MONDAY (July 21) CONDITIONING WORKOUT notes

[PonyPride]

• The guys were finishing up their conditioning work when I arrived (late again — damn job ...) The linemen worked through a series of drills, including one in which the blocker had to deliver a block/punch on one guy and then get out in the open field to reach another (simulating a second defender). For a guy with a surgically repaired ankle, Tommy Poynter is moving around very well, but the quickest of the group still might be Bryce Tennison, who seems to be looking for the second guy before he polishes off the first.

• Pick of the day: Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was looking for Cole Loftin on a route over the middle, and tracked him the whole way ... and didn't see linebacker Will Bonilla drifting in space underneath. Mitchell fired his pass to Loftin, only to watch Bonilla get up in the air and snag it.

• Non-pick of the day: Watch ESPN's NFL Primetime often enough and you're sure to hear Chris Berman and Tom Jackson amusing themselves with their oft-repeated mantra about when in doubt, a defensive back's job is, if nothing else, to seek out the ball and "knock it down!" If that's actually the case, then freshman safety Chris Banjo did his job, even if he drew heckles from some teammates in the process. On an out route early in the seven-on-seven session, Banjo stepped inside intended receiver Cole Loftin and leaped over everyone toward a pass from Braden Smith. Some teammates chided Banjo for not making the interception, but at least Loftin didn't have a chance to make the catch, either.

• Possession is nine-tenths of ... never mind: Junior cornerback Bryan McCann talked Monday about how much more aggressive the defense - particularly the secondary - will be this season. As if to prove his point, McCann tried to strip the ball from nearly every offensive player who caught a pass in his vicinity. On one play, wide receiver Josh Bryant caught a quick out pass, only to have McCann climbing over his back, swatting at the ball. As the players crossed the sideline, the ball popped free, so presumably there would have been an official nearby to make a ruling as to whether the pass was complete and fumbled out of bounds, or incomplete altogether. Bryant and McCann engaged in a little woofing at each other - and no, it wasn't a game or even a real practice - but it sure looked different from what they've done in July in years past.

• Priorities in the right order: One of the more amusing exchanges of the afternoon came when JUCO defensive back Deyon McElroy and freshman wide receiver E.J. Drewery lined up across from each other. The ball was thrown to the other side of the field, but the two engaged in a little hand-to-hand combat on their way downfield. Drewery suggested McElroy held him, while McElroy suggested Drewery pushed off. A little friendly smack talk ensued, followed by suggestions from teammates as to what was really at the core of the matter: " ... how it's going to sound on PonyFans.com."

Thanks for reading, guys.

[PK]

[quote="PonyPride• Priorities in the right order: One of the more amusing exchanges of the afternoon came when JUCO defensive back Deyon McElroy and freshman wide receiver E.J. Drewery lined up across from each other. The ball was thrown to the other side of the field, but the two engaged in a little hand-to-hand combat on their way downfield. Drewery suggested McElroy held him, while McElroy suggested Drewery pushed off. A little friendly smack talk ensued, followed by suggestions from teammates as to what was really at the core of the matter: " ... how it's going to sound on PonyFans.com."

Thanks for reading, guys.[/quote]

[Vitale]

Thanks for the update, Pride. Love your description of the Banjo play. Even if he didn't make the pic, the more I hear about this kid, the more impressive he sounds from an athletic standpoint.

[smu diamond m]

wow, nice way to end the article

Thanks for the coverage PP

[Arkpony]

Thanks for the post. I always enjoy your observations and comments.

[SMU Hockey 2010]

Is it August 29th yet????????

[2112]

your reports are most appreciated mr pony pride

[Bergermeister]

so are your reports. Thanks.

[KnuckleStang]

Did somebody say in another thread they clocked Drewery at 4.7 last week? I was just watching his youtube video, which is presumably the same vid he sent Jones. 4.7 sounds more like it, because I was thinking if he runs under a 4.5 as claimed in his vid then he must do most of his work between yards 20 and 40 vs. yards 0 to 20, because I don’t get the sense that he stops and starts very quickly, but perhaps it just looks that way because he is so tall. He was worth a shot because of his size but I don’t think the competition he played was good at all. He does not seem to fear contact, but making the jump from bush-league Christian ball to division I is going to take a lot of toughness.

[SMUmustangs]

Did somebody say in another thread they clocked Drewery at 4.7 last week? I was just watching his youtube video, which is presumably the same vid he sent Jones. 4.7 sounds more like it, because I was thinking if he runs under a 4.5 as claimed in his vid then he must do most of his work between yards 20 and 40 vs. yards 0 to 20, because I don’t get the sense that he stops and starts very quickly, but perhaps it just looks that way because he is so tall. He was worth a shot because of his size but I don’t think the competition he played was good at all. He does not seem to fear contact, but making the jump from bush-league Christian ball to division I is going to take a lot of toughness.

Well if you feel that way then you need to come watch them practice because im seeing something different from you

[HorsePower]

Will be a hard commute, coming from NYC.
Relax - it's just an observation off a youtube video.

[SMU 86]

Did somebody say in another thread they clocked Drewery at 4.7 last week? I was just watching his youtube video, which is presumably the same vid he sent Jones. 4.7 sounds more like it, because I was thinking if he runs under a 4.5 as claimed in his vid then he must do most of his work between yards 20 and 40 vs. yards 0 to 20, because I don’t get the sense that he stops and starts very quickly, but perhaps it just looks that way because he is so tall. He was worth a shot because of his size but I don’t think the competition he played was good at all. He does not seem to fear contact, but making the jump from bush-league Christian ball to division I is going to take a lot of toughness.

I was told E. J. had some hamstring problems the day the ran the 40's. The people who have watched him at practice say that he is definitely in the 4.5 range.

[HorsePower]

Yeah, someone posted the hamstring issue here.
Doesn't matter now. PonyPride says he can run, and what his exact 40 time is doesn't matter. As long as he gets downfield and makes plays for the Ponies, that's all that matters.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I may be in love with PonyPride...

Thanks for the updates!

[PonyPride]

I can't explain how many ways that disturbs me.