Wednesday (8/17/11) practice report

[PonyPride]

The Mustangs gathered Wednesday morning in Ford Stadium for an abbreviated practice that was cut short because of the SMU Kickoff Luncheon.

• LB Cameron Rogers, who has missed several days with a slight knee injury, was back at practice, participating in all drills and working with the first-team defense when the team went to 11-on-11 drills.

• C Blake McJunkin also was back, once again rotating with Bryce Tennison at center with the first-team offensive line.

• Two more scouts — one each from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots — were at practice Wednesday.

• The quarterbacks and receivers appear to be more and more comfortable with each other. Several times Wednesday, the Mustangs' QBs — especially Kyle Padron and J.J. McDermott — fired the ball between three or four defenders ... and found their targets. WR Terrance Wilkerson ended up on the receiving end of at least three such passes Wednesday.

• Redshirt freshman WR Der'Rikk Thompson made one of the nicest catches of the day Wednesday when the team broke into seven-on-seven drills, going up in the air and twisting his body around until he reached toward the sideline to snag a high pass from QB Conner Preston. CB Daren Kitchen had excellent coverage and has long arms and good leaping ability, but had no shot at the ball. Whether or not it was intentional, Preston put the ball where either Thompson would catch it or nobody would catch it — and Thompson made a great play to haul it in.

• On many days, Thompson's catch would have been the catch of the day, but that honor Wednesday went to WR Terrance Wilkerson, who fought through press coverage by CB Chris Parks, stayed in bounds while getting bumped along the sideline and snared a deep pass from QB J.J. McDermott.

[ponywhupp9202]

No JUGS machine?

[PonyPride]

No JUGS machine?

You too?
You and MiracleOnMockingbird need serious therapy!

[westexSMU]

Glad to here Wilkerson and Thompson made great catches today. I've been hoping Wilkerson would kind of take Al's place on deep routes this year and Thompson, with his speed, could be dangerous in space.

[Stallion]

I don't think they have comparable speed. Wilkerson was pretty much a possession receiver two years ago-Rarely made plays downfield

[SMU 86]

I think Thompson may be the burner.

[PerunaPunch]

He is. once upon a time Al Robinson said that Thompson would be faster than he (Al) is by the time Thompson graduated. I don't know how much of that was just Al being overly complimentary, but obviously Thompson has impressed with his speed.

[GoodGirl]

Any updates/progress on Darius Johnson (DJ)? I haven't read much about him in the practice reports.

[NickSMU17]

He is still the truth