Optional seven-on-seven/scrimmage observations (7/12/12)
Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2012 6:55 pm
• As the players are warming up for seven-on-seven drills against some Midwestern State players, a lot of guys are taking a shot at some other positions. DE Kevin Grenier just punted a ball 55 yards. Sure, it was end-over-end and probably never got 20 feet off the ground, but it bounced past LB-turned-punt-returner Derek Longoria in a hurry.
• When the guys from Midwestern State arrived, SMU players continued to run around, throwing passes to each other. Longoria just threw a strike of a little over 50 yards to WR Ronnell Sims - a pass made even more impressive by the fact that he's a linebacker/punter and threw it with protective braces on his wrists.
• Each team went three-and-out on its first drive. On MSU's third down, CB Chris Parks used his increased bulk to steer the WR away from the pass, which fell untouched about seven or eight yards away.
• QB Garrett Gilbert went 4-for-5 on SMU's second (and his first) drive. He missed a sure touchdown when he overthrew WR Kyle Guinyard, who had gotten a few steps behind the MSU defense, but made up for it when he fired a 35-yard strike to WR Ryan Walker on the goal line on a deep out route, allowing Walker to trot in for the touchdown.
• The SMU defense did everything except break up a 20-yard out route, as DBs Kenneth Acker and Jeremy Gray both got a hand on the ball ... only to watch an MSU receiver grab the deflection while lying flat on his back. MSU scored a couple of plays later.
• QB Garrett Krstich's first three passes were incomplete, although to be fair, two were drops of catchable throws. But he responded with a pair of strikes, including a 20-yard touchdown.
• QB Neal Burcham's first SMU pass in a scrimmage-like situation (?) could have been a touchdown. He hit WR Arrius Holleman in the right flat with a simple screen pass, and Holleman split a couple of defenders to see nothing but open field in front of him, but returned the ball to the hash marks for the next play, rather than racing untouched to the end zone. But Holleman had so much room after getting through the DBs that unless he's slower than a sports writer, there's no way he was going to get caught before reaching the end zone.
• Burcham threw what should have been his first interception, but the MSU DB dropped a pass that hit him right in the gut.
• Blake McJunkin and Taylor Lasecki are rotating at center.
• Sometimes the other team just makes plays: MSU just scored on a high pass to the goal line that went over two DBs' hands by a matter of inches, and the receiver twisted while jumping to haul it in. The coverage was there, but it was a great catch.
• QB Garrett Gilbert definitely likes throwing the deep ball. On his second series, he connected with WR Der'Rikk Thompson on a 45-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive.
• Coaches have raved about the athleticism and depth SMU has at linebacker, in large part because of guys like LB Stephon Sanders, who just ran step-for-step with a Midwestern State WR on a crossing route and then forced him away from the play by steering out of bounds. Considering Sanders has a considerable size advantage, there was little chance the WR would be able to twist around and reach back for the ball. It looked a little like a guard in basketball trying to drive past a power forward. Sometimes it works, but when it doesn't, the guard could end up in the third row of the seats.
• Gilbert isn't just a deep passer. He just completed a drive that consisted of quick short passes and ended with him throwing a fastball through two DBs to WR Jeremy Johnson, who was coming across the back of the end zone.
• Several incoming freshmen attended, but for some, today's session was a watch-and-learn tutorial, as none got on the field for SMU. When the freshmen did get on the field, there often was a veteran standing behind/beside him, telling him where to line up, how to position his feet, etc.
• MSU should have just scored, when a WR caught a short pass and split two DBs. He headed toward the sideline and then headed upfield, apparently toward the end zone, only to be caught from behind by S Hayden Greenbauer at about the 10-yard line.
• Best throw so far: QB Garrett Krstich to WR Der'Rikk Thompson, about 18 yards downfield on the left sideline, between two DBs in tight coverage. Thompson made the catch, absorbed a bump from one of the defenders and got both feet down before stumbling out of bounds.
• Earning his play: with the MSU offense on the 12-yard line, FS Jay Scott stepped in front of a WR to make an interception. But the WR apparently wasn't ready to give up on the play, and in an effort to make the reception, reached around Scott's head to try to get to the ball but ended up catching more of Scott's head and neck. Scott hung on for the interception.
