Monday morning practice

[PonyPride]

Full disclosure: Got there for the second half of practice.

• DE Taylor Thompson got some reps at TE Monday morning. Of course, many of the schools that recruited him — including Vanderbilt, to which he initially committed before changing his mind and signing with SMU — recruited Thompson as a TE. He blocked on some plays, both staying in near the pocket and also running downfield to block for another receiver, and caught the ball. Good hands, and his size and mobility make it look like he could be a punishing blocker.

He's not giving up his DE role, of course, but he said after practice that he likes the idea of doing both. When he was on offense, Margus Hunt took Thompson's place at DE with the first-team defensive line that also included NT Chris Parham and RDE Marquis Frazier.

• Head coach June Jones said Saturday that freshman Ja'Gared Davis was "pushing for a starting LB spot," but the first-team LBs Monday morning were Youri Yenga, Pete Fleps, Chase Kennemer and Cameron Rogers.

• More shuffling on the offensive line: Jones said after practice Monday that he and the coaching staff had given the newcomers a week to get acclimated and start learning their assignments, and that now they are starting to experiment with different combinations of players at different positions. For example, the first-team offensive line included LT Kelvin Beachum, Jr., LG Kelly Turner and C Mitch Enright, but also included two new faces: RG Joey Fontana (who had gotten a lot of time in the first week as a backup OT) and RT Bryan Collins. It's far too early to think that the freshmen are threatening to take over starting spots, as Jones reiterated that they're merely looking at different combinations of players at this point.

• The receivers had another somewhat sloppy day, with several drops on catchable passes. Jones didn't seem overly concerned, pointing out that the receivers had one day like that last week, but bounced back well the next day.

• Jones said after practice that he continues to be impressed with the freshman LBs, particularly Davis and Taylor Reed. He said Byron Brown also was doing well, until he "tweaked" a knee last week.

• RB Shawnbrey McNeal continues to get very limited work with the first-team offense while awaiting word from the NCAA on his waiver request for immediate eligibility.

Lots more coming this afternoon, when PonyFans.com will have live updates from the afternoon practice! Be sure to log on.

[giacfsp]

Thanks for your reports, as always.
You get a pass, just this once, on your late arrival.

[mathman]

Thanks for the report. Guess Hunt's knee is fine.

[couch 'em]

I thought Jones 'never' uses TEs? Is this a sign that he has zero faith in the offensive line?

[SMU_is_bowling]

I think his use of them is more like an H back that the traditional TE, but I could be wrong. Hopefully this is a sign that he wants to expand his offense even more and is comfortable doing that now that the team is a year into his scheme as opposed to a lack of faith in the OL (sunglasses firmly on)

[indianmustang]

thanks for the repots we need more

[Garret]

I thought Jones 'never' uses TEs? Is this a sign that he has zero faith in the offensive line?

JJ used a TE *very* effectively in 2006 against a DE that was near the top of the NCAA in sacks.

Let me break down the 2006 OL for Hawaii:

Three members of the OL (C, both tackles) were on NFL rosters all season the following year, with the C starting in the NFL from the first game of his rookie season

The 4th member of that OL was Hawaii's first Football Writers' Association of America first-team All-American the following year.

The 5th member of that OL is currently the highest rated center on every pro football draft evaluation site that I've seen for the upcoming draft.

So, you have 3 seniors that were in the NFL the following season (one a second round pick), one junior who was a first-team All-American after his senior season, and a freshman who is currently the highest rated center in college. And JJ used a TE effectively that season when he needed it.

JJ also used a TE in practice during the 2007 season for Hawaii, and the TE was used briefly in the Sugar Bowl.

[kull]

I thought Jones 'never' uses TEs? Is this a sign that he has zero faith in the offensive line?

JJ used a TE *very* effectively in 2006 against a DE that was near the top of the NCAA in sacks.

Let me break down the 2006 OL for Hawaii:

Three members of the OL (C, both tackles) were on NFL rosters all season the following year, with the C starting in the NFL from the first game of his rookie season

The 4th member of that OL was Hawaii's first Football Writers' Association of America first-team All-American the following year.

The 5th member of that OL is currently the highest rated center on every pro football draft evaluation site that I've seen for the upcoming draft.

So, you have 3 seniors that were in the NFL the following season (one a second round pick), one junior who was a first-team All-American after his senior season, and a freshman who is currently the highest rated center in college. And JJ used a TE effectively that season when he needed it.

JJ also used a TE in practice during the 2007 season for Hawaii, and the TE was used briefly in the Sugar Bowl.

The Purdue DE's name was Anthony Spencer; he was drafted by the cowboys in 2007 (26th overall). Reagan Mauia absolutely shut him down in that game. The cowboys have high hopes for him this year as per:

http://www.star-telegram.com/cowboys/nfl/story/1540271.html

[that's great raplh]

grt rprt