Optional conditioning workout notes (6/25/12)

[PonyPride]

Players gathered again Monday for seven-on-seven workouts. Some observations:

• QB Conner Preston took the first snaps running the offense, and capped off the first drive by hitting WR Keenan Holman for a touchdown on a short post route.

• QB Garrett Gilbert seems to be lengthening out his arm a little. In last week's workout, I didn't see him throw a pass of more than 30 yards. He just threw one from the 40 that hit WR Der'Rikk Thompson (who had gotten a couple of yards behind his man) in the hands. Thompson wasn't able to hold on, but the accuracy was perfect and the longer throw looked easy for Gilbert (who followed it by firing a 10-yard strike on the right sideline to WR Jeremy Johnson).

• Another 25-yard strike from Gilbert, this time on the left sideline to WR Kyle Guinyard.

• Gilbert capped the drive by throwing a high ball in the left corner of the end zone to freshman WR Gehrig Dieter, who at a listed height of 6-3, stands seven inches taller than the guy covering him, CB Keith Robinson and used his size to create space and go up for the catch.

Seven-on-seven was short. If they return for conditioning/running, this post will be edited/revised.

• QB Conner Preston and WRs Keenan Holman and Austin Fuller are staying out on the field to get some extra work in. The 6-2, 220-pound Fuller is running a lot of crossing routes, while many of the passes thrown Holman's way are to his back (outside) shoulder on the edge of the end zone. He just made a pair of nice one-handed grabs of passes thrown to the sideline, where either he would reach it or the ball would fall incomplete. Preston is putting these passes where no DB will have a chance to reach them.

[SmooBoy]

So when would we expect GG to take some first-team snaps?

[westexSMU]

Sounds like Garrett did take some 1st team snaps as it says he was throwing to Der'rick Thompson and Jeremy Johnson. Where is DJ ?

[PonyPride]

About 40 Mustangs — including F Shelby Redman of the women's soccer team — returned for some conditioning work, which consisted of a series of shuttles between the goal line and the 25-yard line, then the 20-yard line, etc. (Not mentioning everyone here — computer issue is making me do this over from memory.)

Among those who consistently were at or near the front of their position groups:
DLs: Spike Davis, Darrian Wright, Margus Hunt, Zach Wood
LBs: Ja'Gared Davis, Randall Joyner, Lincoln Schick
DBs: Chris Parks, Ryan Smith
OLs: Ben Gottschalk, Blake McJunkin
RBs/WRs: Jeremy Johnson, Bobby Waid, Ryan Walker

[PonyPride]

Sounds like Garrett did take some 1st team snaps as it says he was throwing to Der'rick Thompson and Jeremy Johnson. Where is DJ ?

Darius Johnson or Darius Joseph? Didn't see either, actually (although I can't swear they weren't there -- I didn't write down all of the names...) They were in attendance last week, as I recall.

[PonyPride]

After everyone else had packed up and headed home, QB Garrett Gilbert returned to the field to throw with WRs Der'Rikk Thompson and Jeremy Johnson, as well as former SMU star Aldrick Robinson. Most of Gilberts throws are in the 15- to 20-yard range, although he just connected on several throws down the middle of 35 to 40 yards. As for first-team snaps, don't read too much in to that now. Gilbert is just starting to learn the offense, and is getting help from teammates while absorbing it. Give him time to learn the system.

Also throwing are WR Cole Nead and DE Elie Nabushosi. Nabushosi, a former high school QB, has a really strong arm, and Nead just made an exceptional one-handed catch over his head.

[Hoss]

Good to see Holman making plays -- and staying after practice for extra work. I had high hopes for him last year, but he couldn't get healthy. Hope he has a huge year in 2012!