• QB Garrett Gilbert and WR Ryan Walker just hooked up on another 35-yard touchdown ... although it does help when the defense slips and there isn't a DB within several yards of the receiver as he walks in to the end zone.
• Running on his own on the side of the field before seven-on-seven drills: former SMU QB Chris Sanders.
• When the guys from Midwestern State arrived, SMU players continued to run around, throwing passes to each other. Longoria just threw a strike of a little over 50 yards to WR Ronnell Sims - a pass made even more impressive by the fact that he's a linebacker/punter and threw it with protective braces on his wrists.
• Each team went three-and-out on its first drive. On MSU's third down, CB Chris Parks used his increased bulk to steer the WR away from the pass, which fell untouched about seven or eight yards away.
• QB Garrett Gilbert went 4-for-5 on SMU's second (and his first) drive. He missed a sure touchdown when he overthrew WR Kyle Guinyard, who had gotten a few steps behind the MSU defense, but made up for it when he fired a 35-yard strike to WR Ryan Walker on the goal line on a deep out route, allowing Walker to trot in for the touchdown.
• The SMU defense did everything except break up a 20-yard out route, as DBs Kenneth Acker and Jeremy Gray both got a hand on the ball ... only to watch an MSU receiver grab the deflection while lying flat on his back. MSU scored a couple of plays later.
• QB Garrett Krstich's first three passes were incomplete, although to be fair, two were drops of catchable throws. But he responded with a pair of strikes, including a 20-yard touchdown.
• QB Neal Burcham's first SMU pass in a scrimmage-like situation (?) could have been a touchdown. He hit WR Arrius Holleman in the right flat with a simple screen pass, and Holleman split a couple of defenders to see nothing but open field in front of him, but returned the ball to the hash marks for the next play, rather than racing untouched to the end zone. But Holleman had so much room after getting through the DBs that unless he's slower than a sports writer, there's no way he was going to get caught before reaching the end zone.
• Burcham threw what should have been his first interception, but the MSU DB dropped a pass that hit him right in the gut.
• Blake McJunkin and Taylor Lasecki are rotating at center.
• Sometimes the other team just makes plays: MSU just scored on a high pass to the goal line that went over two DBs' hands by a matter of inches, and the receiver twisted while jumping to haul it in. The coverage was there, but it was a great catch.
• QB Garrett Gilbert definitely likes throwing the deep ball. On his second series, he connected with WR Der'Rikk Thompson on a 45-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive.
• Coaches have raved about the athleticism and depth SMU has at linebacker, in large part because of guys like LB Stephon Sanders, who just ran step-for-step with a Midwestern State WR on a crossing route and then forced him away from the play by steering out of bounds. Considering Sanders has a considerable size advantage, there was little chance the WR would be able to twist around and reach back for the ball. It looked a little like a guard in basketball trying to drive past a power forward. Sometimes it works, but when it doesn't, the guard could end up in the third row of the seats.
• Gilbert isn't just a deep passer. He just completed a drive that consisted of quick short passes and ended with him throwing a fastball through two DBs to WR Jeremy Johnson, who was coming across the back of the end zone.
• Several incoming freshmen attended, but for some, today's session was a watch-and-learn tutorial, as none got on the field for SMU. When the freshmen did get on the field, there often was a veteran standing behind/beside him, telling him where to line up, how to position his feet, etc.
• MSU should have just scored, when a WR caught a short pass and split two DBs. He headed toward the sideline and then headed upfield, apparently toward the end zone, only to be caught from behind by S Hayden Greenbauer at about the 10-yard line.
• Best throw so far: QB Garrett Krstich to WR Der'Rikk Thompson, about 18 yards downfield on the left sideline, between two DBs in tight coverage. Thompson made the catch, absorbed a bump from one of the defenders and got both feet down before stumbling out of bounds.
• Earning his play: with the MSU offense on the 12-yard line, FS Jay Scott stepped in front of a WR to make an interception. But the WR apparently wasn't ready to give up on the play, and in an effort to make the reception, reached around Scott's head to try to get to the ball but ended up catching more of Scott's head and neck. Scott hung on for the interception.
• QB Garrett Gilbert and WR Ryan Walker just hooked up on another 35-yard touchdown ... although it does help when the defense slips and there isn't a DB within several yards of the receiver as he walks in to the end zone.
• Running on his own on the side of the field before seven-on-seven drills: former SMU QB Chris Sanders.