I'm swamped this week which is why it's the first time since preseason camp began that I have not put up daily practice reports. This should be a one-week issue only.
It looks like Tyler Johnson has beaten out Keyshawn McLeod at left tackle. McLeod is healthy and has practiced this week, but Johnson is getting the reps with the first unit when I've watched.
Willie Fritz revealed the name of the player who got hurt last week and was taken to the hospital briefly--it was wide receiver Chris Johnson. I was told in confidence it was Johnson but did not get clearance to release it until today, but the good news is he is fine. He may even be cleared to play against Tulsa. Teams have to be super cautious with injuries like that these days.
Willie Fritz has been on point in practice this week. Yesterday, he got on the case of a couple of defenders who were going through the motions in a tackling drill. That's his baby and he made sure they made the full tackle with the proper technique. Everyone understands how vital the Tulsa game is even if it does not benefit them to come off as over-emphasizing it.
Here is Fritz from today:
How have practices been coming off the open date?
"They've been OK. I think we're fresher and really the big deal is mentally getting out here and getting after it. I told these guys, Tulsa's kind of had their way with Tulane over the last 15 years. We've gotta come out and play great. Just like every game's a big one for us, this one's a big one."
Offensively, you've talked about using Banks to get more big plays. Do you see them buying into that in practice?
"I don't know why anybody wouldn't. He's going to have to do a great job of running the ball. It's funny. I watch college football. and I watch (Louisville's Lamar) Jackson and (Quinton Flowers from USF), and every one of these guys darn near are all running it 10, 15 times a game. That's what we do, too, so he's going to have to do a tough job running it and he's going to have to do a great job throwing the ball. He's got to be able to do both, plain and simple."
Do you want to see better play from the receivers?
"We have to improve in that area just like every other area. In order for us to score more points, which is what we've got to do, we have to play better in every single phase offensively. We've got to play better in every single phase offensively. We've got to do a better job with the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers, so everybody's got to pick it up for us to be able to score more points."
Terren Encalade had a chance to make a leaping catch on the winning drive against Army and did not hold on to the ball. Is that a play you expect him to make?
"You betcha. We tell all of our receivers, if you touch the ball our expectations are for you to catch the ball. He'll come back. He's got good hands and is a good receiver and has made some clutch plays for us and will do it again."
How much faith do you have in the defense against Tulsa's running attack after the Army game?
"It will be the same thing. They are a great running team. They've got a back who's probably going to be the all-time leading rusher in their school's history. (D'Angelo Brewer). We have to do a super job of tackling. Their quarterback is a two-way threat. He throws the ball well and runs the ball well. We have to do a great job of defending the run, and with our eyes whether we're playing zone or man-to-man, we talk all the time about hard man focus and really locking in on your guy and not trying to look back at the quarterback with all of our defensive backs."
Their quarterback, Chad President, had two huge runs against Navy early. He's a big guy, so what is the key to containing him?
"He's fast also. We have to do a good job of playing with leverage and tackling and wrapping up and using our arms and just not letting him get into space, and if he does, we have to make it a quick one."
Is the player who got hurt last week and was taken to the hospital for observation checking out OK?
"Chris (Johnson)? He's fine. I think he'll be available (against Tulsa).}
It looks like Tyler Johnson has beaten out Keyshawn McLeod at left tackle. McLeod is healthy and has practiced this week, but Johnson is getting the reps with the first unit when I've watched.
Willie Fritz revealed the name of the player who got hurt last week and was taken to the hospital briefly--it was wide receiver Chris Johnson. I was told in confidence it was Johnson but did not get clearance to release it until today, but the good news is he is fine. He may even be cleared to play against Tulsa. Teams have to be super cautious with injuries like that these days.
Willie Fritz has been on point in practice this week. Yesterday, he got on the case of a couple of defenders who were going through the motions in a tackling drill. That's his baby and he made sure they made the full tackle with the proper technique. Everyone understands how vital the Tulsa game is even if it does not benefit them to come off as over-emphasizing it.
Here is Fritz from today:
How have practices been coming off the open date?
"They've been OK. I think we're fresher and really the big deal is mentally getting out here and getting after it. I told these guys, Tulsa's kind of had their way with Tulane over the last 15 years. We've gotta come out and play great. Just like every game's a big one for us, this one's a big one."
Offensively, you've talked about using Banks to get more big plays. Do you see them buying into that in practice?
"I don't know why anybody wouldn't. He's going to have to do a great job of running the ball. It's funny. I watch college football. and I watch (Louisville's Lamar) Jackson and (Quinton Flowers from USF), and every one of these guys darn near are all running it 10, 15 times a game. That's what we do, too, so he's going to have to do a tough job running it and he's going to have to do a great job throwing the ball. He's got to be able to do both, plain and simple."
Do you want to see better play from the receivers?
"We have to improve in that area just like every other area. In order for us to score more points, which is what we've got to do, we have to play better in every single phase offensively. We've got to play better in every single phase offensively. We've got to do a better job with the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, quarterbacks and wide receivers, so everybody's got to pick it up for us to be able to score more points."
Terren Encalade had a chance to make a leaping catch on the winning drive against Army and did not hold on to the ball. Is that a play you expect him to make?
"You betcha. We tell all of our receivers, if you touch the ball our expectations are for you to catch the ball. He'll come back. He's got good hands and is a good receiver and has made some clutch plays for us and will do it again."
How much faith do you have in the defense against Tulsa's running attack after the Army game?
"It will be the same thing. They are a great running team. They've got a back who's probably going to be the all-time leading rusher in their school's history. (D'Angelo Brewer). We have to do a super job of tackling. Their quarterback is a two-way threat. He throws the ball well and runs the ball well. We have to do a great job of defending the run, and with our eyes whether we're playing zone or man-to-man, we talk all the time about hard man focus and really locking in on your guy and not trying to look back at the quarterback with all of our defensive backs."
Their quarterback, Chad President, had two huge runs against Navy early. He's a big guy, so what is the key to containing him?
"He's fast also. We have to do a good job of playing with leverage and tackling and wrapping up and using our arms and just not letting him get into space, and if he does, we have to make it a quick one."
Is the player who got hurt last week and was taken to the hospital for observation checking out OK?
"Chris (Johnson)? He's fine. I think he'll be available (against Tulsa).}
