Notes from Thursday's optional workout

[PonyPride]

More than 70 SMU football players were out in the heat Thursday for the Mustangs' voluntary conditioning workout, and strength coach Mel de Laura and his staff changed things up a little, spending nearly the entire workout with the team on the grass hill at the south end of Ford Stadium. The players ran up and down the hill, sometimes at top speed and sometimes at a jog, sometimes sideways and sometimes jumping. Picture 70 really large rabbits. Very impressive ... or at least entertaining.

• Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson sat out with a slight sprain of his left ankle, although he said he expects to be back on the field Friday.

• Right tackle J.T. Brooks sat out with what he called "a jammed joint" in his lower back. He has refrained from running all week, although he said he would have been out there with his teammates if they were running normally (on the field). In fact, while his teammates chugged up and down the hill, he ran on his own on the field.

• Fellow offensive lineman Ben Hughes sat with a slight groin strain. He also has missed the entire week, but said he hopes to return Friday.

• A couple of other players ran on their own while rehabbing injuries: wide receiver Ryan Walker (hamstring) and cornerback Jeremy Gray (foot).

• Not all of the injury news was grim: offensive lineman Bryce Tennison completed the full workout with his teammates, and reported that he "felt awesome." Tennison said he had tried a similar workout with his teammates last week, but was unable to finish it. "Today, I did all of it, and I feel great." Tennison, who dealt with injuries over the offseason to his shoulder, foot and abdomen, said he is back up to 297 pounds.

• Transfer safety Randy McKinnon knows he is behind his teammates when it comes to knowing the defense, and with just one year to crack the lineup at SMU, he is making every effort to catch up. "I'm watching about three hours of film every day, consistently," he said. "Plus, I go in and (voluntarily) meet with (defensive coordinator) Coach (Tom) Mason to ask questions. Like I said, a lot of the concepts similar to what we used at Syracuse, but I've got to learn the terminology. It's coming — I'll have it down ... I'm in good shape, but training camp is really what gets me in shape — when you really go at it. I'm learning a lot in seven-on-seven drills, but training camp is more intense."

• One player called de Laura's offseason regimen "twice as hard" as the previous program. "A lot of guys are losing extra weight," he said, "and almost everyone is a lot stronger."

[that's great raplh]

go ponies

[Junior]

Gotta be able to win the 4th quarter.

[Junior]

Gotta be able to win the 4th quarter.

But the other three don't hurt, either.

[Alaric]

Thanks for the update. Surprising to hear them say de Laura's program is that much harder since we always heard Viloria's was so tough...glad to see a healthy Bryce Tennison.

[Corso]

Thanks for the report, PP.
Can't wait for football season.

[lwjr]

What are the rules in summer workouts as far a coach contact is concern? Can the strength coach watch and tell them what to do or does he leave notes. I was under the impression there was to be no contact with coaches during summer until practice begins. Thanks.

[mrydel]

I believe coaching contact is limited to the strength and conditioning coach. Basically this is strength and condition season.

[lwjr]

I believe coaching contact is limited to the strength and conditioning coach. Basically this is strength and condition season.

Thanks!