Thursday (12/15/11) practice notes
Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:45 pm
The Mustangs returned to Gerald J. Ford Stadium Thursday morning for the fourth and final practice before the team will enjoy a break of nearly two weeks for the holiday.
• The one-on-one drill between defensive players is one of the first drills in practice, and seems to really liven up the players - those involved in each matchup, and those watching and cheering. The best matchup probably was between safeties Jay Scott and Ryan Smith. Once they locked horns, each got the upper hand, driving the other backward and almost through the ring of teammates that surrounded them before the other regained his footing and pushed back into the middle. Smith eventually got his pads under Scott’s and knocked Scott off balance to end it, but it was a really even matchup.
• With NTs Torlan Pittman and Aaron Davis dinged up (they both said they expect to be fine to return to practice after the break, and both expect to play Jan. 7 in the Compass Bowl), freshman Darrian Wright is working with DEs Marquis Frazier and Taylor Thompson on the first-team defensive line in line drills against the scout-team offensive line.
• Freshman RB Rishaad Wimbley sat out a couple of days of practice after rolling an ankle, but he’s back and running with the offense now. Doesn’t look like ankle is bothering him anymore.
Note: Caught up with Wimbley after practice, and said something about his ankle not hurting anymore. Wimbley said that he actually "couldn’t afford to miss more practice." When I suggested that he had 12 days to rest it over the holiday break, he laughed, and said he would take one day - Christmas - off from training. "I can rest it after the bowl game." Sounds like a younger version of Zach Line.
• Traditional seven-on-seven drill getting tweaked a little … to a six (offense)-on-eight (defense) drill. First play: quick slant to WR Der’Rikk Thompson, who split two defenders, kicked it up a gear and headed toward the end zone.
• Rain has started. Seems like every day this week has been chilly with some drizzle/rain. There are rumors that early-season practices in Dallas involve blazing sunshine, but that seems kind of far-fetched at the moment.
• WR Terrance Wilkerson just made a great catch over his outside shoulder on a deep route down the right sideline. The ball drifted a little out of bounds, but Wilkerson beat CB J.R. Richardson down the sideline and adjusted to the ball to make the snag over his right shoulder.
• CB Kenneth Acker has looked really good the last couple of days, even though he still is working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in the regular-season finale against Rice. Acker said there was no structural damage, and that the shoulder is feeling much better, and that he expects to be fine for the Compass Bowl.
• Skies opened up, ending practice - and beginning the team's holiday break - about 30 minutes early.
• The one-on-one drill between defensive players is one of the first drills in practice, and seems to really liven up the players - those involved in each matchup, and those watching and cheering. The best matchup probably was between safeties Jay Scott and Ryan Smith. Once they locked horns, each got the upper hand, driving the other backward and almost through the ring of teammates that surrounded them before the other regained his footing and pushed back into the middle. Smith eventually got his pads under Scott’s and knocked Scott off balance to end it, but it was a really even matchup.
• With NTs Torlan Pittman and Aaron Davis dinged up (they both said they expect to be fine to return to practice after the break, and both expect to play Jan. 7 in the Compass Bowl), freshman Darrian Wright is working with DEs Marquis Frazier and Taylor Thompson on the first-team defensive line in line drills against the scout-team offensive line.
• Freshman RB Rishaad Wimbley sat out a couple of days of practice after rolling an ankle, but he’s back and running with the offense now. Doesn’t look like ankle is bothering him anymore.
Note: Caught up with Wimbley after practice, and said something about his ankle not hurting anymore. Wimbley said that he actually "couldn’t afford to miss more practice." When I suggested that he had 12 days to rest it over the holiday break, he laughed, and said he would take one day - Christmas - off from training. "I can rest it after the bowl game." Sounds like a younger version of Zach Line.
• Traditional seven-on-seven drill getting tweaked a little … to a six (offense)-on-eight (defense) drill. First play: quick slant to WR Der’Rikk Thompson, who split two defenders, kicked it up a gear and headed toward the end zone.
• Rain has started. Seems like every day this week has been chilly with some drizzle/rain. There are rumors that early-season practices in Dallas involve blazing sunshine, but that seems kind of far-fetched at the moment.
• WR Terrance Wilkerson just made a great catch over his outside shoulder on a deep route down the right sideline. The ball drifted a little out of bounds, but Wilkerson beat CB J.R. Richardson down the sideline and adjusted to the ball to make the snag over his right shoulder.
• CB Kenneth Acker has looked really good the last couple of days, even though he still is working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in the regular-season finale against Rice. Acker said there was no structural damage, and that the shoulder is feeling much better, and that he expects to be fine for the Compass Bowl.
• Skies opened up, ending practice - and beginning the team's holiday break - about 30 minutes early.