Practice Report

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• The team practiced in shells (helmets, shoulder pads & shorts).

• Chris Nelson, Tank Jackson, Garrett Gray, Derick Roberson, and Duke Catalon were all carrying cinder blocks under the watchful eyes of Pat Moorer.

• It was instructive to watch how the coaches started simple and built complexity – a drill started in redzone 7-on-7 work;

– Then o-linemen were added along with a speed-option pitch (with the pitch always being made);

– Then a read-option was added from the same formation;

– Then a quick sideline throw was added after the quarterback kept the ball on the read.

• The overall energy in the first practice was much better than Monday’s effort.

• There were a number of college & high school coaches at practice to observe and take notes.

COACHING

• Joe Wickline consistently takes time to communicate fundamentals during drills. He also spent extra time making sure Perkins pulled correctly, and gave Connor Williams extra attention when the OL worked on double team assignments.

• Brick Haley was very vocal throughout the afternoon.

• Jay Norvell spent extra time with Lorenzo Joe at end of 11-on-11’s.

• Shawn Watson and Jeff Traylor both spent time working with Heard after his turns in scrimmage work.

QUARTERBACKS

• Overall impression was that both quarterbacks had average days, at best. From a positive standpoint, Tyrone Swoopes steadily improved throughout practice, finishing much better than he started. For Jerrod Heard, the good news is that, while he was average on Monday, he clearly performed better than he did in the first practice of Spring.

• The only interception I saw came on a Swoopes throw that was too high. The ball was either batted or didn’t come out of his hand cleanly.

• Like in the first practice, the main difference between the two signal callers is apparent in scrimmage work: Swoopes stands in the pocket looking to throw downfield, versus Heard tucking the ball and running.

• Swoopes missed Marcus Johnson out wide, but made a point to go right back to him on the very next play.

• Swoopes was more accurate with his fast ball today. When he put air under a throw, it tended to be off the mark.

• Heard’s outs take way too long to get to the sideline, and are thrown too late (after the wide receiver breaks and is open).

• There is a timing buzzer that sounds after three seconds if a quarterback hasn’t thrown. If Heard doesn’t tuck and run, the buzzer goes off on most of his throws.

• While warming up, the quarterbacks threw to nets. Logan Vinklarek was the most accurate in the drill.

• While all quarterbacks do the positional drills, only Swoopes and Heard take snaps in team scrimmage/situational work.

• Practice squad quarterback Jimmy Greenwood signals audibles from the sideline when the team runs tempo (NOTE: the coaching staff stays on the field throughout practice).

RUNNING BACKS

• To warm up, the running backs performed an agility drill where they sidestepped pads, then had to scoop tennis balls off the field.

• Compared to last year, Jonathan Gray looks comfortable in traffic. He’s following blocks much better.

• D’Onta Foreman got a lot of rep’s with both the first and second team. With Catalon sidelined, Foreman is getting extra work.

• Gray got in the open field and reminded everyone why he’s so dangerous with a great stutter step.

WIDE RECEIVER / TIGHT END

• During positional warmups, the group did ‘punch, grab & strip’ like on the first day. Norvell made them start over because he wasn’t satisfied with the effort level.

• During warmups the ‘big skill’ group worked on pass catching. Two observations:

1. Whiteley stands out physically in the group.

2. Jeff Traylor throws darts.

• In both three and four receiver formations, Lorenzo Joe was split out on the same side of the field where Dorian Leonard lined up out wide.

• Ty Templin made a nice sideline catch, then put his shoulder down for extra yards instead of stepping out of bounds.

• Jacorey Warrick caught a wide receiver screen, slipped a defender, then jetted to the house for a touchdown.

• Whiteley definitely seems willing to get physical in full scrimmage work – even in shells.

• Warrick is getting a ton of rep’s. He was in most formations, whether it was first or second team. Those rep’s appear to be coming at Daje Johnson’s expense. Johnson only lined up in the slot with the second team.

• In 7-on-7 work, Foreman, Warrick and Leonard ran first-team with Swoopes and D’Onta Foreman.

OFFENSIVE LINE

• Two of the lineups used on Monday:

B. Whiteley – C. Williams – K. Perkins – T. Doyle – B. Hodges – M. Hutchins

D. Cruciani – C. Hughes – E. Rodriguez – T. Doyle – B. Hodges – T. Nickelson

• In 7-on-7 scrimmage work, the coaches focused on the running game by lining up the offensive line (with a QB & RB) versus the front seven on defense.

• Taylor Doyle was pulling out wide on multiple plays.

• Sedrick Flowers dressed out but did not participate.

• Terrell Cuney got work at left guard.

• Joe Wickline spent extra time with Camrhon Hughes and Tristan Nickelson after full squad scrimmage work.

DEFENSIVE LINE

• When Naashon Hughes, Tim Cole and Peter Jinkens were at linebacker, the d-line used Shiro Davis – Poona Ford – Paul Boyette.

• Beyond that consistent grouping, the players rotated frequently. With the team only in shells, the defensive line wasn’t an area of focus.

LINEBACKER

• Like DL, the linebackers were limited because of the lack of contact. Two noteworthy developments:

– Malik Jefferson cross-trained at middle linebacker when Edwin Freeman and Trey Gonzales were on the field.

– Naashon Hughes beat Hutchins easily to the outside, and on the next play lined up out wide in coverage. The coaches are really pushing him which provides tons of flexibility in formations.

DEFENSIVE BACK

• Jason hall stands out physically in the group during positional drills.

• In warmups the DB’s did an open field fumble drill where they had to scoop a loose, bouncing ball on the run. Then they worked on forcing fumbles and stripping the ball away from a ball carrier being slowed by another defender.

• One grouping that got a lot of repetitions (L to R): Antwaun Davis – Jason Hall – Dylan Haines – John Bonney – Bryson Echols.

• Bonney got a lot of work up in the box at the LOS when he was at nickel back.

• The only time Kevin Vaccaro was on the field was with reserves from the practice squad.

• Jason Hall was barked at for being a little too physical on two different plays.

SPECIAL TEAMS

• Practice started with full team field goal attempts that started about 30 yards out and then got progressively farther (while alternating hash marks/sides). Nick Rose was kicking and Trey Holtz was holding. Rose’s first miss was from 43 yards on the right hash.

• While the OL caught a breather during full scrimmage work, the rest of the team did a hand-eye coordination drill for punt blocks. The drill started with players on their knees and stationary (only using their hands), then progressed to half-speed at balls being punted.