Opening Practice - (edit: report added)

[Aaron Carrara]

Matt was out at practice today, which just wrapped up.  He'll be providing updates, insight and photos shortly.

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[tejasrulz]

I saw on another board that Strong told the veterans that ties for a spot went to freshman which is quite the incentive to get them to step up. I like it.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Aaron Carrara]

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[Sirhornsalot]

LOVE IT

keep em coming!

 

[MikeV73]

Good to see that Raulerson has gained some good weight this offseason. I remember him coming in light as a freshmen and getting pushed around a bit at center. Liking the Moorer effect on the team.

 

[GBT]

I saw on another board that Strong told the veterans that ties for a spot went to freshman which is quite the incentive to get them to step up. I like it.

Thats what winning coaches do. Every high school coach who is successful will start an underclassman over a senior/junior  if they are equal in ability, because he has more upside and they will have them longer. Thats is common sense that Mack Brown didn't have. Lets hope Strong sticks to his guns on that topic at EVERY position. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

8/7 Practice Report

The Longhorns opened the season with their first practice of fall camp at Denius Fields on Friday evening. Oh, who am I kidding - let's go straight to details...

GENERAL

• The team and practice environment had more energy and bounce than in the spring. I could hear them before I saw 'em - that was a first in the last 18 months.

• Strong spent the whole practice on the offensive side of the ball.

• After 11-on-11 work, the OLl & DL went to far field to do positional drills while the team ran 7's. There's not much benefit to line play without pads, so the big's went downfield and did drills.

• Dominic Cruciani opened camp with a big blonde mohawk and a dark beard.

• Coaches from Shoemaker HS were in attendance.

 
OFFENSE

• Jay Norvell made it a point to praise John Burt anytime the freshman made a play.

• Armanti Foreman is in great shape and was working hard in drills. He looks explosive.

• Against air, the Texas qb's are deadly with a shotgun, but not with a rifle (more on this later).

• If you're looking for early tips on winning the locker room...Daje Johnson was the first downfield to greet Heard before qb/wr drills started.

• Shawn Watson spent extra time with both Kai Locksley and Jerrod Heard during drills and full-squad work.

• Swoopes' fast ball is on a different level than any QB out there. That guy can hum the rock.

• Warrick, Daje Johnson, Roderick Bernard, and Ryan Newsome worked exclusively at slot.

• Marcus Johnson, Armanti Foreman & Dorian Leonard were always at the front of the lines (out wide) during drills. They are the Alpha group at the moment.

• Dorian Leonard had tons of energy. He seemed to enjoy keeping guys loose by dancing around and joking with the whole team. He looks like a glue guy.

• The quarterbacks did fine until db's were added to the mix. At that point, all the qb's started missing throws and it took a period for them to adjust.

• The entire team took a Gatorade break at after 45 minutes. Marcus Hutchins and Sed Flowers were the first two guys on their feet, trotting out onto the field to the coaches.

• Interesting OL combo during full-team work: Hutchins, Flowers, Doyle, Perkins, C. Williams

• With no one around him, Johnathan Gray dropped an easy check-down throw.

• Longest completion of the night was Swoopes to Marcus Johnson, but Johnson hauled in the pass out of bounds.

• During 11's, Kai Locksley got rep's in the 7th session (after 3 from Heard & 3 from Swoopes). The freshman hit 3/4 targets and corrected people that were lining up incorrectly.

• Jerrod Heard looked for John Burt a lot. Swoopes' favorite target is Marcus Johnson.

• DeAndre McNeal's frame and long arms look like a player built on a PlayStation.

• Connor Williams didn't get the non-contact memo...Dylan Haines got too close on a blitz and Williams destroyed him.

DEFENSE

• First team unit:

DL - Shiro Davis ; Poona Ford ; Paul Boyette

LB - Naashon Hughes ; Edwin Freeman ; Malik Jefferson ; Peter Jinkens

DB - Duke Thomas ; Jason Hall ; Dylan Haines ; John Bonney

• 2nd team unit:

DL - Jake McMillon ; Tank Jackson ; Bryce Cottrell

LB - Trey Gonzalez - Cecil Cherry - Anthony Wheeler ; Peter Jinkens

DB - Antwaun Davis ; Kevin Vaccaro ; Adrian Colbert; Kris Boyd

• Alex Norman came off the sideline and was late getting on the field during 11's. Everyone was looking at the sideline and waiting.

• Peter Jinkens had an interception off tipped/uncaught ball.

• Charles Omenihu is really tall but looks thin when standing by teammates.

• Davante Davis, PJ Locke & DeShon Elliott got worked in together (as a unit) during 7's. 

• Adrian Colbert came up gimpy after a play but stayed in for the rest of the series.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Jacorey Warrick and Armanti Foreman were fielding punts during drills, along with Ryan Newsome, Daje Johnson, and Catalon.

• During full-squad rep's only Warrick, Johnson, and Foreman worked at punt returns.

• Mitchell Becker was crushing it tonight. Kid has a serious leg on punts.

• Michael Dickson was really erratic - he'd duck hook one and then boom the next one.

• Kyle Ashby & Jak Holbrook are the deep snappers. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

• Against air, the Texas qb's are deadly with a shotgun, but not with a rifle (more on this later).

Finishing this thought...

Tonight the qb's were pretty accurate but not really accurate. When they're throwing at a net, they hit near their intended target instead of putting it through a loop. (by "near" I'm talking about putting it within a reasonable catch radius)

There were too many drops tonight, but that's not just on the pass-catchers. Part of tonight's issue with drops was the QB's accuracy....even when their throw is off-target, it's still close enough for a back/receiver to get a hand on it. Is that a dropped pass, or an errant throw?

The answer is, it's an incomplete pass.

 

[Sirhornsalot]

I was always taught that if it hits the receiver's hands, he should have caught it.

 

[Will Baizer]

That's one of the things I'm most worried about going into this year is our ability to catch balls (read: Not drop them). Our most experienced WR is Marcus Johnson who last season has a catch % of 46.5%. That's insanely low. It had a lot to do with his route running but the guy kinda has hands like feet (not saying I could do any better trying to hall in a Swoopes brand bullet). Now I know we have John Burt who from every report, including this excellent report by Matt right here (still jealous of you Matt btw) seems to be a threat to take his spot, but then you talk about the inexperience of John Burt or McNeal. If it's not clear enough I'm very worried about our WRs this year.

 

[Mike Roach]

That's one of the things I'm most worried about going into this year is our ability to catch balls (read: Not drop them). Our most experienced WR is Marcus Johnson who last season has a catch % of 46.5%. That's insanely low. It had a lot to do with his route running but the guy kinda has hands like feet (not saying I could do any better trying to hall in a Swoopes brand bullet). Now I know we have John Burt who from every report, including this excellent report by Matt right here (still jealous of you Matt btw) seems to be a threat to take his spot, but then you talk about the inexperience of John Burt or McNeal. If it's not clear enough I'm very worried about our WRs this year.

Lots of opportunity for the young guys to make a move.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I've read several places that Roberson looked really good. That's probably the player that intrigues me most. I think he has first team all big 12 potential.

 

[Aaron Carrara]

Matt's beard is almost Kilimanjaro-ready:


Preseason practice No. 1 in the books. Coach Strong just spoke with media. Check coverage later…

A photo posted by Texas Football (@longhornsfootball) on Aug 7, 2015 at 6:19pm PDT