Practice No. 4 (Saturday, July 29)
Practice started indoors and went for about 45 minutes, then, moved outdoors, were temps were around the mid-90s (and I don’t know what the heat index would have been, but it was brutal). At one point they took groups of players and stuck them in the large outdoor freezer for a few minutes (yes, they took them all back out alive).
I was really impressed at how the players handled the heat. I didn’t see anyone losing a temper and getting a stupid penalty, there was no hunching over or hands on hips and they moved efficiently from one drill to the next. So if you’re looking for bigger-picture signs that the program is headed in a better direction, perhaps there’s that.
OFFENSE
- The offense definitely won the day the first part of practice, which I think coach Clark Lea alluded to near the start of his post-practice interview. Mostly this came in the passing game but Lea talked about the running game getting untracked for some nice games though four practices.
- QB AJ Swann had a nice day. Highlights included a 1-yard TD strike to the perpetualy-unstoppable WR Will Sheppard. Lea afterward said some things about Swann that included “he’s in a better place (than a year ago),” that he’s a “smart player” and is “gaining mastery in the system.”
- QB Ken Seals also did some nice things, including about a 20-yard TD to WR Gamarion Carter.
- Some of the other receivers did nice things in the indoor portion of practice in 1-on-1s. Sheppard got terrific separation against a double-team and easily hauled in what was about a 30-yard pass.
- Freshman WR Logan Humphries had a long catch down the sidelines that was probably good for 30 or 40 yards.
- True freshman TE Josh Palmer caught my eye for a moment this morning when he won a one-on-one battle to make a nice catch over the middle in 1-on-1s.
- Another writer asked about WR Daevon Walker, who’d been a disappointment to me the first two practices but looked better today. Lea said he “was building on a strong spring” and that he’d “made a lot of off-field progress.”
- RB Patrick Smith looks like the first-team guy at the moment; I’ve seen him out there a little more the last two practices.
- RB Chase Gillespie had a nice run at one point.
- Freshman RB Deago Benson got a little work today and didn’t stand out good or bad when I saw him today.
- RB Dylan Betts-Pauley is listed at 234 pounds and looks lighter than that to me and also noticeably quicker; I’m not sure how big a factor he’ll be but maybe with the re-shaping of his body, he’s putting himself in position to be something besides just a blocking fullback.
DEFENSE
- Guys who had picks today: LB Langston Patterson (1-on-1s), DB Mustafa Dannett, DB Jeffrey Ugochukwu (that was about an 80-yard pick-6 off a deflection in 11-on-11s.
- I have been waiting to see something from LB Prince Kollie, who I’ve not seen a ton in 11-on-11s. Today, Kollie had what I think would have been a tackle for loss had full contact been allowed on a running play.
- DB Savion Riley, who got a lot of time this spring and is probably their top safety backup, broke up a ball today that I think would have gone for a TD if he hadn’t.
- STAR Aeneas DiCosmo had a sack today, I think he had one in 11-on-11s in one of the other two practices I witnessed. He seems like he’s got the edge to win the starting job there so far.
- I’m still not sure I’ve seen ANCHOR CJ Taylor play a snap yet, but I think that’s a load management issue (or maybe something soft tissue) that they’re monitoring and having asked around a little, I haven’t sensed any concern there.
- Someone asked C Julian Hernandez about going up against the defense and he mentioned true freshman NT De’Marion Thomas as being “just as physical as some of the SEC guys” he’d played against.
SPECIAL TEAMS
- This is the most we’ve seen of the kickers so far (and it still wasn’t a lot) and I’d stand by the earlier statement that Jacob Borcila is probably going to be starter, especially after I saw some unforced shanks out of Brock Taylor and Will Faris. But it’s early and they’ve done very, very little kicking in game simulations so far.
- I think Martel Hight got a little work in the punt return game today but I didn’t write it down and could possibly be dreaming that.
They’re off Sunday, so we’ll be back at it on Monday morning to cover. I think Billy Derrick will be re-joining me next week and if so, we’ll probably split up where I’ll keep an eye on defense while he watches offense.
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