Monday (4/23/12) practice notes

Post by **PonyPride** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:50 am

The Mustangs' final week of spring workouts began Monday on the Pettus practice field.

• WR Arrius Holleman, who sat out a few days of practice last week after injuring his left hand when fielding a fastball from WRs coach Jason Phillips, returned to practice.

• WR Chayse Joubert, who pulled a groin last week, remained out of practice, although he was moving around much better than he was Thursday. Joubert said after practice that he has no timetable for a return, but said his groin is feeling "much better" and he hopes to be back on the practice field soon.

• When the team went into team (11-on-11) drills, the first-string LBs remained the same: Ja'Gared Davis and Stephon Sanders outside, and Cameron Rogers and Taylor Reed inside. The second team had a slightly different look, however, as Cody Worthen joined Robert Seals at OLB and Kevin Pope and Randall Joyner at ILB.

• With DEs Kevin Grenier and Beau Barnes sitting out spring workouts while rehabbing shoulder injuries, several players are getting a crack at a backup spot behind Margus Hunt and Zach Wood, who have been running with the first-team defense. One who looked impressive Monday was Cameron Smith, who contributed on special teams in 2011. Smith said he is up to about 255 pounds, and despite a sore toe, his pass rushing has improved. He applied pretty consistent pressure during team drills, once driving LT Kris Weeks (who has about 50 pounds on Smith) straight back before getting his hand up to knock down a screen pass.

• WR Darius Joseph continues to impress, making an array of impressive receptions in team drills, including a pass in triple coverage on a deep route over the middle (the three DBs resisted the urge to hit Joseph) and a pair of nice grabs on the sideline with defenders in hot pursuit.

• When the team returned to seven-on-seven drills, WR Jeremy Johnson gave an indication of how far he has come in his development as a receiver after starring as a quarterback in high school. Johnson made several impressive catches, including one near the sideline before he slipped and skidded out of bounds. What was impressive was not the catch, but the subtle shoulder and head fakes he used to create separation, shaking two DBs on his way to making the catch. Johnson always could run in straight lines, but it is his understanding of the subtle nuances of the position are why many are so impressed with his progress.

• The defensive play of the day might have been turned in by S Brett Haness, who raced across the field and leaped high to knock away a pass from QB Steve Kaiser to WR Keenan Holman, who was working to keep his feet in bounds.

• A glimpse of things to come? Maybe. When they signed with SMU, CB Chris Parks and WR Arrius Holleman each created an element of excitement because of the size they bring to each position. They both look better - and stronger - than they did in the fall, and put their size to the test when the lined up across from each other and battled for a high pass from QB Garrett Krstich. Parks won the battle, knocking the ball away, but both have showed an improved ability to use their height and big bodies to make plays this spring.

• Head coach June Jones met with reporters after practice. He said he is impressed with the improved depth on defense, but said some of the incoming freshmen might have to contribute on offense in the fall, at least to contribute to the team's depth.

Jones identified CB J.R. Richardson as one player who come a long way since his freshman season.

Jones called freshman LB Derek Longoria "one of the best athletes on our football team - he's going to be a very good football player for us."

The Mustangs' head coach heaped praise upon WR Darius Johnson, calling the team's top returning receiver "one of the best players I have ever had, even at the pro level. I have had some Pro Bowl players, and (Johnson) is just a very gifted player." Jones said Johnson's ability has been accentuated by his improved maturity. "He always had the talent," Jones said. "If he wants to play at the next level, (acting with more maturity) is what he had to do."

Jones weighed in on Monday's arrival of the newest member of the athletic staff, men's basketball head coach Larry Brown. "We have just talked on the phone, and I look forward to meeting him," Jones said. "He just gives us the 'wow' factor to me - you don't really need to say anything more. He has won it all, and he's going to teach us how to do it. He had better be ready to step up, because the Big East is a little different than Conference USA in basketball." Jones added that former head coach Matt Doherty "went through some of the tough times" for the program, and that Brown's arrival on the Hilltop is "a win for him and a win for the school."

ponyte · Post by **ponyte** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 11:16 am

Good report. Thanks

SMU21TCU10 · Post by **SMU21TCU10** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 1:43 pm

Good report. I think our Defense will be awesome (only worried about DE a little) . I am just worried about the O-Line. Obviously thats what Jones meant when he said "some of the incoming freshmen might have to contribute on offense in the fall".

squire · Post by **squire** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:54 am

Great report, as always. It should be an interesting year.
Looks like good D, and a total rebuild on Offense.
Young O line and new QB. Ouch!
Never would have guessed that after 4 years June would have a strong Defense, and a struggling Offense. Unless Zach wins the Heisman it looks like about 6-6 to me.

ponyboy · Post by **ponyboy** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:18 am

Our offense will eat souls.

gostangs · Post by **gostangs** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:20 am

if we can figure out how to do a hurry up like every other passing team in america, we will be fine on O (except for a&M and maybe baylor away). Not too concerned about froggie. not saying we will for sure win - but playing them at our place means we will move the ball on them. Plus i predict they have a QB issue after their current qb goes to rehab.

our D feels pretty tight - except i have some concerns about d-line. i dont care how good the DB's are - time will kill them.

8-4

whitwiki · Post by **whitwiki** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 12:15 pm

Baylors defense isn't getting better this year.

squire · Post by **squire** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:56 pm

ponyboy wrote:Our offense will eat souls.

Huh?

squire · Post by **squire** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:07 pm

gostangs wrote:if we can figure out how to do a hurry up like every other passing team in america, we will be fine on O (except for a&M and maybe baylor away). Not too concerned about froggie. not saying we will for sure win - but playing them at our place means we will move the ball on them. Plus i predict they have a QB issue after their current qb goes to rehab.

our D feels pretty tight - except i have some concerns about d-line. i dont care how good the DB's are - time will kill them.

8-4

June is in no hurry, obviously.
My theory is that since they throw the ball so much, and also go 3 and out quite a bit, he slows the pace to a crawl to keep the D off the field. Maybe at Mason's request.
I still do not get the QB running to the sidelines after every play.
Could be the reason that they all head for E. Washington after a couple years.

westexSMU · Post by **westexSMU** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 11:17 pm

The D will be good. Our WRs are going to be as good as last year overall, maybe better. Zack is back and our RB depth might be good also. Special teams should be in better shape. But QB and our OL has a lot of work to do this summer and fall in order for us to have a solid team this year.