This is a live practice update with a little analysis throw in.
Tanner Lee is practicing today.
If he plays Saturday, at least Tulane will have a fighting chance when the game starts. I do not think Tulane will win, and I doubt it will be close by the end, but this is the last chance to get a win in the four-game gauntlet to close October. There's no scenario on earth that gets the Wave a win at Memphis next week But Navy? Navy is not as stout defensively as Temple and Houston, which are in the top 12 nationally in rushing defense. Navy is 52nd, allowing about 150 rushing yards a game, so Tulane might have a chance to get its ground game going a little bit, which would open up the passing game. The Middies have only three interceptions for the year.
Three players are working with a trainer on the side of the field and not practicing: Lazedrick Thopmson, Zachery Harris and Peter Woullard.
Nathan Shienle is practicing today but he did not start with the first unit. The first-team O-line had Diaz at center while Shienle worked with the second unit at center. A little late, Shienle replaced Colton Hanson as first-team left guard. I think they liked Diaz' performance against Houston.
As if frequently the case, depth has been a problem on the defensive line, particularly at end. When Houston QB Greg Ward scored the second touchdown on Friday, Tulane had Luke Jackson and Robert Kennedy at end. Kennedy got pushed inside easily, allowing Ward to get to the corner with no resistance. Jackson was not involved in the play but got engulfed anyway. Neither Kennedy nor Jackson had a tackle in the game, and Kennedy looks lost every time I watch him play.
I've never put much stock into enthusiasm at practice, but I did note after the Georgia Tech debacle that Tulane's practices were very lively the next week. This one is flat. I'm not sensing any energy.
Talked to CJ briefly after practice and before he speaks at his weekly media luncheon.
On Lee
"I was glad to get him back. He looked good today. It's not 100 percent (chance he will play), but what is a hundred at this time of the season, but I feel confident. I loved what he was doing today. I'd love to see him in that game."
On Diaz' performance:
"He played good. Shienle's still got the little arm problem, but he (Diaz) played pretty good for what they did. We had two sacks, and we should have thrown both of them probably. They sacked us once on a Hail Mary, but I thought they protected well. We just have to make sure we're blocking guys up front."
On whether Eldrick Washington got kicked out of game after getting in ref's face:
"No, no, no. I kicked him out. He was arguing. He was being immature. We have to mature up a little bit."
On Thompson still being out with an ankle injury:
"I hope we get him tomorrow, but I don't know."
I also talked to Diaz. Here's that interview.
It was a tough game overall, but did you feel pretty good about the way you played?
"I feel like I played pretty good. I feel like I could have done better myself and we could have done better as a unit, but we're working on it and we'll be better next week."
Do you expect to start against Navy?
"I'm just taking it day by day. They called my name, so I'm just trying to step up and do whatever I can to help the team."
Where have you improved the most since you arrived in the spring of 2014?
"I feel like I've gotten better mentally. A lot of my problem was the mental side, so I've been watching a lot of film. Other guys and the coaches have helped me out a lot. I've also practiced a lot with my run blocks. That's a big thing I needed to work on. I feel like I've gotten a lot better at that."
You're not a big guy. How do you compensate?
"I compensate with hard work. I just try to outwork the guy I'm going against. I try to be as physical as possible and just compete with them the best that I can."
How frustrating have the constant run game problems been for the offensive line?
"It's been pretty frustrating. Us as a line, we take a lot of that heat. We just try to keep working at that and do a lot of drills that will help us with that. I feel like we'll step up a lot this game."
People are really down on the team right now, and you're a huge underdog to Navy. Do you feel like guys are ready mentally for this one?
"Yeah, I feel like we're ready. We had a good team talk. Everybody's motivated for this game. We're kind of tired of losing, so I think that should change this week based on what I see when we're practicing."
Tanner Lee is practicing today.
If he plays Saturday, at least Tulane will have a fighting chance when the game starts. I do not think Tulane will win, and I doubt it will be close by the end, but this is the last chance to get a win in the four-game gauntlet to close October. There's no scenario on earth that gets the Wave a win at Memphis next week But Navy? Navy is not as stout defensively as Temple and Houston, which are in the top 12 nationally in rushing defense. Navy is 52nd, allowing about 150 rushing yards a game, so Tulane might have a chance to get its ground game going a little bit, which would open up the passing game. The Middies have only three interceptions for the year.
Three players are working with a trainer on the side of the field and not practicing: Lazedrick Thopmson, Zachery Harris and Peter Woullard.
Nathan Shienle is practicing today but he did not start with the first unit. The first-team O-line had Diaz at center while Shienle worked with the second unit at center. A little late, Shienle replaced Colton Hanson as first-team left guard. I think they liked Diaz' performance against Houston.
As if frequently the case, depth has been a problem on the defensive line, particularly at end. When Houston QB Greg Ward scored the second touchdown on Friday, Tulane had Luke Jackson and Robert Kennedy at end. Kennedy got pushed inside easily, allowing Ward to get to the corner with no resistance. Jackson was not involved in the play but got engulfed anyway. Neither Kennedy nor Jackson had a tackle in the game, and Kennedy looks lost every time I watch him play.
I've never put much stock into enthusiasm at practice, but I did note after the Georgia Tech debacle that Tulane's practices were very lively the next week. This one is flat. I'm not sensing any energy.
Talked to CJ briefly after practice and before he speaks at his weekly media luncheon.
On Lee
"I was glad to get him back. He looked good today. It's not 100 percent (chance he will play), but what is a hundred at this time of the season, but I feel confident. I loved what he was doing today. I'd love to see him in that game."
On Diaz' performance:
"He played good. Shienle's still got the little arm problem, but he (Diaz) played pretty good for what they did. We had two sacks, and we should have thrown both of them probably. They sacked us once on a Hail Mary, but I thought they protected well. We just have to make sure we're blocking guys up front."
On whether Eldrick Washington got kicked out of game after getting in ref's face:
"No, no, no. I kicked him out. He was arguing. He was being immature. We have to mature up a little bit."
On Thompson still being out with an ankle injury:
"I hope we get him tomorrow, but I don't know."
I also talked to Diaz. Here's that interview.
It was a tough game overall, but did you feel pretty good about the way you played?
"I feel like I played pretty good. I feel like I could have done better myself and we could have done better as a unit, but we're working on it and we'll be better next week."
Do you expect to start against Navy?
"I'm just taking it day by day. They called my name, so I'm just trying to step up and do whatever I can to help the team."
Where have you improved the most since you arrived in the spring of 2014?
"I feel like I've gotten better mentally. A lot of my problem was the mental side, so I've been watching a lot of film. Other guys and the coaches have helped me out a lot. I've also practiced a lot with my run blocks. That's a big thing I needed to work on. I feel like I've gotten a lot better at that."
You're not a big guy. How do you compensate?
"I compensate with hard work. I just try to outwork the guy I'm going against. I try to be as physical as possible and just compete with them the best that I can."
How frustrating have the constant run game problems been for the offensive line?
"It's been pretty frustrating. Us as a line, we take a lot of that heat. We just try to keep working at that and do a lot of drills that will help us with that. I feel like we'll step up a lot this game."
People are really down on the team right now, and you're a huge underdog to Navy. Do you feel like guys are ready mentally for this one?
"Yeah, I feel like we're ready. We had a good team talk. Everybody's motivated for this game. We're kind of tired of losing, so I think that should change this week based on what I see when we're practicing."
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