Tuesday practice report

[PonyPride]

Catching on: The WRs have had a couple of sloppy days of practice, but looked a great deal better Tuesday, in terms of their consistency making catches and eliminating drops. Several looked very good: early in 11-on-11 drills, Emmanuel Sanders leaped high and snagged a pass that was a little bit behind him; Cole Loftin snagged a 40-yard pass along the sideline on a beautiful pass over two defenders by QB Braden Smith; Darius Johnson caught a 30-yarder from QB Kyle Padron and held on after a solid hit by SS Tyler Jones; catch of the day came in the team's Red Zone offense drills, when Sanders snuck around the right side of the defense and accelerated past CB Derrius Bell to make a catch in the back of the end zone on a perfect pass from QB Bo Levi Mitchell.

Unseen contribution: On one play, Sanders caught a simple pass on a crossing route toward the left sideline, earning praise from WRs coach Jeff Reinebold. But Reinebold's bigger applause on the play was saved for WR Aldrick Robinson, who came back from his deep route to throw a block that sprung Sanders for a scamper up the sideline.

On the line: Redshirt freshman Jordan Free was back working with the first-team offensive line at LG, joining LT Kelvin Beachum, Jr., C Mitch Enright, RG Bryce Tennison and RT J.T. Brooks on the first unit. The second unit was LT Josh Emshoff, LG Kelly Turner, C Blake McJunkin, RG Joey Fontana and RT Bryan Collins.

Back to the nickel: The Ponies worked on some nickel defense possibilities (albeit in 7-on-7 drills, not the full-team 11-on-11 drills), one of which included three LBs with considerable speed: Victor Jones, Robert Parker and Bryce Hudman. With their speed, it almost looked like having seven DBs on the field at once.

Getting his chance: As has been the case throughout most of the preseason workouts, redshirt freshman Cameron Rogers worked with the first-team LBs.

On target: The QBs, especially Bo Levi Mitchell and Braden Smith, looked as sharp Tuesday as they have at any point through preseason camp. Mitchell and Smith hit their receivers in stride in most drills, including when rolling out and throwing on the run.

Seeing red: The offense was pretty efficient in its Red Zone offense drills, as the Ponies repeatedly reached the end zone from 10 and 15 yards out. WR Cole Beasley got free for several scores on quick slants and crossing routes, and WR Zach Zimmerman made a nice grab on a post route at the back of the end zone.

Straight shooter: K Matt Szymanski was perfect in full-team FG drills, nailing all seven attempts, including a long of 47 yards.

Not just a passing interest: The decision to move Youri Yenga to OLB allows the Mustangs to get bigger up front, and lets Yenga — the team's best pure pass rusher — to attack the QB from a running start. But he also looks like he could be decent against the run. Yenga shot past LT Kelvin Beachum, Jr., and nearly swallowed RB Chris Butler alive, getting there just as Butler got the ball.

Strong showing: One player who has drawn raves from his teammates and coaches for his offseason work is WR Terrance Wilkerson, who has added 17 pounds since last season. That added bulk was on display Tuesday when he went across the middle on a crossing route and made the catch ... despite having CB Derrius Bell draped all over him. A year ago, when he was carrying just 163 pounds, there's no way Wilkerson makes that catch.

Acting quickly: QBs Mitchell and Smith looked pretty efficient in the two-minute offense. Mitchell went 4-for-7 on his drive, numbers that were affected by a should-be interception that CB Bryan McCann dropped and a drop by WR Zimmerman, who appeared to hear footsteps and bailed out of harm's way.

Second line: The defensive line starters remained the same: LDE Taylor Thompson, NT Chris Parham and RDE Marquis Frazier, but there was a new face in the second unit, where sophomore Torlan Pittman ran at backup RDE, along with NT Evan Huahulu and LDE Margus Hunt.

The next Aldrick Robinson?: Everyone knows the wheels that guys like WR Robinson, McCann and transfer RB Shawnbrey McNeal have, but it was hard to ignore James, the 10-year-old son of ponywhupp9202, who burned up the turf at Gerald J. Ford Stadium with a 100-yard sprint after meeting a few players on the field with his brother and his dad. Signing Day for James (5-foot-4, 95), who is getting ready to start his first year of football, will be the first Wednesday in February 2017.

[Dooby]

Haven't made it to practice since one practice in the Spring. Any word on how plays will be sent in? Are we going to have a BLM/JJ pow wow after every play like last season?

[indianmustang]

thanks for the report

[KnuckleStang]

great report

[MustangLaxer]

pow, pow pow

[abezontar]

pew, pew, pew

[ponydawg]

POW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CErz3t02lxI

Careful kids, cllip from step brothers and they have a potty mouth.

[mathman]

Great report. Love sitting here in East Texas and still feel like I am watching the ponies practice.

[Ralph]

for the most part pow wow up close, later when the qb is on the same page with JJ then he can anticipate the calls and just read JJ's lips like Colt did. That's when the offense will be clicking like clock work, the qb is seeing the defense and dissecting it like JJ is doing, the progression reads are easier and the qb already knows which receivers will be open. it's a fun offense to watch.

[Harry0569]

Keep up the fantastic work!

[that's great raplh]

[Special_Delivery_Smu_Fans]

Great reporting for those of us that can't be there. Thanks.

[smu diamond m]

gj

[Junior]

Is it sad that my favorite on-line moment each day is the daily practice report?

[Hoofprint]

Of course not — yet another reason this is the best site out there.