SATURDAY MORNING PRACTICE notes

[PonyPride]

• More position changes: La'Cori Johnson worked most of the day with the defensive backs, although he also did some work with the receivers ... Szymon Czerniak has moved from defensive tackle to the offensive line ... Nick Antaki moved from defensive end to linebacker.

• The best defense is ... : Wide receiver Mario Walker raced toward the end zone to catch a deep (about 40 yards) pass from Logan Turner. With cornerback Tim Crosby running alongside, Walker made a veteran move, turning his right shoulder into Crosby to drive the cornerback away from the ball a little bit, and caught the pass over his left shoulder.

• Here's a tip: Either the coaches have stressed the value of the tip drill to defensive players, or they have taken it upon themselves, but more and more deflections have ended up in the hands of defenders in this week's camp. One of the nicest Saturday morning came when linebacker Jason Jackson dove and deflected a Turner pass that shot straight up in the air ... before it was grabbed by safety Tyler Jones, who returned it for a would-be touchdown.

• Right place, right time: Jones seemed to have a knack for being around the ball when he was thrust into the lineup last year, and it has continued in camp. After watching receiver Josh Bryant catch a pass over the middle, Jones lunged around him and punched the ball free, hopped over Bryant as he reached for the ball and scooped it up and took off down the sideline with a convoy of defensive escorts.

• Many happy returns: When the morning practice was interrupted for a punt drill, the same foursome dropped deep to rotate as punt returners: Quincey Whittington, B.J. Lee, Cole Beasley and Bennie Thomas ... but this time they were joined by junior wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

• How offensive: Running with the first-team offensive line — left tackle Kelvin Beachum, Jr., left guard Sean Lobo, center Mitch Enright, right guard Bryce Tennison and right tackle Vincent Chase.

• How athletic! One of the more amusing sights of the morning came when offensive line coach Dennis McKnight shouted his approval at Beachum for a particular improvement in blocking technique. Linemen often show their approval for each other's (or their own) accomplishments with a not-so-high five, or maybe a friendly club to the side of someone's helmet. Beachum and McKnight, however, got a running start and jumped up in a somewhat thunderous chest bump. For two big guys, Beachum and McKnight jump pretty well.

• Fresh start: One of the freshmen whose speed and athleticism has caught some attention early in camp is Cole Beasley, the former Little Elm quarterback-turned-wide receiver/punt returner. He leaps well (at 5-foot-10 — maybe — he can dunk a basketball easily) and is very quick, but perhaps equally valuable is his ability to stop quickly. On one play this morning, he caught a quick screen pass and headed toward the left sideline. As he turned to look upfield, he suddenly stopped on a dime, and safety De'Von Bailey lunged and sailed right by him, grabbing nothing but air as Beasley calmly regrouped and took off upfield.

• Catch me if you can: Sophomore Aldrick Robinson is a number of things: his hands are sometimes a little inconsistent, but he also has shown he can make the acrobatic grab, so the ability is there. He also might be the fastest pure sprinter on the team (if not, he's close) and has the potential to be a real game-breaker on offense and on special teams. He showed each side in a series of a few plays late in the morning session. First, he reached back for a pass that was thrown slightly behind him and deflected the ball up in the air, but he stayed with it as he slipped to the ground, making the catch while lying flat on his back. A couple of plays later, a pass hit him right between the 2 and the 4 on his jersey and fell to the ground. But he bounced right back a couple of plays later, catching a screen pass, stopping suddenly as Deyon McElroy whizzed by him and then taking off upfield. Near the very end of practice, he showed the skill that everyone expects, getting several yards behind four defenders and chasing down a deep over-the-shoulder pass from Winston Gamso and cruising to the end zone.

