Exactly a week from the season opener against Wake Forest, Tulane practiced at the Saints indoor facility again this morning. A few media members showed up expecting to see Justin McMillan, but he was not there and Willie Fritz had nothing to add after practice. When it's a done deal, if it's a done deal, Tulane will confirm it. That has not happened yet.
I'll say this. Southern Miss transfer Keon Howard can throw. He's been getting plenty of reps when the offense acts as a scout team for the defense, and his accuracy and velocity beat Dane Ledford's and Christian Daniels. Today, Howard zinged a ball over the middle to Darnell Mooney and also hit Jaetavian Toles on a crossing route with good pop.
Practice started later than the listed time, so I actually so more than I was expecting. When I got there, they were doing one-on-one drills with the the wide receivers and defensive backs. Jonathan Banks hit Toles on the sideline in front of third-string cornerback Dorian Camel. Mooney, who gets my vote as the most productive player of preseason drills, nearly juked Thakarius Keyes out of his shoes by faking an outside move and cutting inside to get open. Freshman Larry Brooks, who is listed as a safety on the roster, is playing cornerback.
They went to 8-on-8 drills next, and Banks promptly threw a touchdown pass to Jacob Robertson in the back of the end zone, bating Jaylon Monroe. Monroe dove to try to deflect the ball and landed hard, losing his breath. He had to come out for a few plays before he recovered.
Banks almost followed with another TD toss, but he overthrew running back Amare Jones in the back of the end zone after Jones got open. A little later, second-team safety Chase Kuerschen made a really nice play, slapping the ball away from Toles just before it arrived. Banks then hit Mooney on a slant. With Terren Encalade sitting out another practice while wearing a no-contact jersey, Mooney is the class of the receiving corps. He gets open consistently. Monroe returned and deflected a pass intended for walk-on receiver Miles Lapeyre.
When they went to 11-on-11. the starting defensive line was Cam Sample, Jeffery Johnson, Robert Kennedy and Patrick Johnson for the second consecutive day. P.J. Hall was back at strong safety after getting some reps at cornerback yesterday. Toles had the only drop of the day on an out route, getting some razzing from teammates. Amare Jones caught a pass in the flat and looked dangerous as he turned the corner. Devin Glenn, who earlier had to do push-ups for missing an assignment, made a nice catch on an slant.
At the end of practice, they did more situational work. On a last-play scenario, Banks held the ball a little too long and had it slapped from his hands by Carlos Hatcher, who has flashed potential as a pass rusher in camp and should get some playing time against Wake Forest.
For the second time in a week. they worked on kickoff returns that were sent not to the deep man but to the upbacks. The way they simulate it is to have Zach Block run up as if it were going to kick the ball but have a walk-on QB throw it to the guy they wanted to guarantee it would get to the right spot. They also worked on recovering onside kicks again. I've seen a lot of special teams work in the last week.
The players will lift weights in the early afternoon and then get the rest of the day off and all of Friday off before returning Saturday. Fritz does not plan to conduct heavy practicing over the weekend because he believes it is time to start tapering off after a tough camp, making sure the legs are fresh next Thursday.
Rod Teamer addressed the team in the middle of the field at the end of practice.
FRITZ
What did Teamer talk about?
"I have a senior word of the day. We usually do it at the team meetings. We have a large senior class. He said his grandpa used to tell me people who keeping doing the same thing over and over and get the result that's not favorable to them, that's insanity. You have to change what you're doing."
When quarterbacks transfer, do they get more focus because they're quarterbacks?
"Quarterbacks get too much blame when things go wrong and probably too much credit when things go right. It's kind of like a head coach. It's a tough position. Everybody's looking at you and seeing what's going on, but if the other 10 guys aren't doing what they're supposed to, it doesn't matter who you are."
Do you pay attention to the depth chart of other schools in case a situation develops where you can pick up a guy?
"I tell you what, I'm not big into it at all. Nine times out of 10, I'm the last one to know when that's going on. I've coached at a lot of different levels. I know we've taken some guys, but I'd rather have everybody stay where they are at. I understand situations change and guys clocks are running and all those things, but sometimes we put too much emphasis on playing in the NFL instead of the experience."
How has Jeffery Johnson developed in camp?
"He's done a great job. He's really a hard working young man. He's got a great attitude and he's got the mass that you're looking for. He's probably 320, 325, but he moves well."
What do you want them to do on their time off?
"We are going to go ahead and get a good lift in this afternoon and then they are going to have all day Friday off. We're going to back quite a bit next week. I told these guys I can't watch you 24-7. I can't have curfew every single day. You've got to act like a mature young man, but that's also part of going to college. I like having fun now and I'm a little older than these guys. I want them to enjoy themselves, but they've got to be smart."
