Tulane's Wednesday practice ended with a nice run from Corey Dauphine, who took a handoff, made a sharp cut into a hole, a second cut to elude a linebacker and took off downfield. As always, the caveat is the drill was not live, but he looked like he was in midseason form.
Runs dominated the 11-on-11 ending of practice today, making it less interesting to watch because they did not face tackling, but it was another step forward on a typically hot August morning after an unusually mild first week. Darius Bradwell looked good. Dauphine looked good. Amare Jones looked good. What is all meant was hard to discern, but Friday will be a different story when Tulane has its second scrimmage-like session (Monday's workout at the Saints indoor facility was the first).
I counted 10 scholarship players not practicing. Wide receiver Jalen McCleskey missed his third consecutive day with a mild hamstring issue but was walking around fine. Joining him on the sideline were running back Cam Carroll, who went out with a leg issue last week, wide receiver Sorrell Brown, who had no crutch today but was limping significantly, defensive tackle Alfred Thomas, freshman offensive lineman Caleb Thomas, wide receiver Dane Ledford, freshman safety Kanyon Walker, DE/OLB Juan Monjarres, defensive lineman Nick Kubiet and freshman defensive back Levi Williams. Defensive end Davon Wright wore a no-contact jersey.
The first-team offensive line today was the usual suspects at four spots plus Keyshawn McLeod at right guard. Cameron Jackel, the No. 1 guy at right guard following spring drills, worked at right tackle on the second team along with left tackle Timothy Shafter, left guard Stephen Lewerenz, freshman center Sincere Haynesworth and right guard Ben Knutson.
The first-team defensive line you know, but the second-team line had Torri Singletary, Mike Hinton, Jamiran James and Darius Hodges with Wright, Thomas and Monjarres unavailable.
Jaylon Monroe was the starting cornerback opposite Thakarius Keyes, with P.J. Hall and Macon Clark the safeties. Chase Kuerschen rotated in with the first unit as they try different looks and packages.
Despite Tulane's improved depth, most of the starting spot are clear. The only one up for grabs on offense is right guard, with Darius Bradwell the starter at running back and Tyrick James the starter in one-tight end sets.
On defense, Tyrise Barge has worked with the first unit every day at nickelback. Although Clark will play a lot, Kuerschen is the starter at free safety. Monroe has the edge on Willie Langham at one cornerback spot, and the other starters are crystal clear--Patrick Johnson, Jeffery Johnson, De'Andre Williams and Cam Sample up front, Lawrence Graham and Marvin Moody at inside linebacker and P.J. Hall at strong safety. Clark picked off a Keon Howard pass for the only turnover of the day.
Quentin Brown and Malik Lawal got reps as a tandem with the first unit at linebacker when Moody and Graham were rested. Nick Anderson and Dorian Williams were the No. 2 unit. The depth there is better than I anticipated when preseason drills started.
NOTES
They ran an option in 11-on-11 work, so that part of the offense is not totally gone.
The defensive coaches presided over a fumble recovery drill where the ball was placed on the ground and a defender had to fall on it without rolling. Barge rolled, prompting defensive coordinator Jack Curtis to get on his case hard, saying he had told him 10 times not to roll, which can cause the ball to pop out. Drills like that are an example of this staff paying attention to detail.
Justin McMillan is doing everything the way the coaches want it done. Fritz hates it when guys up end up on the ground, and when McMillan stumbled on a run downfield, he immediately popped back on to his feet instead of lying down and delaying the next play. Fritz praised him.
All-time Tulane rushing leader Mewelde Moore attended practice. I did not talk to him, but look for a feature on him at the TulaneGreenWave.com later today or tomorrow.
I ran into frequent practice watcher Derrick Strozier when I arrived, but he was leaving. Wearing a suit for his downtown job, he had had enough of the heat. I wish he had stayed longer because he always gives good insight into individual players when he talks to me.
FRITZ
What makes Patrick Johnson a special player?
"He's just really got a knack for pass rushing. He really knows how to use his body. He's about 245. We talk about doing a hard joint where you have your near foot and your near shoulder delivering a blow to the guy. Part of that is strike timing. He just has a natural timing to it. You see big guys 320 pounds trying to kick him out and he stones them. Sometimes he's not making the tackle but he's the one making the play because he made the hole smaller and made an easy play for guys. He just knows how to coil and uncoil. So much of pass rush, get off is important, but timing with your hands on their hands and reducing your surface area, he just has a real knack for that stuff."
Is he ready for how teams will try to game plan him this year?
"Part of the coach's job is to find a chance for him to get one-on-one and get on a weak pass protector, but we feel like we've got a bunch of good pass rushers. Sometimes the guy who gets the sack didn't do a whole lot. it could have been the scheme or it could have been somebody else forcing him into another guy. Sometimes these guys get these PBUs and the DB gets all the credit and it was really the pressure. The pass was off by a couple of feet. Or sometimes the coverage is really tight and they are the guys that cause the sack because the quarterback had to hold the ball a count or two. It all plays in with each other."
What makes Cam Sample such an impressive player?
"He's a big guy. He's got a rare combination of size and speed and quickness. When we recruited him, going into his senior year he was 230 or 240, but he wasn't a real big guy, but we took a chance on him and now he's 280, 285. When he's hitting on all cylinders and playing really fast, it's a rare combination. There are not a lot of big guys who are quick like that."
