My biggest question mark about Tulane entering preseason drills was the passing game. To become an AAC contender, the Green Wave has to be more successful in the air than it was last year, when Justin McMillan, who exceeded expectations as a runner, did not get the job done as a thrower despite having an excellent receiver in Darnell Mooney and another good one in Jalen McCleskey, both of whom are gone along with McMillian. And when I watched SMU's secondary receivers make two incredible catches for touchdowns in the regular-season finale--plays Tulane's secondary receivers never would have made--the talent gap in that department appeared large.
I will have those concerns if the season starts, too (with the MAC canceling all fall sports today, it's a big IF), but the first week of preseason drills has been positive on that front. Willie Fritz said the QBs began the Friday practice I missed with 11 consecutive completions, and more deep balls are connecting in the two days I've seen than at any time since I started covering the team in 2010.
Today, I focused on the passing game, watching all of the 7 on 7 and 11-on-11 work in the final hour. Mykel Jones and Jaetavian Toles did not participate, but even if they had, Tulane's wide receiving corps will be a cast of unproven players this fall, with the group combining for 29 Division I catches last year, including Jones' two at Oklahoma (The Watts twins had 37 in JC ball).
The thing is, several of them are making plays in preseason camp. Today, the first teamers were true sophomore Jha'Quan Jackson, senior Jacob Robertson and Duece Watts. The second teamers were Sorrell Brown, Phat Watts and Dane Ledford. Tyrek Presley and a collection of walk-ons got reps with the third unit. Jones, whom Willie Fritz praised in his Zoom interview today, figures to start ahead of Robertson when he returns (I did not ask about Jones not practicing but will on Monday if he is not back). Toles, who caught 13 passes last year, did not have a good spring after losing his starting job to Robertson late last year and is more of a question. He was not one of the 10 receivers (counting three running backs) Fritz mentioned when asked to assess the wideouts in the video conference.
The quarterbacks were rotating quickly in the 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 work this morning. Howard, whose accuracy has improved tremendously from the start of spring drills, began by connecting with Jackson on the sideline. Jackson stood out more than any receiver in the five spring practices, and Fritz said today he expects him to start and that his move to QB as a senior in high school hindered his development before he arrived at Tulane. He caught only two passes in eight games on 2019 but is showing excellent hands and good open-field skills.
Howard was off target on his next throw, overthrowing an open receiver for what could have been a long gain. He then hit Sorrell Brown, a big target who missed his first two years due to separate knee injuries, for a short gain. Brown had more catches today than at any practice I've observed.
Michael Pratt entered and was victimized by drops, which were a problem last year even for Mooney and McCleskey. Presley, who caught three passes as a freshman last season but has a long way to go to get in the mix this year, dropped one on a slant. Then tight end/converted quarterback Christian Daniels had an ugly drop after getting open about 20 yards down the field, letting the ball get to his body and bounce off.
Justin Ibieta was next, and Chase Kuerschen broke up his pass to tight end Tyrick James down the seam. Ibieta then hit Amare Jones near the sideline.
Pratt went back in and connected with Brown deep down the middle for a big gain. He then hit Ygenio Booker, whose receiving skills are outstanding, inside before Brown dropped a slightly off-target throw. A little later, Pratt trusted his arm too much in a deep throw for Jones into double coverage that Kuerschen intercepted off a deflection. Pratt threw behind Duece Watts for an incompletion on his next pass.
The walk-on QBs got some reps, too, and tight end Will Wallace, not known for his receiving skills, made an oustanding diving catch of a deep pass from Josh Holl.
In Ibieta's next set of reps, he tried to hit walk-on Ryan Thompson deep on cornerback Kiland Harrison, who was step for step with him and knocked the ball away. He then found Thompson for a short gain on a quick slant and connected with Ledford on a pretty deep floater, although the defensive players on the sideline insisted Ledford landed out of bounds. Ledford, who looked good in a Superdome practice last fall after moving to receiver before getting hurt soon afterward, has been impressive this camp. Ibieta's last throw was a completed deep out to freshman tight end Reggie Brown, who bobbled it slightly before bringing it near the sideline.
Howard returned for his last 8-on-8 stint and found Brown down the seam before Kuerschen could get there to break it up. He followed with a completion to Tyjae Spears on the sideline and a completion to Brown over the middle.
Pratt returned, and Clark broke up his pass for Cameron Carroll before Booker made a diving catch on a deep ball near the sideline. He came up a little gimpy and was stretching his legs as if he had a cramp.
In the situational 11-on-11 drill that ended practice, they were not in the red zone like in Thursday's workout, giving them more room to operate. The QB substitutions were rapid, but Howard started with an unsuccessful deep ball to Jackson, who was well covered by Jaylon Monroe. Pratt went in after two plays and the whistle blew when he could not find anyone open. He completed a short pass to Brown on an inside route and hit Ledford on a sideline pattern.
