overall, the leaders of the pack were the regulars: Bryce Tennison, Jimmy Chase, Blake McJunkin and Adrian Dizer... One guy whose performance improved as the sprints piled up was OG Josh LeRibeus, who was near the back of the pack in his first few runs, but worked his way forward as the linemen ran more... When the "smaller" linemen (mostly defensive ends) ran as a smaller group, Anthony Sowe, Youri Yenga and Taylor Thompson led the way.

• One of the more entertainin drills consisted of a series of short sprints in which players ran forward for about five yards, back to the original starting line, forward again to a cone, out to the side five yards, back to the cone and then back to the line of scrimmage. Players ran in pairs, in a head-to-head format. Some of the more interesting outcomes: the "little" slot receivers are quick and shifty, but Bradley Haynes beat Bryce Lunday; Justin Willis outran Ekolu Soon; DeMyron Martin beat Bo Levi Mitchell. Maybe the most interesting "race" came in a matter of quarterbacks that discredited the idea that tall players can't be quick. Winston Gamso, the tallest of the quarterbacks, started slowly in a race with Mitchell, but caught up and passed his fellow freshman passer.

• One drill consisted of a series of short runs in which players ran sideways. In one group, CB Bryan McCann lined up with LBs Justin Smart, Pete Fleps and Will Bonilla. As most would expect, McCann won the group, but Bonilla was just a step behind.

• Best sight of the day: Senior WR La'Cori Johnson was out running with his teammates. Johnson, who missed spring drills with a knee injury, said he has not yet been cleared for anything "explosive" yet, but he is running well and said he hopes to be ready for two-a-day preseason workouts.

• Best sight of the day — honorable mention: Coaches have talked about Rock Dennis like an extra coach, and apparently he's taking the role to heart. All day Monday, he was working with youngsters like DeMikel Shankle, Chris Banjo, etc., to make sure they were in the right formations, lined up in the right place, etc. Even when Shankle picked off a pass that had been deflected by LB Victor Jones and WR Quincey Whittington, Dennis got after Shankle for catching the ball with his body, rather than with his hands.

• Bomb of the day: B.J. Lee has wheels — serious wheels. He got behind Chris Banjo on a deep post route to haul in a 55-yard strile from QB Bo Levi Mitchell in the end zone.

• Think before you act: Walk-on WR Simeon Thomas can be forgiven for at least one dropped pass Monday. Thomas reached for a pass, which slipped through his fingers. He started to turn to reach for it again, only to realize he had turned directly into the path of MLB Justin Smart. The players weren't in pads and helmets, so Smart wasn't about to crush his new teammate, but considering he has four inches and 47 pounds — at least — on Thomas, it's understandable why self-preservation might have been a higher priority than catching a pass in an optional conditioning workout.

• Block of the day: RB DeMyron Martin — well aware that part of his job this season is pass blocking — spent some extra time on his own, working on his blocking technique against a blocking sled. Nothing too violent, just meticulously working on his hand placement on certain blocking assignments. He then came over and asked if his effort could be named "Block of the day."
Consider it done.

[SMUmustangs]

Did any other WR make some good plays that day.

[chillinfool]

Funny you mentioned that about Rock Dennis. I noticed that last year at the games, though he was injured, he was always up on the sideline watching the defense out on the field (as hard as that was!), and was always around the coaches when they talked to the DB's on the sideline. You could tell the guy just wants to learn and gets it, while other injured players just played spectator.

[Thumper]

Yet another reason to believe that if his shoulder holds up, Rock Dennis might just turn out to be a really nice addition to the defense.

Thanks for another great report.

[SMU Hockey 2010]

I like hearing about Willis outrunning a highly touted WR. That kid can scramble.

[SMU 86]

I understand E. J. made another good catch as well.

[PonyPride]

Did any other WR make some good plays that day.

Yeah, several guys made nice catches. But I spent some of the time talking to some players on the sideline, and therefore didn't pay attention as closely as I normally do to the throwing and receiving drills. Will do better next time.

[High Horse]

LeReibus had shoulder surgery the week after the spring game. He has only been running with the team recently.

[that's great raplh]

go ponies