• Maybe size doesn't matter: Several of the Ponies' bigger receivers — Bradley Haynes, E.J. Drewery, etc. — have shown an improved ability to use their bodies to protect the ball from defenders by positioning themselves between defenders and oncoming passes. Clearly this is a skill receivers coach Jeff Reinebold is stressing, because it's not just the big guys doing it. Freshman B.J. Lee, all 5-foot-5 of him, did it perfectly, racing upfield and turning toward the sideline, and using his muscular frame to keep Bryan McCann — who has at least the five-inch advantage listed in the media guide on Lee — from getting near the ball. Lee made the catch, and for good measure, came down with both feet in bounds.

• Can't teach speed: Much has been made about the physical prowess of freshman defensive end Taylor Thompson, with his height and wingspan and strength and mid-4.4 speed. But he's not the only lineman who can move. When he lined up across from senior right tackle Vincent Chase, Thompson tried speed rush around the outside ... and Chase stayed with him, keeping his feet under him to maintain balance and steering Thompson well out of range of the quarterback.

• Catch of the day: Walker's grab in the back of the end zone was nice, but the catch of the day came after practice was over. Wide receiver Terrance Wilkerson stayed afterward to run some extra routes with quarterbacks Winston Gamso and Bo Levi Mitchell. Wilkerson ran an out route about 10 yards downfield, and seemed to get his feet a little tangled up when leaping for Mitchell's pass. But he still got up high enough to snag the back end of the ball and pull it in, even earning a smattering of applause from some of the few who remained on the field.

• It's going to be special: Saturday afternoon's practice will be from 3:30-5 p.m. in Ford Stadium and will focus exclusively on special teams.

[SMUfiji43]

Great report! One of the best so far. I really like what I'm hearing about Taylor Thompson. This guy could be special.

[MrMustang1965]

As always...great report, PP!

[mathman]

What a difference in mindset. No special teams coach under Bennett and now we hear so much about special teams work at all the practices. I am trying to cling to the Jtstang theory about expectations but there is feeling I am getting about these guys. A very, very good feeling.

[Alaric]

Great work again. Isn't Taylor Thompson somewhere around the high 4.5's instead of mid 4.4's?

[ALEX LIFESON]

Also noticed Josh LeRibeus getting a lot of reps with the 1st unit at left guard, and Tommy Poynter at right guard. Vincent looks like he is determined to win that right tackle spot. Josh Bryant is really getting pushed, by some of the young pups. The next few days should be very interesting, as the coaches start seperating the sheep from the goats.

[One Trick Pony]

I was at practice this morning and enjoyed every minute of it.
Ran into all the old crew from UCF and made friends with some new folks.

Let’s Go Mustangs!

[PonyPride]

Great work again. Isn't Taylor Thompson somewhere around the high 4.5's instead of mid 4.4's?

Nope - timed in the mid-4.4s last week.
Impressive, huh?

[mr. pony]

Thanks, PP.

[Alaric]

Great work again. Isn't Taylor Thompson somewhere around the high 4.5's instead of mid 4.4's?

Nope - timed in the mid-4.4s last week.
Impressive, huh?

VERY impressive for a guy that tall - let's hope he's a poor man's jake chris long

[Stallion]

Additional DMN Blog Report. Looks like we have some defensive guys hurt.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tes-3.html

[ProudMama]

Additional DMN Blog Report. Looks like we have some defensive guys hurt.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tes-3.html

Evans going to be just fine.

Mrs. H

[PK]

Sergio Elizee appeared to walk with a very slight limp. No boot, brace or wraps apparent.

[FWMustangGirl]

Additional DMN Blog Report. Looks like we have some defensive guys hurt.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tes-3.html

Evans going to be just fine.

Mrs. H

Glad to hear it is nothing serious. Hope all of these guys are on the mend quickly.

[ProudMama]

Additional DMN Blog Report. Looks like we have some defensive guys hurt.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com ... tes-3.html

Evans going to be just fine.

Mrs. H

Glad to hear it is nothing serious. Hope all of these guys are on the mend quickly.

Thanks MustangGirl

Mrs. H