Runs dominated the 11-on-11 ending of practice today, making it less interesting to watch because they did not face tackling, but it was another step forward on a typically hot August morning after an unusually mild first week. Darius Bradwell looked good. Dauphine looked good. Amare Jones looked good. What is all meant was hard to discern, but Friday will be a different story when Tulane has its second scrimmage-like session (Monday's workout at the Saints indoor facility was the first).
I counted 10 scholarship players not practicing. Wide receiver Jalen McCleskey missed his third consecutive day with a mild hamstring issue but was walking around fine. Joining him on the sideline were running back Cam Carroll, who went out with a leg issue last week, wide receiver Sorrell Brown, who had no crutch today but was limping significantly, defensive tackle Alfred Thomas, freshman offensive lineman Caleb Thomas, wide receiver Dane Ledford, freshman safety Kanyon Walker, DE/OLB Juan Monjarres, defensive lineman Nick Kubiet and freshman defensive back Levi Williams. Defensive end Davon Wright wore a no-contact jersey.
The first-team offensive line today was the usual suspects at four spots plus Keyshawn McLeod at right guard. Cameron Jackel, the No. 1 guy at right guard following spring drills, worked at right tackle on the second team along with left tackle Timothy Shafter, left guard Stephen Lewerenz, freshman center Sincere Haynesworth and right guard Ben Knutson.
The first-team defensive line you know, but the second-team line had Torri Singletary, Mike Hinton, Jamiran James and Darius Hodges with Wright, Thomas and Monjarres unavailable.
Jaylon Monroe was the starting cornerback opposite Thakarius Keyes, with P.J. Hall and Macon Clark the safeties. Chase Kuerschen rotated in with the first unit as they try different looks and packages.
Despite Tulane's improved depth, most of the starting spot are clear. The only one up for grabs on offense is right guard, with Darius Bradwell the starter at running back and Tyrick James the starter in one-tight end sets.
On defense, Tyrise Barge has worked with the first unit every day at nickelback. Although Clark will play a lot, Kuerschen is the starter at free safety. Monroe has the edge on Willie Langham at one cornerback spot, and the other starters are crystal clear--Patrick Johnson, Jeffery Johnson, De'Andre Williams and Cam Sample up front, Lawrence Graham and Marvin Moody at inside linebacker and P.J. Hall at strong safety. Clark picked off a Keon Howard pass for the only turnover of the day.
Quentin Brown and Malik Lawal got reps as a tandem with the first unit at linebacker when Moody and Graham were rested. Nick Anderson and Dorian Williams were the No. 2 unit. The depth there is better than I anticipated when preseason drills started.
NOTES
They ran an option in 11-on-11 work, so that part of the offense is not totally gone.
The defensive coaches presided over a fumble recovery drill where the ball was placed on the ground and a defender had to fall on it without rolling. Barge rolled, prompting defensive coordinator Jack Curtis to get on his case hard, saying he had told him 10 times not to roll, which can cause the ball to pop out. Drills like that are an example of this staff paying attention to detail.
Justin McMillan is doing everything the way the coaches want it done. Fritz hates it when guys up end up on the ground, and when McMillan stumbled on a run downfield, he immediately popped back on to his feet instead of lying down and delaying the next play. Fritz praised him.
All-time Tulane rushing leader Mewelde Moore attended practice. I did not talk to him, but look for a feature on him at the TulaneGreenWave.com later today or tomorrow.
I ran into frequent practice watcher Derrick Strozier when I arrived, but he was leaving. Wearing a suit for his downtown job, he had had enough of the heat. I wish he had stayed longer because he always gives good insight into individual players when he talks to me.
FRITZ
What makes Patrick Johnson a special player?
"He's just really got a knack for pass rushing. He really knows how to use his body. He's about 245. We talk about doing a hard joint where you have your near foot and your near shoulder delivering a blow to the guy. Part of that is strike timing. He just has a natural timing to it. You see big guys 320 pounds trying to kick him out and he stones them. Sometimes he's not making the tackle but he's the one making the play because he made the hole smaller and made an easy play for guys. He just knows how to coil and uncoil. So much of pass rush, get off is important, but timing with your hands on their hands and reducing your surface area, he just has a real knack for that stuff."
Is he ready for how teams will try to game plan him this year?
"Part of the coach's job is to find a chance for him to get one-on-one and get on a weak pass protector, but we feel like we've got a bunch of good pass rushers. Sometimes the guy who gets the sack didn't do a whole lot. it could have been the scheme or it could have been somebody else forcing him into another guy. Sometimes these guys get these PBUs and the DB gets all the credit and it was really the pressure. The pass was off by a couple of feet. Or sometimes the coverage is really tight and they are the guys that cause the sack because the quarterback had to hold the ball a count or two. It all plays in with each other."
What makes Cam Sample such an impressive player?
"He's a big guy. He's got a rare combination of size and speed and quickness. When we recruited him, going into his senior year he was 230 or 240, but he wasn't a real big guy, but we took a chance on him and now he's 280, 285. When he's hitting on all cylinders and playing really fast, it's a rare combination. There are not a lot of big guys who are quick like that."