An excessive heat warning was issued for New Orleans on Saturday morning, and Tulane conducted a two-hour scrimmage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. right in the middle of it to get acclimated to the conditions it likely will face in the Sept. 4 opener against Oklahoma.
But just as much heat was emanating from the defensive sideline. Wearing black jerseys and standing on the sun side of Yulman Stadium, those guys nearly posted a shutout, giving up their only points on the final play of the day when walk-on wide receiver Lucas Desjardins made a fabulous, leaping grab in the corner of the end zone on a pass from third-string quarterback Kai Horton with few scholarship players in action. All scrimmages are a mixed bag--if one unit is dominating, the other unit is struggling--and it will be up to video review for the coaches to determine what kind of sign this was two weeks before the first game.
The defense looked really good. The offense, um, did not. It reminded me of the final scrimmage Florida had in 1990 under then first-year coach Steve Spurrier, when the offense did nothing and had people worried before it exploded for 50-something points in the opener against Oklahoma State and never looked back. I'm not predicting the same thing here by any means, but it is awfully hard to judge one way or the other when the offense struggles against a defense that knows what is coming.
The morning started with a kickoff from Merek Glover that nearly hit the backline of the end zone on the fly. Willie Fritz said Casey Glover was pushing him for that role the other day, but I will be surprised if Merek is not the guy against Oklahoma as long as he is healthy.
The first-team offense took the field against the first-team defense starting from the 25, and its troubles began immediately. Michael Pratt looked for Jaetavian Toles on a sideline route but had to throw it away when he was not open. Tyrick James then dropped a pass--the first of five drops on the day for the receivers by my count--on a short crossing route when the ball came in a little hot but should have been caught. Pratt threw low of a receiver on third down, and Ryan Wright punted 44 yard with no defenders on the field.
Justin Ibieta entered and was sacked immediately before completing a pass to Duece Watts for 18 yards and a first down, but the first of several illegal procedure penalties came next. A nice run by Devin Brumfield and interference by cornerback Kiland Harrison moved the ball to the defense's 35 before Ibieta was sacked twice in a row (the whistle was blowing quickly) and nearly sacked a third time, completing a pass to Ryan Thompson to make it fourth-and-4. Ibieata tried to scramble for the first down but was ruled short by the whistle.
Pratt went back in and threw an incomplete pass under pressure before Jeffery Johnson stoned Tyjae Spears for no gain. Ygenio Booker, on his only target of the day, then dropped a pass that would have gone for a first down. Wright boomed one that bounced into the end zone for a 70-yard effort.
The rest of the scrimmage was more of the same for the offense. Freshman end Keith Cooper blew in for a sack of Ibieta, stunting the next possession. Casey Glover, the backup punter, tried a pooch punt from the 38 that landed eight yards deep in the end zone.
Pratt did lead one long drive, completing a third-down pass to Phat Watts (who had a team-best five catches for 59 yards by my count) on third-and-six to kickstart it, a 15-yarder to Shae Wyatt for another first down, a 7-yarder to Phatt Watts to convert another third down (Watts was popped by Derrion Rakestraw right after making the catch) and overcoming a penalty with a 20-yard toss to an open James down the sideline. The ball was slightly behind James, but if he had adjusted better, he would have scored a 35-yard touchdown instead of going out of bounds at the 15. Pratt threw behind Phat Watts, Brumfield was stuffed and Angelo Anderson had a sack on third down. Merek Glover went out to try a 39-yard field goal but never attempted it as Willie Fritz sent the group to the sideline and started another possession. That was as close as the first or second unit came to scoring.
Pratt's 29-yard completion to Phat Watts--the longest of the day--but the offense in scoring range again, but Pratt overshot freshman T.J. Huggins and they settled for a 49-yard field goal attempt by freshman Kriston Esnard. Esnard, who has a strong leg but struggled with accuracy in high school, hooked it wide left by a big margin from the right hashmark.
The last possession of the first half, with the No. 2 offense and No. 2 defense on the field, was stymied by a sack from Armoni Dixon. They took a full 20-minute break and headed to the locker room, again simulating the Oklahoma game, after taking periodic breaks at the end of series.
Pratt completed his first three passes of the second half--a pair to Toles for 7-yard gains and a 13-yarder to James, who was open again--but two penalties, one that wiped out a nice run by Iverson Celestine, slowed down that drive, as did a drop by James. Wright's pooch punt from the 37 was a little better than Glover's but not good enough, landing on the goal line and bouncing farther into the end zone.
