Monday (4/9/12) practice notes

[PonyPride]

The SMU Mustangs resumed practice Monday morning in a foggy Gerald J. Ford Stadium. Some notes:

• Linebacker Taylor Reed and wide receiver Darius Johnson returned after head coach June Jones held them out of practice so they could focus on their classwork, Jones said. Both players were back on the field Monday, although Jones said they have to earn their way back. In skeleton drills, Johnson worked with the first-team offense and Reed with the first-team defense, but Jones said their reinstatement would involve three days without pads.

• Johnson joined Der’Rikk Thompson, Jeremy Johnson and Keenan Holman with the first-team receivers.

• First-year offensive line coach Bob Palcic is spending the first part of spring camp getting to know his players and trying different combinations. In some of the drills, Blake McJunkin remained the first-team center and Christian Miller worked at right tackle, but those were the only two who were in the same spot on the first-team line as last week. Versatile veteran Bryan Collins, who worked last week primarily at left guard, flipped over to right guard, while Taylor Lasecki stepped in at left guard. Jordan Free, who had worked primarily at right guard last week, got a look at left tackle. When the offense worked together (with quarterbacks, running backs, etc.), Kris Weeks went back in at left tackle, with Free sliding inside to left guard. Lasecki anchored the second-team line from his center spot, with Ashton Duhe and Jordan Favreau at the guard spots, and Ben Hughes and Taylor Reich working at the tackle spots.

• When the offense went “live” — operating at a game tempo, although against no defense — Stephen Kaiser took the first snaps at quarterback.

• Quarterback Conner Preston was involved in two plays that resulted in two of the nicest catches of the day. He fired a deep pass (about 30 yards) downfield over the outside (left) shoulder of receiver Stephen Nelson who reached out and snagged the ball while keeping his feet inbounds. A little while later, Preston fired a pass over the middle to Darius Johnson. The ball sailed a little high and behind Johnson, who smoothly reached up and snared the ball without breaking stride.

• Running back Rishaad Wimbley lost considerable weight when he moved from nose tackle to running back last season. He ended the season weighing in the 260s, and said recently that he has maintained that weight … but he looks much smoother. In running drills, the work he has put in is evident, as he changes direction and accelerates more smoothly than he did when he first switched positions. Maybe it’s just good health, but fellow running back K.C. Nlemchi, who battled nagging injuries during the 2011 season, also looks like his acceleration and overall speed have improved.

• After a one-week trial at safety, freshman Derek Longoria worked Monday at outside linebacker.

[bigstangsfan]

Anything on the DL from this morning practice. Heard there was some pass rush drills DL vs. OL this mroning. Any surprises?

[Junior]

good stuff. thanks, PP.

[SMUer]

Only one starting receiver above 6 feet - no bueno.

[SMU21TCU10]

Only one starting receiver above 6 feet - no bueno.

3 of the 4 guys that started for Hawaii in 07 were under 6'. I am not too worried about it. Aldrick and Emmanuel were both under 6'

[SMUer]

Gotta keep up with the Joneses, 6-3+ WRs and DBs rule the day.

[Stallion]

Not in the Run and Shoot-at least not at Inside Receiver which has always had a smaller profile

[ClickClack]

Hollman is 6 1 and J. Johnson is 6 ft, so we have 2 at the 6 ft mark....this lineup isnt set in stone either. Prob only DJ3 being set in stone (maybe D. Thompson?)...guys like Arius Holleman, Ronell Sims, Darius Joseph, Cole Loftin, and maybe even Gherig Deiter will all be in the mix.

[MiracleOnMockingbird]

• Johnson joined Der’Rikk Thompson, Jeremy Johnson and Keenan Holman with the first-team receivers.

Love it. Finally, four guys who have the wheels to make the deals.