The morning started hot but cooled off due to cloud cover in the second hour as Tulane donned shoulder pads for the first time in preseason camp, so the team still has not experienced a typically stifling practice session at Yulman Stadium. As is normal, several players got dinged up in the first two practices and did not participate today--tight end Charles Jones, running back Ygenio Booker, defensive tackle De'Andre Williams, wide receiver Jacob Robertson and wide receiver Sorrell Brown, who was wearing a brace on his left knee. Safety Chase Kuerschen still has not practiced but is expected back soon.
I got there during the 7-on-7 work that takes place at the midpoint, and Dane Ledford was the first quarterback I saw. He completed a deep out to a diving Brian Newman on the sideline, and although I could not see for sure whether he was in bounds or not, it was a heck of an effort. On the next play, Rod Teamer stepped in front of a Ledford pass for an interception.
Daniels went in and hit Kevin LeDee over the middle before overthrowing a receiver badly. LeDee then got criticized by an assistant coach for "jogging on the over-route." Daniels threw too low for a receiver, hit Newman in the middle of the field on a nice throw, connected with tight end Will Wallace over the middle and had a pass batted down by linebacker Marvin Moody on a pass rush. Daniels is showing signs of improvement but still has to be much more consistent as a thrower to give himself a chance.
Banks went in and got picked by safety P.J. Hall on the sideline. As I wrote in the spring, Hall still has to prove himself in games, but he looks really good at strong safety, reading plays, breaking quickly and handling himself well when the ball is the air.
Banks then overthrew a receiver deep, hit Wallace in the flat and connected with Darnell Mooney on a bullet pass over the middle, with Mooney making a sharp cut to get to the end zone. A little later, Banks completed a pass to Newman, who had his best day of the week, and Newman juked safety Will Harper on his way to the end zone. Banks is not perfect out there, but he exudes confidence.
After the offense and defense spent some time in separate groups, the 11-on-11 drill started. On the first play, Banks looked for Jaetavian Toles deep. Toles ran under the ball and got a hand on it, but Hall knocked it away from him at the same instant. It was a good play all around that ended up incomplete.
Mooney, who had not done anything wrong while I watched in the first two days, short-armed a throw from Ledford that he could have caught on an out route. For the second consecutive day, walk-on freshman safety Grant Hamel had a pass breakup, and cornerback Thakarius Keyes undecut a receiver to pick off a Ledford throw. You won't get any argument here that Tulane needed a transfer quarterback. It is impossible to say how Ledford and Daniels will develop over the next year, but it also is impossible to say either one of them is a sure bet to be ready by 2019.
The practice ended abruptly at 9:52, about 10 minutes earlier than normal because Fritz had a bone to pick. Unhappy that players had left equipment out of place in the locker room, he ordered them to do 29 up-and-downs after the last water break, riding them hard for being sloppy with their stuff.
There were no significant changes on the depth chart on either side of the ball. I talked to Derrick Strozier, who was out to watch practice today, and he really likes freshman safety Macon Clark. Clark is wearing No. 37, which the roster has as Keyes' number, but Keyes has changed to 26. Strozier also can't get over how big and fast Cameron Carroll is. Carroll confirmed today Charlamange's post that he ran a 4.42 40 recently (Fritz said Devin Glenn had a team-best 4.31). Tulane's depth at running back is impressive, so it will be interesting to see how they manage the carries once the season starts.
Other quick hitters:
--Larry Bryant continued to practice in front of Tirise Barge at nickelback. Tomorrow I will ask about that competition.
--The freshman defensive linemen played together a lot today. Jeffery Johnson is an imposing presence in the middle, and Alfred Thomas is pushing for playing time as well. Carlos Hatcher was at left defensive end for the second unit.
--Quentin Brown got some second-team reps at linebacker.
--Fritz talks to the team through his microphone from start to finish now, alternating between encouragement and criticism.
--Terren Encalade has strong hands. He dropped a few passes last year but don't look for a repeat this season.
--The tight ends can be a factor in the pass offense, including Will Wallace, who took advantage of Jones' absence today with some nice plays. It's just a matter of how many opportunities they will get.
