Notes from Wednesday's practice

[PonyPride]

Nice sight: While their teammates practiced, offensive tackle J.T. Brooks and guard-turned-center Bryce Tennison were running across the field. They weren't sprinting, and they weren't hitting anyone along the way, but for guys coming off knee surgery (Brooks) and shoulder surgery and a broken foot (Tennison), it still was a welcome site. Brooks claimed to be the likely replacement for Emmanuel Sanders, while Tennison said he was going after Shawnbrey McNeal's job.

Strip club: The Ponies go through special teams drills every day, and nobody is exempt. The drills usually are the old Frank Gansz drill, in which a "returner" looks into an oncoming wave of four players racing down the field in coverage, and tries to get to the sideline to turn upfield, or to split a pair of defenders. The coverage team, meanwhile, is trying for a perfect formation, in which they basically encircle the return man. Wednesday's drill, however, had players focused on stripping the ball to create turnovers. Time after time, players would hold the return man upright while a teammate reached in and yanked the ball free.

Dropping by: The first part of practice was marked by several dropped passes, as numerous passes from QBs Kyle Padron and J.J. McDermott hit their targets ... only to then hit the ground. To be fair, the defense wasn't perfect either — safety Brett Haness dropped (!) to the ground for some self-imposed push-ups after dropping what should have been an easy interception — but the receiving improved a lot in the second half of practice. That includes the defense, where linebacker Cameron Rogers made a nice, reaching interception of a McDermott pass just before it hit the ground.

Defensive play of the day: Cornerback Chris Castro isn't normally thought of as someone who should be tangling with bigger receivers, but he more than held his own on one play, when he dropped into a backpedal before turning and running with receiver Brad Haynes on a deep route down the sideline. As the ball arrived — albeit slightly underthrown — Castro climbed the ladder to fight Haynes for the ball. He didn't make the interception, but the fact that he got up and ripped the ball away from Haynes — who is seven inches taller and close to 40 pounds heavier — was impressive, nonetheless.

Nickel package: Defensive coordinator Tom Mason and defensive line coach Bert Hill always have said they would have their three best pass rushers on the field in obvious passing situations. In drills Wednesday, that included the same trio who filled that role in 2009: Taylor Thompson and Margus Hunt at the defensive end spots, with Marquis Frazier sliding inside to the nose tackle position.

[SMU89]

Is there practice tomorrow, Thursday, from 7 - 9?

Thanks

[PonyPride]

Yup. See you there?

[Corso]

Good stuff, PP
Thanks

[smupony]

I thought Margus was not taking part in spring drills to focus on throwing? Has something changed?

[d_pony]

no, he was always going out for spring ball - he is going to Europe this summer after school is out to throw

[PK]

no, he was always going out for spring ball - he is going to Europe this summer after school is out to throw

Actually there was an earlier report that he was not going to be involved in spring football practice so that he could concentrate on practicing on his throwing to prepare for this summer in Europe. Perhaps he found out he could do both.

[SMU89]

Any practice this weekend?

Thanks.

[PonyPride]

No practice this weekend.

I've been at every practice except one, and have seen Margus at each one I've attended ... and that's before I get a full dose of caffeine in my system.

[SMU21TCU10]

No practice this weekend.

I've been at every practice except one, and have seen Margus at each one I've attended ... and that's before I get a full dose of caffeine in my system.

congrats on the 5000th post

[smu diamond m]

man... he passed me!

[PK]

man... he passed me!

Yeah...and his post generally have more than four words in them.