Optional conditioning workout / 7-on-7 notes (7/10/12)

[PonyPride]

• Seven-on-seven drills haven't started yet, but some players already are out on the field, and three of the first seven are on NFL rosters: WR Cole Beasley and DBs Richard Crawford and Sterling Moore. Also getting a headstart on Tuesday's workout: QB Garrett Gilbert and WRs Keenan Holman, Darius Johnson and Colin Lagasse.

• Seven-on-seven drills now underway. QB Garrett Gilbert taking snaps from C Taylor Lasecki.

• Early candidate for Catch of the Day: from the 5-yard line, Gilbert found Darius Johnson crossing the back of the end zone with a fastball over Johnson's head. The pass was thrown so hard it looked like it was going to rip DJ's arms off, but he was able to make the snag, twist around and get both feet in bounds before falling to the turf.

• Johnson's Catch of the Day title lasted exactly one play. On the next snap, Gilbert fired a short pass in to traffic at the goal line, only to watch it ricochet out of a crowd of receivers and defensive backs ... where Gilbert was able to catch his own pass and trot in to the end zone.

• Based on the always-scientific Binoculars Test, several of the linebackers look visibly stronger than last year, including Jonathan Yenga, Lincoln Schick, Rob Seals, Uchenna Nwabuike and Taylor Reed. Reed said he recently benched 450 pounds, and admitted that a 500-pound lift before the season might be a longshot, but admitted it is a goal of his, for either before or after the season.

• Not only is QB Conner Preston stronger than last year, but he is reading the defense, making decisions and getting the ball out of his hands much faster than he did a year ago. The quick decisions and release are more important to the coaches than pure arm strength or release point.

• There's something to be said for efficiency: after Preston's series, Gilbert took over again ... and fired a 45-yard touchdown strike on the first play to WR Keenan Holman on the right hash marks after Holman had gotten behind two DBs. On the very next play, Gilbert and Holman hooked up again, this time on a 45-yard touchdown in to the right side of the end zone.

• Preston tried to match Gilbert's deep passing, taking aim at WR Bobby Waid on a stop-and-go route up the left sideline ... only to watch FS Jay Scott race over and make a leaping catch in front of Waid.

• Preston got back on track on the next play, threading a fastball between two DBs for a touchdown. Moments later, he fired a bullet at WR Cole Loftin, who had three defenders within two or three yards of him, but the pass arrived so fast they had no chance to break it up. Loftin caught the ball as he crossed the goal line.

• Players are doing what looks like a brutal collection of sprints. Richard Crawford is running as if Mike Shanahan is watching and basing Crawford's career on it.

• Veteran skill position guys are done. The big guys and true freshmen (and the same three women's soccer players) are out on the field now to run.

• Two players who appear to be in shape (at least running shape, if not football shape - that gets determined next month) are LB Lincoln Richard and DB Ajee Montes, each of whom regularly is among the leaders of his group.

[mrydel]

Someone asked the other day if there were any Bennett layers remaining and the thought was no. Wasn't Loftin a Bennett recruit? Seems like he has been here a long time.

[SMU89]

Do we know the day of first official practice? Isn't normally on a Saturday?

[ClickClack]

Bennett may have recruited loftin some, but he was part of JJ's first recruiting class.

[SMU 86]

I can't wait until the season starts. GO MUSTANGS.

[Alaric]

Bennett may have recruited loftin some, but he was part of JJ's first recruiting class.

Loftin was a Utah commit but switched when JJ got here and offered.

[AusTxPony]

Has there been an article about Garrett Krstitch yet? I know a lot about the other two QBs, but little about him.