Ibieta entered and completed a floater to Ledford for a sizable gain before being pressured into an incomplete pass.
Holl was next, and he completed a 40-plus yard TD pass to unknown walk-on Stephen Payne when freshman cornerback Reggie Neely fell down. We won't be seeing that combo in games, but it was a nice play.
Pratt went int and connected with Jackson for a short gain outside before getting "sacked" by De'Andre Williams. A rare run play to Spears up the middle followed.
Ibieata went 2 for 2 in his last stint, completing a short pass Phat Watts before Booker made another heck of a play, diving to haul in a ball on a deep sideline pattern. He stayed down for nearly a minute after the catch, although he appeared OK when he walked around after getting up.
Howard's last stint featured three straight completions--one to Brown when he beat Harrison on a streak pattern, another to Presley inside and another to Thompson on a ball thrown slightly behind him.
The day ended in fitting fashion as walk-on Cameron Dartez completed a long ball to Phat Watts, who made another diving catch as the offense celebrated.
There is no question Will Hall is coaching these guys up in the passing game. Tulane still has a lot of questions to answer in that department, but the wideouts will get help from Jones, Spears and Booker. It's certainly a more promising situation that I would have forecast before the start of spring ball, although the wideouts will have to prove themselves in real games.
I will transcribe Fritz's quotes from the Zoom call later, but he said they will have two scrimmages this preseason--one on Aug. 13 in practice No. 8 and another on Aug. 20. Those will be the only two full-pad practices of the preseason, but Fritz has been doing it like that for several years.
The new thing is Tulane will practice four days in a row and then take one day off throughout camp because Fritz said studies had proven coaches overworked players in camp in the past, so tomorrow is the first off day.
Let's all keep our fingers crossed that the college season is allowed to move forward.
NOTES
--The emphasis on drinking water has been ramped up this preseason. Fritz started his post-practice talk to the players by yelling "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate."
--Fritz also is emphasizing sleep. Players are strongly encouraged to take two-to-three-hour naps after lunch, something that will not be possible when classes start Aug. 19. Tulane has been measuring sleep patterns since the beginning of last year, and Fritz has mentioned the naps in both practices I have attended.
--Today was freshman defensive tackle Brandon Brown's birthday. Players and coaches sang Happy Birthday to him in the post-practice meeting in the middle of the field.
--Caleb Thomas continued to get the reps as the second-team center. Fritz, however, labeled sophomore starting center Sincere Haynesworth "The Terminator" in his interview, saying he would play every down.
--Redshirt freshman safety Kanyon Walker, who was injured and never practiced last year as far as I can recall, still is unavailable. He watched practice from the sideline in a jersey but with no helmet.
I will have those concerns if the season starts, too (with the MAC canceling all fall sports today, it's a big IF), but the first week of preseason drills has been positive on that front. Willie Fritz said the QBs began the Friday practice I missed with 11 consecutive completions, and more deep balls are connecting in the two days I've seen than at any time since I started covering the team in 2010.
Today, I focused on the passing game, watching all of the 7 on 7 and 11-on-11 work in the final hour. Mykel Jones and Jaetavian Toles did not participate, but even if they had, Tulane's wide receiving corps will be a cast of unproven players this fall, with the group combining for 29 Division I catches last year, including Jones' two at Oklahoma (The Watts twins had 37 in JC ball).
The thing is, several of them are making plays in preseason camp. Today, the first teamers were true sophomore Jha'Quan Jackson, senior Jacob Robertson and Duece Watts. The second teamers were Sorrell Brown, Phat Watts and Dane Ledford. Tyrek Presley and a collection of walk-ons got reps with the third unit. Jones, whom Willie Fritz praised in his Zoom interview today, figures to start ahead of Robertson when he returns (I did not ask about Jones not practicing but will on Monday if he is not back). Toles, who caught 13 passes last year, did not have a good spring after losing his starting job to Robertson late last year and is more of a question. He was not one of the 10 receivers (counting three running backs) Fritz mentioned when asked to assess the wideouts in the video conference.
The quarterbacks were rotating quickly in the 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 work this morning. Howard, whose accuracy has improved tremendously from the start of spring drills, began by connecting with Jackson on the sideline. Jackson stood out more than any receiver in the five spring practices, and Fritz said today he expects him to start and that his move to QB as a senior in high school hindered his development before he arrived at Tulane. He caught only two passes in eight games on 2019 but is showing excellent hands and good open-field skills.
Howard was off target on his next throw, overthrowing an open receiver for what could have been a long gain. He then hit Sorrell Brown, a big target who missed his first two years due to separate knee injuries, for a short gain. Brown had more catches today than at any practice I've observed.
Michael Pratt entered and was victimized by drops, which were a problem last year even for Mooney and McCleskey. Presley, who caught three passes as a freshman last season but has a long way to go to get in the mix this year, dropped one on a slant. Then tight end/converted quarterback Christian Daniels had an ugly drop after getting open about 20 yards down the field, letting the ball get to his body and bounce off.
