Notes from WEDNESDAY's practice

[PonyPride]

The SMU football team completed its fourth practice of the season Wednesday morning at the Pettus practice field. A few notes:

Interior shift: It's too early for the depth chart at any position to be finalized, but part of the offensive line rotation started to take shape Wednesday. The starters remained the same: left tackle Kelvin Beachum, Jr., left guard Bryce Tennison, center Blake McJunkin, right guard Kelly Turner and right tackle J.T. Brooks. But when the second-team line took the field, Tennison slid over to center, between guards Ben Gottschalk and Jordan Free.

Fast learner: Since the graduation of 2009 senior linebacker Chase Kennemer, it has been widely assumed that his spot would be filled this season by a sophomore ... but the assumption always has been that the sophomore who would take over at Kennemer's inside linebacker spot would be Taylor Reed. But running with the first-team defense Wednesday was newly converted linebacker Braden Smith, with Reed working with the second-team unit that also included Cameron Rogers inside, with Justin Smart and Byron Brown at the outside spots. Linebackers coach Joe Haering said after practice not to read too much into the shift, that he and the Mustangs' defensive coaches were merely trying different combinations.

By a nose: The first- and second-team defensive lines each featured a new nose tackle. Starting defensive ends Taylor Thompson and Marquis Frazier flanked Aaron Davis, who finished spring drills as the starter at the position, while defensive ends Margus Hunt and Kevin Grenier worked with new nose tackle Jordan Favreau on the second-string line.

Always teaching: One of the more athletic plays of the day was turned in by freshman wide receiver Jeremy Johnson, who caught a quick screen pass and stumbled, but got a hand down on the ground and maintained his balance enough to get his feet back under himself, turning upfield. A couple of teammates expressed their approval, but when he saw Johnson holding the ball a little loosely, wide receivers Jeff Reinebold was less impressed, reminding Johnson of the importance of protecting the ball at all times.

Bumps and bruises: Senior cornerback Sterling Moore watched practice as he works to get over a case of turf toe.

How special: As always, the Ponies interrupted their position drills for a session with special teams coach Dennis McKnight. Of note:
• The Ponies generally have a no-tackling policy in practice. When drills call for it, the defensive (or in the case of special teams, the coverage) player generally wraps up an opposing player until a coach yells "whistle!" to signify the end of the play. In the four-on-one special teams drill, sophomore linebacker Taylor Reed didn't get the memo, tackling freshman receiver/return specialist Jeremy Johnson ... by the head.
• Linebacker Ja'Gared Davis jumped in as return specialist, but before he could get loose, he was swallowed up by linebacker Justin Smart. While Davis tried to get free, wide receiver Cole Loftin stripped the ball from Davis, scooped it up and trotted toward the would-be end zone.
• Freshman Kevin Pope served as return specialist on one play. As four would-be tacklers raced toward him, Pope started juking and cutting back and forth to escape the oncoming players. He didn't get very far, but he seemed very quick and agile while cutting back and forth, which was encouraging for a player whose senior high school season was cut short because of a knee injury that ended up requiring surgery.

The long and short of it: When the team broke into seven-on-seven drills, wide receiver Charles Clay limped off the field after stumbling while reaching for a underthrown pass from backup quarterback J.J. McDermott. Moments later, starter Kyle Padron connected on perhaps the best pass of the day when he floated a high, deep pass over cornerback Keith Robinson and over the shoulder of senior wide receiver Aldrick Robinson, who cruised under the pass on a deep fly route.

Top pick: Moments later, McDermott threw his only interception of the day when a pass intended for Holyfield was picked off by freshman Kenneth Acker, who did a nice job reading McDermott and jumping the route ... although Holyfield didn't appear to come back toward the pass.

[cutter]

great stuff. thanks.

[Fresh]

Kevin Pope served as return specialist on one play. As four would-be tacklers raced toward him, Pope started juking and cutting back and forth to escape the oncoming players. He didn't get very far, but he seemed very quick and agile while cutting back and forth, which was encouraging for a player whose senior high school season was cut short because of a knee injury that ended up requiring surgery.

To me, that's the best part of the whole thing. If Pope can really move that well, that quickly, he might have his knee back to a level where he really can contribute as a true freshman.

[davidpaul123]

Great Stuff PP!

[that's great raplh]

Thx double p

[The PonyGrad]

In the four-on-one special teams drill, sophomore linebacker Taylor Reed didn't get the memo, tackling freshman receiver/return specialist Jeremy Johnson ... by the head.

Was that before or after he was place on the second team LB squad?

[ponywhupp9202]

Anyone besides me a little concerned about McJunkin possibly replacing Enright as our starting center? He seems to have all the right tools for an O-lineman, but the few times I specifically recall him playing center he had a tendency to bounce the ball off his on butt or hike it over the QB's head. Hoefully that's something that improves with practice.

[mrydel]

He did fine until one game when he could not get the ball to the QB. I think it is like a shank in golf, mainly mental. Hopefully they have coached him past that.