I mentioned in another thread I would post my own Tulane depth chart today, but I will hold off until tomorrow when they have an off day because I have an extensive practice report from today, when the workout was moved back because of the unseasonably mild weather due to the storm in the gulf. I was there for almost the entire practice, which ended at 11;15, and had exclusive interviews with Fritz and defensive coordinator Jack Curtis on Zoom afterward.
Also, although there was a media blackout at the scrimmage yesterday, I am posting a few highlights from an insider who volunteered to give them to me later today (it is approved). Because of the lack of coverage of Tulane elsewhere, it is incredible how much information you can only get here. I've never been big on promoting myself--it's just not in my nature, frequently to my detriment--but people who really care about the football team are missing out big time if they don't subscribe, as anyone who does subscribe already knows.
Today, they were working on punt returns when I arrived. Amare Jones, who was outstanding in that role last year (although the good teams make it hard to return punts due to college rules allowing everyone to head downfield at the snap rather than just the gunners), is the No. 1 guy of course. Jacob Robertson, Duece Watts and Tyjae Spears also fielded punts. Spears, who I would not use in that role because he's too valuable as a running back--muffed an easy one. That's OK. He is going to be a star at running back. Jones then muffed one he had to run up to catch, but he's proven reliable in games, so that's not really a concern.
Next, they did a drill I have not seen before where an offensive player and a defensive player lined up back-to-back at the 5-yard line and ran five yards in opposite directions before the offense player tried to get to the end zone without being touched. Everyone did the drill except for the linemen.
Minor injuries are mounting, which is normal for this time, but other than the one that has tight end Reggie Brown on a scooter, none appear major. The defensive line was particularly hard hit today, with Angelo Anderson, Davon Wright, Noah Taliancich and Alfred Thomas all watching practice. I did not see Armoni Dixon or Darius Hodges either, so walk-on Noah Seiden was on the second-team D-line. This is not a big concern because everyone is expected back.
Two other players not at practice were wide receiver Tyrek Presley and safety Macon Clark. Presley had been there for every previous practice I attended. I'm not sure about Clark, who appears to have dropped on the depth chart but still is considered an important player in the rotation.
Jha'Quan Jackson joined Sorrell Brown on the sideline with injuries, depleting the wide receiver depth a bit. Both were walking around fine.
When they went to individual position work, freshman Reggie Neely and Levi Wiliiams practiced with the cornerbacks and Cornelius Dyson, whom Fritz likes a lot, and Shi'Keem Laister were with the safeties. I'm not sure I'd specified where Williams and Laister were lining up before.
They had two separate sessions of 7-on-7 work. In the first one, Jaetavian Toles caught a deep post from Justin Ibieta for a touchdown. Everyone appeared happy for Toles, who spent the first two weeks of camp at cornerback after being the leading returning receiver for career catches. He did a butt bump with an assistant coach on his way to the sideline, and Jaylon Monroe, who was not involved in the play, congratulated him a little later. I firmly believe Toles will be part of the playing rotation if he keeps his head up. Fritz says he can be an outstanding special teams guy, but I see him contributing on offense, too.
Next, they did kickoff drills, but I covered that thoroughly two days ago. They used the same returners today.
The running backs and tight ends did an interesting drill next as the team was divided up again, crouching under a trampoline that was hauled to the sideline and running through six cylindrical cushions with the ball in their hands in what I assume was a ball-security drill. Next they caught a short pass and ran through the cushions.
It was back to 7 on 7 next, and Duece Watts made a difficult one-handed catch look easy. He has been the best receiver in camp and looks like he will be the go-to guy this fall, both on deep balls and quick passes to take advantage of his ability in the open field. A little later he made a rare mistake, dropping what would have been an 80-yard touchdown pass that Keon Howard threw on a line, losing his concentration for a second when he was five yards behind everyone. A coach told him it was all "mental." Watts normally has good hands. Dane Ledford made an outstanding leaping grab on a down and out, although the DBs close to him insisted he landed out of bounds.
Ibieta practiced before Michael Pratt in 7 on 7 and threw accurately on almost every rep. He sometimes takes longer to get rid of the ball than the other two QBs, probably because he did not go through spring, but his passes go where he wants them to, which may be the single most important ingredient for a QB. He connected with Duece Watts on one play in which Monroe had tight coverage.
The rest of 7 on 7 was a drops festival, which is a concern. This was the second practice in August where there were far too many miscues. After Duece Watts' bobble, Ygenio Booker dropped a dime from Ibieta, Tyrick James had a pass from Howard glance off his hands, walk-on Stephen Payne dropped one, Jacob Robertson dropped another, walk-on Reed Rutkowski dropped another and Robertson dropped a second one all in the span of about 12 plays. The session ended with a nice catch by Robertson on a crossing route from Howard, and Will Hall congratulated Howard for the throw as they went off the field.
After a break for rest, they went to 11 on 11, and Jones made a diving catch from Howard on the first play. Robertson then dropped another pass when he was the safety valve and the ball came late. As usual, the three quarterback rotated after each three or four plays, with Pratt going in second and Ibieta third. The defense missed a big opportunity for an interception when Cameron Sample, who is having a huge camp, deflected a Howard pass and it fluttered down to Willie Langham, who dropped it. The players on the defensive sideline were getting ready to scream in excitement before he let it go through his fingers. Pratt, who has excellent arm strength but has been a little inconsistent with his accuracy in August, made a gorgeous pass to Booker while under heavy immediate pressure from defensive tackle Brandon Brown. Ibieta made an equally nice throw through double coverage to Rutkowski, but he dropped it.
Ibieta went for a long touchdown a little later, but he underthrew it slightly to Toles and Neely made a textbook slap-away while in perfect position, earning praise from the coaches. The practice ended one play later when Rutkowski caught a short pass.
The first-team defense, I believe, is set, with Sample at end, Jeffery Johnson reclaiming his spot at nose tackle after missing some time earlier in camp with a hand injury, De'Andre Williams at defensive tackle and Patrick Johnson at joker. The linebackers are Kevin Henry and Marvin Moody, the nickelback is Langham, the corners are Monroe and Kyle Harris and the safeties are Larry Brooks and Chase Kuerschen. Ajani Kerr gets some reps with the first unit at nickel, but these guys are basically out there all the time together.
The second-team defense today had Carlos Hatcher at end, Seiden at joker, Brandon Brown at nose tackle, Adonis Friloux at defensive tackle, Nick Anderson and Dorian Monroe at linebacker, Kiland Harrison and Kevaris Hall at cornerback, Kerr at nickel and Dyson and Laister at safety. Laister was there in Clark's absence, and Eric Hicks got some reps inside with the second unit, too.
There were no changes on the first-team offensive line, but walk-on Timothy Shafter returned to the second unit at left tackle with Stephen Lewerenz at left guard, Caleb Thomas at center, Cameron Jackel at right guard and Trey Tuggle at right tackle. Nik Hogan got some reps with the second unit, too.
