Monday conditioning workout notes

[PonyPride]

Made it back out to see the guys work out again Monday. More than 60 guys were at Ford Stadium, while other players are working out in the morning to fit around schedule conflicts. The skill position guys were doing 7-on-7 skeleton passing drills, while the linemen were off on the side, spending much of the session running up and down the hill behind the south end zone. Eventually, they came down to the field and did some brief drills on the field before everyone present broke into conditioning runs.

• Notable observers: RB Chris Butler was out there but wasn't dressed to work out and didn't take part. He said later he tweaked his hamstring slightly, and was being cautious. If Monday had been a game, he said, he could have played, adding that he hopes to rejoin his teammates this week, perhaps as early as Tuesday. Others who were present but didn't participate in 7-on-7 drills included CB Derrius Bell, who ran on his own on the side of the field, NT Evan Huahulu, who did light running, push-ups, etc., OLB Youri Yenga, who did some stretching and juggled a soccer ball, and OL Christian Miller, who rode the stationary bike.

• Back at it: OL Joey Fontana, who watched last week from his perch on the stationary bike with a tender hamstring, was back working out with the team, and reported his leg feels "much better."

• On the mark: One player who looked notably improved over the workout I saw last week was QB Kyle Padron. The same freshman from Carroll HS (in Southlake) looked a little hesitant at times last week looked visibly more confident Monday. Padron takes full advantage of his 6-4 height, coming straight over the top with his throwing motion and releasing his passes at the highest point. More than that, he appeared to be much more decisive — making his read and snapping passes much more quickly — and his arm strength was far more than what he showed off last week, at least while I was watching.

• Catching on: In the practice I saw last week, freshman WR Darius Johnson looked a little out of sync with his new teammates, as several passes hit the ground several yards away from him, meaning either the QB threw to the wrong spot, he ran the wrong route, he broke off a route too early or got bumped off stride by a defender, or some combination of the above. Johnson looked significantly better Monday, making several nice grabs, including a couple in heavy traffic.

• Catches of the day: Both came when players were fooling around on the side, rather than during the 7-on-7 drills.
--> WR Justin Willis was out there (not running — he worked out in the morning) and apparently had flashbacks to his QB days, throwing a high lob pass to WR Emmanuel Sanders, who cut in front of LB Chase Kennemer, leaped as high as he could, reached back slightly over his head and snatched the pass with one hand. Granted, Kennemer didn't look like he was trying that hard, and Sanders should be able to make a catch in front of a LB, but it was still a very impressive grab.
--> Between the 7-on-7 drills and the conditioning runs that ended the workout, Derrius Bell threw some passes downfield. The first thing that stood out was how far he can throw; he has a pretty strong arm for a non-QB, throwing tight spirals of about 40 yards. On one throw, he fired a long pass down the sideline to DB Bennie Thomas, who laid out for the ball, stretching out over the sideline to make the grab while keeping his feet inbounds.

• New look: A lot of players have made increased commitments to the Ponies' offseason strength and conditioning program. Among those who have made visible changes are DE Taylor Thompson and WR Bradley Haynes, each of whom has added considerable lean muscle mass since the end of last season. Both look considerably stronger, and strength coach Vic Viloria said that Thompson recently did several "close grip" bench press reps at 405 pounds. That's a lot of weight for anyone to bench, but to do it with his hands at shoulder width (it's much easier with hands spread out wide) is a little scary, especially when you consider that he's only going to be a sophomore in the fall.

• New guy with a new look: During his recruitment, OL Jordan Favreau was listed between 235 and 245 pounds, causing some to question why the Ponies would sign a lineman who is "so skinny." Didn't have a chance to talk to him, but he looks significantly bigger than that now. That doesn't mean he plays right away, of course, but a couple of teammates have raved about his work ethic.

• Back and forth? Maybe it was just for a day, but while the linemen were running up and down the grass behind the south end zone, Justin Smart was working with the linebackers. Smart, who started his SMU career at defensive end before moving to middle linebacker in 2008, played defensive end in spring drills.

