This will be short because The Advocate has me covering the Pelicans tonight, but Rod Teamer and P.J. Hall practiced today, meaning Tulane will be close to full strength when it faces ULL next Saturday.
Teamer told me his problem in the last two games was a concussion, which makes sense. He took a nasty, legal block in the end zone against Houston in the first half, and although he continued to play for a few downs, the effects forced him to be ruled out the rest of the way.
Cleared to play against Navy, he self-reported that he was not feeling right after playing in the first quarter. HIs last play was the down before Navy missed a chip shot field goal, and he was taken to the locker room for observation, ruled out and did not return to the sideline until the fourth quarter. He's given Tulane everything he has the last four years, so he deserves to go out healthy in the bowl game.
I was surprised Hall was out there given the severity of the ankle sprain (or apparent severity) that kept him out of the Navy game, but I do not anticipate him starting against ULL. The Cajuns like to run, and Chase Kuerschen excels against that type of team. Kuerschen practiced with the ones today while Hall worked with the twos.
Justin McMillan kept trying to connect with Darnell Mooney on a bomb to the corner of the end zone. The first time he overthrew him by a yard and Mooney jumped on to the padding next to the room where we conduct interviews on the side of the end zone. The next time, Mooney got his hands on it, but Taris Shenall stuck his hand in there and knocked it away. Mooney was seriously angry at not making the catch, jumping on the same padding and screaming "Hell."
Both throws were from beyond the 40-yard line and to the corner. If Mooney and McMillan get a little more comfortable with each other in the offseason, that play will be money.
The next open practice to reporters is Tuesday.
Teamer told me his problem in the last two games was a concussion, which makes sense. He took a nasty, legal block in the end zone against Houston in the first half, and although he continued to play for a few downs, the effects forced him to be ruled out the rest of the way.
Cleared to play against Navy, he self-reported that he was not feeling right after playing in the first quarter. HIs last play was the down before Navy missed a chip shot field goal, and he was taken to the locker room for observation, ruled out and did not return to the sideline until the fourth quarter. He's given Tulane everything he has the last four years, so he deserves to go out healthy in the bowl game.
I was surprised Hall was out there given the severity of the ankle sprain (or apparent severity) that kept him out of the Navy game, but I do not anticipate him starting against ULL. The Cajuns like to run, and Chase Kuerschen excels against that type of team. Kuerschen practiced with the ones today while Hall worked with the twos.
Justin McMillan kept trying to connect with Darnell Mooney on a bomb to the corner of the end zone. The first time he overthrew him by a yard and Mooney jumped on to the padding next to the room where we conduct interviews on the side of the end zone. The next time, Mooney got his hands on it, but Taris Shenall stuck his hand in there and knocked it away. Mooney was seriously angry at not making the catch, jumping on the same padding and screaming "Hell."
Both throws were from beyond the 40-yard line and to the corner. If Mooney and McMillan get a little more comfortable with each other in the offseason, that play will be money.
The next open practice to reporters is Tuesday.