Ibieta and Pratt threw interceptions in the second half. Ajani Kerr jumped to pick off an Ibieta deep ball for Toles, and freshman linebacker Corey Platt picked off Pratt's desperation fourth-and-25 pass down the middle.
Even when they tried four 2-point conversions, the offense came up empty. Pratt threw two incomplete passes, and so did Ibieta, who threw high for Thompson and overshot an open Phat Watts.
The third string players went in after that, and with Horton and walk-on Cameron Dartez both getting snaps, the offense slowly moved down the field, getting help from a generous spot on a fourth-and-10 completion. The offense got to the 1, when another penalty moved the ball back to the 6. With the players on the defensive sideline hollering "defense, defense," Kolby Phillips defended a corner route to 6-5 receiver Jeff Nwankwo, who had a 26-yard catch on the sideline earlier in the drive, before Desjardins made his terrific catch on second down, averting the shutout as the offensive players mobbed him.
Other defensive players who had sacks were Noah Taliancich, Darius Hodges, Dorian Williams on a blitz (although that one was not counted), Marvin Moody and Noah Seiden. The defense missed few tackles again, although defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, making sure his guys don't get too confident, said the tackling was not good enough.
The first-team offensive line had Caleb Thomas at right guard ahead of Josh Remetich. It's been that way for most of camp. Everything else on the first two lines was the same as normal.
Adonis Friloux was on the first-team defense at tackle because Eric Hicks was held out. Taliancich and Seiden were on the second unit inside, with Alfred Thomas getting a few reps as well. The ends and jokers rotated frequently.
Nickelbacks Ajani Kerr, D.J. Douglas and Jadon Canady all got reps with the first team and appear to be sharing time.
Rakestraw was on the first-team defense along with Macon Clark at safety. Larry Brooks and Rudy Dyson were on the second unit, giving Tulane four safeties who will play a lot.
Th first-team wideouts--and this is the spot where it matters the least because they rotate so much and the guys who make plays once the season starts will get the most time--were Toles, Wyatt and Phat Watts. The second-team wideouts were Duece Watts, Thompson and T.J. Huggins. Cyron Sutton has fallen down the depth chart after an inconsistent camp and got very few reps. I did not notice Tyrek Presley getting any.
Cameron Carroll started at running back, with Spears next and Brumfield third.
But just as much heat was emanating from the defensive sideline. Wearing black jerseys and standing on the sun side of Yulman Stadium, those guys nearly posted a shutout, giving up their only points on the final play of the day when walk-on wide receiver Lucas Desjardins made a fabulous, leaping grab in the corner of the end zone on a pass from third-string quarterback Kai Horton with few scholarship players in action. All scrimmages are a mixed bag--if one unit is dominating, the other unit is struggling--and it will be up to video review for the coaches to determine what kind of sign this was two weeks before the first game.
The defense looked really good. The offense, um, did not. It reminded me of the final scrimmage Florida had in 1990 under then first-year coach Steve Spurrier, when the offense did nothing and had people worried before it exploded for 50-something points in the opener against Oklahoma State and never looked back. I'm not predicting the same thing here by any means, but it is awfully hard to judge one way or the other when the offense struggles against a defense that knows what is coming.
The morning started with a kickoff from Merek Glover that nearly hit the backline of the end zone on the fly. Willie Fritz said Casey Glover was pushing him for that role the other day, but I will be surprised if Merek is not the guy against Oklahoma as long as he is healthy.
The first-team offense took the field against the first-team defense starting from the 25, and its troubles began immediately. Michael Pratt looked for Jaetavian Toles on a sideline route but had to throw it away when he was not open. Tyrick James then dropped a pass--the first of five drops on the day for the receivers by my count--on a short crossing route when the ball came in a little hot but should have been caught. Pratt threw low of a receiver on third down, and Ryan Wright punted 44 yard with no defenders on the field.
Justin Ibieta entered and was sacked immediately before completing a pass to Duece Watts for 18 yards and a first down, but the first of several illegal procedure penalties came next. A nice run by Devin Brumfield and interference by cornerback Kiland Harrison moved the ball to the defense's 35 before Ibieta was sacked twice in a row (the whistle was blowing quickly) and nearly sacked a third time, completing a pass to Ryan Thompson to make it fourth-and-4. Ibieata tried to scramble for the first down but was ruled short by the whistle.