• Ready to launch: Several players engaged in an unofficial test of arm strength, highlighted by QB Bo Levi Mitchell, who stood on the 40-yard line with his feet together, and without taking a single step, fired the ball through the uprights and well over the crossbar 50 yards away. It's not a throw the coaches will want to see him make, but it is a clear indication of how far he can throw, even with a defender holding him in place.

• Meaningless-but-impressive play of the day: While walking off the field at the end of the day, players were jawing with each other and flipping footballs back and forth. One of the more odd — and more impressive — sights of the day was turned in by wide receiver Cole Beasley. Listed at 5-9, 174, Beasley stopped near the goalpost on his way to the locker room. A teammate flipped a ball up in the air, and Beasley shot up and dunked it with both hands over the 10-foot crossbar. It wasn't a LeBron James-style slam — he really pushed it across the bar — but still, for a guy his size, the vertical leap was impressive.

• Leaders of the pack: It surely isn't an indication of team captains or anything, but when the Ponies finished their sprints with a cool-down stretching session, 10 players led the stretches: QB Mitchell, DB Kellis Cunningham, LB Pete Fleps, LB Patrick Fleming, LB Chase Kennemer, DB Rock Dennis, WR Josh Bryant, C Mitch Enright, OT J.T. Brooks and OG Kelly Turner. Don't know if the same guys lead stretches every day, or if they rotate. But that's who led them Monday.

[SMU21TCU10]

thanks!

[Jim Rome]

Love these reports. Thanks

[mathman]

Great write up.

[indianmustang]

good report

[ALEX LIFESON]

Thanks PP!

[Cheesesteak]

Thank you PonyPride.
Good report.

[George S. Patton]

• New look: A lot of players have made increased commitments to the Ponies' offseason strength and conditioning program....

They better have if they want to contribute to any kind of success this program wants to have. It's about the little things, folks.

Not sure about the Josh LeRibus situation but can you find out if he's indeed coming to these workouts at all or what's preventing it. If it's a co-op, family issue, summer school fine, but I would find it hard to believe that a guy who played at Richardson Berkner is having trouble getting on 75 and coming south. I'd like to get a clarification.

I'm going to leave at this. If you are considered one of the top 10-15 players on this roster, you better be doing it smarter and better than the others because more is expected of you because of your talent.

It comes with the territory.

Good work, Pride.

[expony18]

• New look: A lot of players have made increased commitments to the Ponies' offseason strength and conditioning program....

They better have if they want to contribute to any kind of success this program wants to have. It's about the little things, folks.
.

im not sure why everyone assumes the weight room is never used?! i can only speak from my personal experience but i lived in the gym (i gained 25 quality lbs my first 14 months on campus)

[George S. Patton]

• New look: A lot of players have made increased commitments to the Ponies' offseason strength and conditioning program....

They better have if they want to contribute to any kind of success this program wants to have. It's about the little things, folks.
.

im not sure why everyone assumes the weight room is never used?! i can only speak from my personal experience but i lived in the gym (i gained 25 quality lbs my first 14 months on campus)

I'm not saying that.

[Hoss]

Thanks, PP
Keep it up.

[PonyPride]

Not sure about the Josh LeRibus situation but can you find out if he's indeed coming to these workouts at all...

Already did. He has a conflict, so he is working out with a trainer, and reportedly will be ready for two-a-days.

[Mustangsabu]

Awesome PP.

[larskjenstad]

• New look: A lot of players have made increased commitments to the Ponies' offseason strength and conditioning program....

They better have if they want to contribute to any kind of success this program wants to have. It's about the little things, folks.

Not sure about the Josh LeRibus situation but can you find out if he's indeed coming to these workouts at all or what's preventing it. If it's a co-op, family issue, summer school fine, but I would find it hard to believe that a guy who played at Richardson Berkner is having trouble getting on 75 and coming south. I'd like to get a clarification.

I'm going to leave at this. If you are considered one of the top 10-15 players on this roster, you better be doing it smarter and better than the others because more is expected of you because of your talent.

It comes with the territory.

Good work, Pride.

Awesome report, thanks for keeping us updated, PP !

[friarwolf]

Thanks, much appreciated.........