Wednesday (4/25/12) practice notes

[PonyPride]

Observations from Wednesday’s practice on the turf at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

• The passing game seemed better Wednesday, especially when the Ponies worked on their Red Zone offense. Some passes were particularly precise - QB Steve Kaiser threw a strike on a short crossing route to WR Jeremy Johnson, who made the catch despite having S Brett Haness draped all over him … QB Garrett Krstich found WR Keenan Holman on a similar route at the goal line between two DBs … QB Conner Preston connected for a short touchdown with WR Der’Rikk Thompson, who was wearing CB J.R. Richardson as a backpack - but perhaps the nicest play in the Red Zone drill came when Krstich dropped a touch pass over the top of two DBs to Jeremy Johnson in the back corner of the end zone.

• It's hard to quantify, but the receivers look like they're working harder. Drills are run at a higher tempo and players seem to be more intense, battling more for high passes and diving for grabs on the sideline. Several players have talked about new WRs coach Jason Phillips and his attention to detail, and it appears to be showing up in the way the players go through their drills in practice. It also stands to reason that if the WRs practice better, they'll push the DBs to do the same.

• The two things coaches will say can not be taught are speed and size, and WR Bobby Waid has both. When the Mustangs went to team (11-on-11) drills, QB Conner Preston threw a high pass toward the left sideline, a pass so high that Waid might be the only WR who could reach it. Listed at 6-4, Waid leaped high and stretched out his long arms to snag the pass before it sailed out of bounds. A couple of plays later, he caught a screen pass and raced past a DB up the sideline ... through a lane that only opened up because WR Darius Joseph sealed off the edge and drove the DB out of the way.

• The defensive play of the day unquestionably was turned in by S Brett Haness, who was shadowing WR Aaron Stafford on a short route in the right flat and did a complete 360-degree spin around Stafford in order to intercept the pass.

• Evidence of another player who is getting a lot stronger: LB Robert Seals, who has drawn raves this spring for his speed while rushing the passer, stuffed a running play as soon as it got started when he and the ball arrived at the running back at the same time. An otherwise unremarkable play was notable because of the fact that Seals - who has added about 25 pounds this year to get to around 230 - still gives away about 30 pounds to RB Rishaad Wimbley and stopped him in his tracks.

• Alumni in attendance: former FS Chris Banjo, CB Richard Crawford and CB Bennie Thomas were at practice, watching their former teammates.

Banjo had a tryout and met the coaches of the Houston Texans last week, and said he has received genuine interest from "six or seven teams."

[Corso]

I can't wait to see Seals, but with Ja'Gared Davis and Stephon Sanders already in place at OLB, it should be another year before we see much of Seals other than on special teams.

[Charleston Pony]

this year's team will have plenty of depth at LB and that will hopefully translate to improved special teams play

[Scoops]

A lot of coaches use a lot of tight ends and linebackers on special teams because they have strength and speed. We basically don't use tight ends, but thankfully we have a lot of LBs who can run. It wouldn't be surprising at all to see Ja'Gared Davis, Taylor Reed, Cody Worthen, Kevin Pope, Randall Joyner, Stephon Sanders, Lincoln Schick, Rob Seals, Jonathan Yenga and maybe even a freshman or two get in the mix on special teams.