--As a whole, this is the most physically impressive Tulane team I've covered since I began for the last two years of the Toledo era. The Wave has some significant concerns defensively and is shy on depth at some spots, but the percentage of guys who do not look like they can help the team win has gotten significantly smaller under Fritz.
I got there during the 7-on-7 work that takes place at the midpoint, and Dane Ledford was the first quarterback I saw. He completed a deep out to a diving Brian Newman on the sideline, and although I could not see for sure whether he was in bounds or not, it was a heck of an effort. On the next play, Rod Teamer stepped in front of a Ledford pass for an interception.
Daniels went in and hit Kevin LeDee over the middle before overthrowing a receiver badly. LeDee then got criticized by an assistant coach for "jogging on the over-route." Daniels threw too low for a receiver, hit Newman in the middle of the field on a nice throw, connected with tight end Will Wallace over the middle and had a pass batted down by linebacker Marvin Moody on a pass rush. Daniels is showing signs of improvement but still has to be much more consistent as a thrower to give himself a chance.
Banks went in and got picked by safety P.J. Hall on the sideline. As I wrote in the spring, Hall still has to prove himself in games, but he looks really good at strong safety, reading plays, breaking quickly and handling himself well when the ball is the air.
Banks then overthrew a receiver deep, hit Wallace in the flat and connected with Darnell Mooney on a bullet pass over the middle, with Mooney making a sharp cut to get to the end zone. A little later, Banks completed a pass to Newman, who had his best day of the week, and Newman juked safety Will Harper on his way to the end zone. Banks is not perfect out there, but he exudes confidence.
After the offense and defense spent some time in separate groups, the 11-on-11 drill started. On the first play, Banks looked for Jaetavian Toles deep. Toles ran under the ball and got a hand on it, but Hall knocked it away from him at the same instant. It was a good play all around that ended up incomplete.
Mooney, who had not done anything wrong while I watched in the first two days, short-armed a throw from Ledford that he could have caught on an out route. For the second consecutive day, walk-on freshman safety Grant Hamel had a pass breakup, and cornerback Thakarius Keyes undecut a receiver to pick off a Ledford throw. You won't get any argument here that Tulane needed a transfer quarterback. It is impossible to say how Ledford and Daniels will develop over the next year, but it also is impossible to say either one of them is a sure bet to be ready by 2019.
The practice ended abruptly at 9:52, about 10 minutes earlier than normal because Fritz had a bone to pick. Unhappy that players had left equipment out of place in the locker room, he ordered them to do 29 up-and-downs after the last water break, riding them hard for being sloppy with their stuff.
There were no significant changes on the depth chart on either side of the ball. I talked to Derrick Strozier, who was out to watch practice today, and he really likes freshman safety Macon Clark. Clark is wearing No. 37, which the roster has as Keyes' number, but Keyes has changed to 26. Strozier also can't get over how big and fast Cameron Carroll is. Carroll confirmed today Charlamange's post that he ran a 4.42 40 recently (Fritz said Devin Glenn had a team-best 4.31). Tulane's depth at running back is impressive, so it will be interesting to see how they manage the carries once the season starts.
Other quick hitters:
--Larry Bryant continued to practice in front of Tirise Barge at nickelback. Tomorrow I will ask about that competition.
--The freshman defensive linemen played together a lot today. Jeffery Johnson is an imposing presence in the middle, and Alfred Thomas is pushing for playing time as well. Carlos Hatcher was at left defensive end for the second unit.
--Quentin Brown got some second-team reps at linebacker.
--Fritz talks to the team through his microphone from start to finish now, alternating between encouragement and criticism.
--Terren Encalade has strong hands. He dropped a few passes last year but don't look for a repeat this season.
--The tight ends can be a factor in the pass offense, including Will Wallace, who took advantage of Jones' absence today with some nice plays. It's just a matter of how many opportunities they will get.
--As a whole, this is the most physically impressive Tulane team I've covered since I began for the last two years of the Toledo era. The Wave has some significant concerns defensively and is shy on depth at some spots, but the percentage of guys who do not look like they can help the team win has gotten significantly smaller under Fritz.