Justin Ibieta was next, and Chase Kuerschen broke up his pass to tight end Tyrick James down the seam. Ibieta then hit Amare Jones near the sideline.
Pratt went back in and connected with Brown deep down the middle for a big gain. He then hit Ygenio Booker, whose receiving skills are outstanding, inside before Brown dropped a slightly off-target throw. A little later, Pratt trusted his arm too much in a deep throw for Jones into double coverage that Kuerschen intercepted off a deflection. Pratt threw behind Duece Watts for an incompletion on his next pass.
The walk-on QBs got some reps, too, and tight end Will Wallace, not known for his receiving skills, made an oustanding diving catch of a deep pass from Josh Holl.
In Ibieta's next set of reps, he tried to hit walk-on Ryan Thompson deep on cornerback Kiland Harrison, who was step for step with him and knocked the ball away. He then found Thompson for a short gain on a quick slant and connected with Ledford on a pretty deep floater, although the defensive players on the sideline insisted Ledford landed out of bounds. Ledford, who looked good in a Superdome practice last fall after moving to receiver before getting hurt soon afterward, has been impressive this camp. Ibieta's last throw was a completed deep out to freshman tight end Reggie Brown, who bobbled it slightly before bringing it near the sideline.
Howard returned for his last 8-on-8 stint and found Brown down the seam before Kuerschen could get there to break it up. He followed with a completion to Tyjae Spears on the sideline and a completion to Brown over the middle.
Pratt returned, and Clark broke up his pass for Cameron Carroll before Booker made a diving catch on a deep ball near the sideline. He came up a little gimpy and was stretching his legs as if he had a cramp.
In the situational 11-on-11 drill that ended practice, they were not in the red zone like in Thursday's workout, giving them more room to operate. The QB substitutions were rapid, but Howard started with an unsuccessful deep ball to Jackson, who was well covered by Jaylon Monroe. Pratt went in after two plays and the whistle blew when he could not find anyone open. He completed a short pass to Brown on an inside route and hit Ledford on a sideline pattern.
Ibieta entered and completed a floater to Ledford for a sizable gain before being pressured into an incomplete pass.
Holl was next, and he completed a 40-plus yard TD pass to unknown walk-on Stephen Payne when freshman cornerback Reggie Neely fell down. We won't be seeing that combo in games, but it was a nice play.
Pratt went int and connected with Jackson for a short gain outside before getting "sacked" by De'Andre Williams. A rare run play to Spears up the middle followed.
Ibieata went 2 for 2 in his last stint, completing a short pass Phat Watts before Booker made another heck of a play, diving to haul in a ball on a deep sideline pattern. He stayed down for nearly a minute after the catch, although he appeared OK when he walked around after getting up.
Howard's last stint featured three straight completions--one to Brown when he beat Harrison on a streak pattern, another to Presley inside and another to Thompson on a ball thrown slightly behind him.
The day ended in fitting fashion as walk-on Cameron Dartez completed a long ball to Phat Watts, who made another diving catch as the offense celebrated.
There is no question Will Hall is coaching these guys up in the passing game. Tulane still has a lot of questions to answer in that department, but the wideouts will get help from Jones, Spears and Booker. It's certainly a more promising situation that I would have forecast before the start of spring ball, although the wideouts will have to prove themselves in real games.
I will transcribe Fritz's quotes from the Zoom call later, but he said they will have two scrimmages this preseason--one on Aug. 13 in practice No. 8 and another on Aug. 20. Those will be the only two full-pad practices of the preseason, but Fritz has been doing it like that for several years.
The new thing is Tulane will practice four days in a row and then take one day off throughout camp because Fritz said studies had proven coaches overworked players in camp in the past, so tomorrow is the first off day.
Let's all keep our fingers crossed that the college season is allowed to move forward.
NOTES
--The emphasis on drinking water has been ramped up this preseason. Fritz started his post-practice talk to the players by yelling "hydrate, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate."
--Fritz also is emphasizing sleep. Players are strongly encouraged to take two-to-three-hour naps after lunch, something that will not be possible when classes start Aug. 19. Tulane has been measuring sleep patterns since the beginning of last year, and Fritz has mentioned the naps in both practices I have attended.
--Today was freshman defensive tackle Brandon Brown's birthday. Players and coaches sang Happy Birthday to him in the post-practice meeting in the middle of the field.
--Caleb Thomas continued to get the reps as the second-team center. Fritz, however, labeled sophomore starting center Sincere Haynesworth "The Terminator" in his interview, saying he would play every down.
--Redshirt freshman safety Kanyon Walker, who was injured and never practiced last year as far as I can recall, still is unavailable. He watched practice from the sideline in a jersey but with no helmet.