What are your impressions of Wake Forest?
"They have a good club. They have a big, gigantic offensive line. Of the five starters on the offensive line, four of them are redshirt seniors and the other guy is a redshirt junior, so they have started a ton of games together. They have 10 of 11 starters back on offense and I think 6 of 11 on defense, so they are a very experienced team. We're looking at them in special teams and all but two of the guys are back on the punt team, all 11 are back on the kickoff team and 10 of 11 are back on kickoff return, so they are very experienced. They've won a bunch of games. They are a Power Five team that beat Texas A&M in a bowl game, so they are good."
JEFFERY JOHNSON
Coach Curtis yesterday said you are going to start against Wake Forest. How far have you come in camp?
"I think I've come a long way actually. Recapping through the spring, it was kind of tough for me to adjust. Going into the fall I kind of got better at things and things started improving for me."
Where have you improved the most?
"Feeling more confident playing blocks and running plays and stuff like that and playing the calls they give me."
Was the speed of the college game a shock to the system?
"Oh man, it was really a shock to me. I knew college ball was fast, but it's just different coming straight from high school and playing college ball to play at that speed."
Will you have to guard against getting too excited next Thursday?
"Oh yeah. It's kind of like an adrenaline rush right now. There is some nervousness behind it, too, but I'm more excited than I am nervous."
Coach Fritz says Wake Forest has four fifth-year seniors and a fourth-year junior on the offensive line, so they have the big experience edge on you. Does that concern you?
"They have a lot of experience and can be big guys, but it really doesn't matter as long as you play your key and do what you're supposed to do. That's all that matters."
You did a 600-pound squat this summer. How did you get there?
"I was a power lifter in high school for four years. That's just my thing. I love lifting weights, and so squat's one of my favorite lifts. At the end of summer workouts, I finished with a 600-pound squat. That's the most I ever did with naturals. The most I ever did with wraps was like 650, so it wasn't really a shock to me, but it was impressive to a lot of people."
Tulane struggled to stop the run last year. How confident are you in that area?
"I feel pretty confident about it. Just by going through fall camp, we've kind of made jokes about how I'm not easy to block and they can't move me, so I feel pretty confident stopping the run and plugging up the gap."
Who has been your biggest mentor on the line?
"I would say probably De'Andre Williams. He's stepped up and took the role of being a leader. He's come a long way, too and I've followed him."
Have you played any defensive tackle along with nose?
"Nose is the only position I've played."
I'll say this. Southern Miss transfer Keon Howard can throw. He's been getting plenty of reps when the offense acts as a scout team for the defense, and his accuracy and velocity beat Dane Ledford's and Christian Daniels. Today, Howard zinged a ball over the middle to Darnell Mooney and also hit Jaetavian Toles on a crossing route with good pop.
Practice started later than the listed time, so I actually so more than I was expecting. When I got there, they were doing one-on-one drills with the the wide receivers and defensive backs. Jonathan Banks hit Toles on the sideline in front of third-string cornerback Dorian Camel. Mooney, who gets my vote as the most productive player of preseason drills, nearly juked Thakarius Keyes out of his shoes by faking an outside move and cutting inside to get open. Freshman Larry Brooks, who is listed as a safety on the roster, is playing cornerback.
They went to 8-on-8 drills next, and Banks promptly threw a touchdown pass to Jacob Robertson in the back of the end zone, bating Jaylon Monroe. Monroe dove to try to deflect the ball and landed hard, losing his breath. He had to come out for a few plays before he recovered.
Banks almost followed with another TD toss, but he overthrew running back Amare Jones in the back of the end zone after Jones got open. A little later, second-team safety Chase Kuerschen made a really nice play, slapping the ball away from Toles just before it arrived. Banks then hit Mooney on a slant. With Terren Encalade sitting out another practice while wearing a no-contact jersey, Mooney is the class of the receiving corps. He gets open consistently. Monroe returned and deflected a pass intended for walk-on receiver Miles Lapeyre.
When they went to 11-on-11. the starting defensive line was Cam Sample, Jeffery Johnson, Robert Kennedy and Patrick Johnson for the second consecutive day. P.J. Hall was back at strong safety after getting some reps at cornerback yesterday. Toles had the only drop of the day on an out route, getting some razzing from teammates. Amare Jones caught a pass in the flat and looked dangerous as he turned the corner. Devin Glenn, who earlier had to do push-ups for missing an assignment, made a nice catch on an slant.
At the end of practice, they did more situational work. On a last-play scenario, Banks held the ball a little too long and had it slapped from his hands by Carlos Hatcher, who has flashed potential as a pass rusher in camp and should get some playing time against Wake Forest.