Pratt went back in and threw an incomplete pass under pressure before Jeffery Johnson stoned Tyjae Spears for no gain. Ygenio Booker, on his only target of the day, then dropped a pass that would have gone for a first down. Wright boomed one that bounced into the end zone for a 70-yard effort.
The rest of the scrimmage was more of the same for the offense. Freshman end Keith Cooper blew in for a sack of Ibieta, stunting the next possession. Casey Glover, the backup punter, tried a pooch punt from the 38 that landed eight yards deep in the end zone.
Pratt did lead one long drive, completing a third-down pass to Phat Watts (who had a team-best five catches for 59 yards by my count) on third-and-six to kickstart it, a 15-yarder to Shae Wyatt for another first down, a 7-yarder to Phatt Watts to convert another third down (Watts was popped by Derrion Rakestraw right after making the catch) and overcoming a penalty with a 20-yard toss to an open James down the sideline. The ball was slightly behind James, but if he had adjusted better, he would have scored a 35-yard touchdown instead of going out of bounds at the 15. Pratt threw behind Phat Watts, Brumfield was stuffed and Angelo Anderson had a sack on third down. Merek Glover went out to try a 39-yard field goal but never attempted it as Willie Fritz sent the group to the sideline and started another possession. That was as close as the first or second unit came to scoring.
Pratt's 29-yard completion to Phat Watts--the longest of the day--but the offense in scoring range again, but Pratt overshot freshman T.J. Huggins and they settled for a 49-yard field goal attempt by freshman Kriston Esnard. Esnard, who has a strong leg but struggled with accuracy in high school, hooked it wide left by a big margin from the right hashmark.
The last possession of the first half, with the No. 2 offense and No. 2 defense on the field, was stymied by a sack from Armoni Dixon. They took a full 20-minute break and headed to the locker room, again simulating the Oklahoma game, after taking periodic breaks at the end of series.
Pratt completed his first three passes of the second half--a pair to Toles for 7-yard gains and a 13-yarder to James, who was open again--but two penalties, one that wiped out a nice run by Iverson Celestine, slowed down that drive, as did a drop by James. Wright's pooch punt from the 37 was a little better than Glover's but not good enough, landing on the goal line and bouncing farther into the end zone.
Ibieta and Pratt threw interceptions in the second half. Ajani Kerr jumped to pick off an Ibieta deep ball for Toles, and freshman linebacker Corey Platt picked off Pratt's desperation fourth-and-25 pass down the middle.
Even when they tried four 2-point conversions, the offense came up empty. Pratt threw two incomplete passes, and so did Ibieta, who threw high for Thompson and overshot an open Phat Watts.
The third string players went in after that, and with Horton and walk-on Cameron Dartez both getting snaps, the offense slowly moved down the field, getting help from a generous spot on a fourth-and-10 completion. The offense got to the 1, when another penalty moved the ball back to the 6. With the players on the defensive sideline hollering "defense, defense," Kolby Phillips defended a corner route to 6-5 receiver Jeff Nwankwo, who had a 26-yard catch on the sideline earlier in the drive, before Desjardins made his terrific catch on second down, averting the shutout as the offensive players mobbed him.
Other defensive players who had sacks were Noah Taliancich, Darius Hodges, Dorian Williams on a blitz (although that one was not counted), Marvin Moody and Noah Seiden. The defense missed few tackles again, although defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, making sure his guys don't get too confident, said the tackling was not good enough.
The first-team offensive line had Caleb Thomas at right guard ahead of Josh Remetich. It's been that way for most of camp. Everything else on the first two lines was the same as normal.
Adonis Friloux was on the first-team defense at tackle because Eric Hicks was held out. Taliancich and Seiden were on the second unit inside, with Alfred Thomas getting a few reps as well. The ends and jokers rotated frequently.
Nickelbacks Ajani Kerr, D.J. Douglas and Jadon Canady all got reps with the first team and appear to be sharing time.
Rakestraw was on the first-team defense along with Macon Clark at safety. Larry Brooks and Rudy Dyson were on the second unit, giving Tulane four safeties who will play a lot.
Th first-team wideouts--and this is the spot where it matters the least because they rotate so much and the guys who make plays once the season starts will get the most time--were Toles, Wyatt and Phat Watts. The second-team wideouts were Duece Watts, Thompson and T.J. Huggins. Cyron Sutton has fallen down the depth chart after an inconsistent camp and got very few reps. I did not notice Tyrek Presley getting any.
Cameron Carroll started at running back, with Spears next and Brumfield third.
