Billy Derrick and I were there for two hours of practice this morning. All of it was in shells and the pads won’t come on until August 1. Here is what we observed:
OVERALL ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE
- I tried to pay a little more attention to how practice is run today and one thing that stood out is that the overall organization seems to be good—every staff and support staff member seemed to be engaged in something without a lot of standing-around time.
- One thing different this year: Staff members wear like, color-coded shirts. Assistants wear gray shirts, nutrition staff wears green, equipment staff wears yellow and the trainers wear blue. That makes it easy for anyone to quickly attend to immediate needs.
- I also noticed a decent-sized storage shed over on the sideline next to the turf field. That’s new, and I’m guessing allows them to more quickly more equipment to the field that was stored inside before, or perhaps house stuff they left outside, I didn’t ask.
INJURIES AND PARTICIPATION
- A source told me that on the whole, they’re in good shape health-wise.
However, coach Clark Lea did confirm that TE Cole Spence is done for the year, and that OL Jake Ketschek likely is, too. (He did say that if there’s postseason, Ketschek might make it back for that.)
- In a post-practice interview, DL Nate Clifton said something about “CJ” being hurt. I didn’t spot DL Christian James out there today and I don’t know more than that but I’ll try to follow up.
- I saw RB Patrick Smith and anchor CJ Taylor on the field today but did not see them take any scrimmage reps. I’m guessing this is a “load maintenance” issue but I didn’t ask and so please don’t take that as “reporting."
NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS
- The big highlight the day was true freshman CB Martel Hight picking off QB Walter Taylor in an 11-on-11. Hight was also getting some punt return reps so I guess he’d make my ridiculously-way-too-early list of “true freshman who could make en impact” list.
- Vanderbilt was using Clifton inside often today and when we asked hm after practice whether that was just a one-off thing or whether he’d play more outside, Clifton’s answer (and you can hear it for yourself in video) seemed to indicate he’ll play more inside this year. Clifton is listed at 6-5 and 280 and looks every bit of it. Personally, I think that’s a good move; he’s always been a guy who seems assignment-sound and he’s big enough to help inside, and that allows them to get more explosiveness off the edge with DE Darren Agu (who’s now listed at “end” and not “star,” though I think that was the case in the spring) and star Aeneas DiCosmo in at the same time, and clears way for other edge-type guys (Miles Capers, BJ Diakate, whoever) to see the Feld more often.
- Speaking of big bodies inside, Vanderbilt lists freshman DL De’Marion Thomas at 6-2 and 321 pounds and he looks it. The Commodores just haven’t had much in the way of nose tackles (which is where he was playing today) and at least size-wise, he’s that.
- And on that topic, DL Yilanan Outtarra is up to 6-7 and 305, and was also playing some nose tackle and commanding at least one double team. Between he and Thomas, you can see Lea’s recruiting start to come together and give them size and athleticism inside that they just didn’t have when he got the job.
- DE Brayden Bapst and LB Nick Rinaldi combined on a sack, I’m not sure who the QB was.
OTHER NOTES
- Tomorrow’s practice will be at the same time 10:20-12:30 and like all, is closed to the public. I may or may not be there tomorrow depending on how I can move around some pieces at home, and Billy can’t make it. That might be the only one we miss if so but I’m hoping to be there.
- All scrimmages will be closed to the public, I believe, and certainly the ones at Ensworth (which I think is two of the three, but could be wrong). The ones at Ensworth have to be closed due to NCAA rules regulating off-campus scrimmages.
- I asked media relations if there is any concern that any games will need to be moved this fall and was told there is no concern here.
- Billy Derrick watched the offense and took notes, but is working his real job for George Plaster as I type this. I’m sure he can add his thoughts tonight. Billy and I will tag-team most practices; I will try to keep my focus on defense and I have charged him with keeping up with the offense.
- Any other observations beyond what I’ve offered would seem silly and premature given it’s the first practice and they aren’t even in pads.
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