For the second time in a week. they worked on kickoff returns that were sent not to the deep man but to the upbacks. The way they simulate it is to have Zach Block run up as if it were going to kick the ball but have a walk-on QB throw it to the guy they wanted to guarantee it would get to the right spot. They also worked on recovering onside kicks again. I've seen a lot of special teams work in the last week.
The players will lift weights in the early afternoon and then get the rest of the day off and all of Friday off before returning Saturday. Fritz does not plan to conduct heavy practicing over the weekend because he believes it is time to start tapering off after a tough camp, making sure the legs are fresh next Thursday.
Rod Teamer addressed the team in the middle of the field at the end of practice.
FRITZ
What did Teamer talk about?
"I have a senior word of the day. We usually do it at the team meetings. We have a large senior class. He said his grandpa used to tell me people who keeping doing the same thing over and over and get the result that's not favorable to them, that's insanity. You have to change what you're doing."
When quarterbacks transfer, do they get more focus because they're quarterbacks?
"Quarterbacks get too much blame when things go wrong and probably too much credit when things go right. It's kind of like a head coach. It's a tough position. Everybody's looking at you and seeing what's going on, but if the other 10 guys aren't doing what they're supposed to, it doesn't matter who you are."
Do you pay attention to the depth chart of other schools in case a situation develops where you can pick up a guy?
"I tell you what, I'm not big into it at all. Nine times out of 10, I'm the last one to know when that's going on. I've coached at a lot of different levels. I know we've taken some guys, but I'd rather have everybody stay where they are at. I understand situations change and guys clocks are running and all those things, but sometimes we put too much emphasis on playing in the NFL instead of the experience."
How has Jeffery Johnson developed in camp?
"He's done a great job. He's really a hard working young man. He's got a great attitude and he's got the mass that you're looking for. He's probably 320, 325, but he moves well."
What do you want them to do on their time off?
"We are going to go ahead and get a good lift in this afternoon and then they are going to have all day Friday off. We're going to back quite a bit next week. I told these guys I can't watch you 24-7. I can't have curfew every single day. You've got to act like a mature young man, but that's also part of going to college. I like having fun now and I'm a little older than these guys. I want them to enjoy themselves, but they've got to be smart."
What are your impressions of Wake Forest?
"They have a good club. They have a big, gigantic offensive line. Of the five starters on the offensive line, four of them are redshirt seniors and the other guy is a redshirt junior, so they have started a ton of games together. They have 10 of 11 starters back on offense and I think 6 of 11 on defense, so they are a very experienced team. We're looking at them in special teams and all but two of the guys are back on the punt team, all 11 are back on the kickoff team and 10 of 11 are back on kickoff return, so they are very experienced. They've won a bunch of games. They are a Power Five team that beat Texas A&M in a bowl game, so they are good."
JEFFERY JOHNSON
Coach Curtis yesterday said you are going to start against Wake Forest. How far have you come in camp?
"I think I've come a long way actually. Recapping through the spring, it was kind of tough for me to adjust. Going into the fall I kind of got better at things and things started improving for me."
Where have you improved the most?
"Feeling more confident playing blocks and running plays and stuff like that and playing the calls they give me."
Was the speed of the college game a shock to the system?
"Oh man, it was really a shock to me. I knew college ball was fast, but it's just different coming straight from high school and playing college ball to play at that speed."
Will you have to guard against getting too excited next Thursday?
"Oh yeah. It's kind of like an adrenaline rush right now. There is some nervousness behind it, too, but I'm more excited than I am nervous."
Coach Fritz says Wake Forest has four fifth-year seniors and a fourth-year junior on the offensive line, so they have the big experience edge on you. Does that concern you?
"They have a lot of experience and can be big guys, but it really doesn't matter as long as you play your key and do what you're supposed to do. That's all that matters."
You did a 600-pound squat this summer. How did you get there?
"I was a power lifter in high school for four years. That's just my thing. I love lifting weights, and so squat's one of my favorite lifts. At the end of summer workouts, I finished with a 600-pound squat. That's the most I ever did with naturals. The most I ever did with wraps was like 650, so it wasn't really a shock to me, but it was impressive to a lot of people."
Tulane struggled to stop the run last year. How confident are you in that area?
"I feel pretty confident about it. Just by going through fall camp, we've kind of made jokes about how I'm not easy to block and they can't move me, so I feel pretty confident stopping the run and plugging up the gap."
Who has been your biggest mentor on the line?
"I would say probably De'Andre Williams. He's stepped up and took the role of being a leader. He's come a long way, too and I've followed him."
Have you played any defensive tackle along with nose?
"Nose is the only position I've played."
