Optional conditioning workout / 7-on-7 notes (7/9/12)

[PonyPride]

A couple dozen skill-position players (plus C Taylor Lasecki) are on the field, going through seven-on-seven passing drills.

• QB Garrett Gilbert, if nothing else, is not afraid to make throws that require pinpoint accuracy. Deep out routes, fades in the corner of the end zone (CB J.R. Richardson just made a great play to knock away a pass intended for WR Darius Johnson), crossing routes in the end zone from the red zone ... he'll fire them in. That's not to say they're all being completed, but several of them are finding their intended target. Yes, it's still early, but his pure ability to throw the ball is impressive.

• QB Conner Preston looks like a different player than he did a year ago. Part of that is the fact that he's physically stronger, but he also carries himself differently. He just took a snap, drifted a couple of steps to his left while looking in that direction, and then sold the entire defense on the fact that he was throwing that way ... before whirling around and firing to a wide-open WR Bobby Waid on the other side of the field.

• Another perfect deep ball by Gilbert, intended for WR Darius Johnson. Another great play by J.R. Richardson to climb the ladder and knock it away.

• Ks Chase Hover and Cody Rademacher each just nailed field goals from 49 yards ... with room to spare. Hover said last week that he has been working this offseason on getting his kickers to rise quickly, and it shows - the ball looks different coming off his foot.

• RB K.C. Nlemchi has more shiftiness than he did during the season. Maybe that's because he was trying to mimic more straight-ahead runners when he worked with the scout team, but for a big back (he's listed at 6-1, 215), he has a lot of stop-and-start ability and changes directions quickly.

•The Gilbert-to-DJ combination just worked. Johnson got behind two DBs with a couple of fakes, and Gilbert laid a strike in his hands as he crossed the goal line on the right hash marks.

• Freshmen are not participating today.

• Seven-on-seven time appears to be over, and the players are now going through a series of sprint shuttles. Among those who are regularly near the front of their groups: WR Ryan Walker, LB Randall Joyner, LB Derek Longoria, RB K.C. Nlemchi, WR Bobby Waid, LB John Bordano, S Ryan Smith and WR Der'Rikk Thompson.

• Skill-position guys just went inside - now the big guys and the incoming freshmen are out to run.

• The big guys are split into three groups, which are basically the offensive linemen and the interior defensive linemen in one group, with the linebackers and defensive ends (and three women's soccer players: G Lauryn Bodden, D Courtney Smith and F Kenzie Scovill) in another and the freshman RBs/WRs/DBs in the third. Among the DE/LB/soccer group, freshman LB Lincoln Richard is running away from the pack in several shuttles, while WR Colin Lagasse just did the same among the skill-position guys.

• NT Spike Davis said last week his weight is up to about 285, and said he hopes to enter preseason workouts in August around 290. But he runs like a guy who is trying to shed pounds, not add them, usually leading the big linemen in most sprints and shuttles. Staying with him step-for-step today: freshman NT Nick Reed.

[PonyPride]

Nobody who sees RB Zach Line and RB Prescott Line standing side by side will ever doubt they're brothers. Zach's a little taller, but the similarity is incredible.

[PonyPride]

Also in attendance: SMU alums Justin Sorrell, Richard Crawford and Tommy Poynter, who now is an assistant high school football coach.

[PonyPride]

• Some of the offensive linemen stuck around for a little tutorial session for the freshmen by their upper-class teammates. The offensive line of LT Seaver Myers, LG Chase Walling, C Sam Rice, RG Chauncey Briggs and RT Christian Chamagua is a physically imposing group. Veterans Ben Gottschalk, Bryan Collins, Taylor Lasecki, Kris Weeks, Christian Miller, Jordan Free and Blake McJunkin are standing in as mock defensive linemen and offering pointers to their young teammates.

[SMU 86]

Good job.

[PK]

Good job.

Good job? Only a good job? Damn great job! Thanks PP!

[well travelled pony]

Yes indeed, great stuff. I love that we may finally have a good line of QBs. Preston was very under appreciated. I saw him play, and yes his two receivers got more note (usc's woods and lee) but a part of what made it work was Preston's play.

And looks like our o-line may have some good big guys.

Go Ponies!

[ponyboy]

I am heading to the Boulevard right now to wait for the season to begin.

[Mexmustang]

Bring plenty of ice...

[Bergermeister]

Nobody who sees RB Zach Line and RB Prescott Line standing side by side will ever doubt they're brothers. Zach's a little taller, but the similarity is incredible.

Their dad could qualify as the third in a set of triplets. "They all look alike."

[westexSMU]

Haven't heard anything about Rishaad Wimbley since spring. Is he at the summer workouts now ?

[PSCA]

PF: I recall a quick blurp about JG a week or so ago. But, I don't recall seeing anything on T-Reed, Rogers, or Sanders ... are they not out there? I thought (wrong to assume on my part), they have been there sense June. Thanks

[PonyPride]

Wimbley has been at workouts, and looks good. Strong, of course, and his footwork seems smoother - when he changes direction, his balance looks better. Watch Zach Line run - while not a pure sprinter, he has an ability to sort of scrape off would-be tacklers without losing his balance or getting knocked off stride. Wimbley looks like he's starting to pick that up.

Reed, Rogers and Sanders have been out there just about every day - they just don't get as much attention because the offensive guys are easier to write about ... who threw well, who made a good catch, etc. But those guys (and JG) are among the defensive players who have been working out just about every day.

[BIGHORSE]

I am heading to the Boulevard right now to wait for the season to begin.

You need to head to Valley Mills Drive in Waco, that is where our season will start.

[PSCA]

Thanks PF