Phat Watts turned in the catch of preseason camp today in a 2-minute drill near the end of the workout, grabbing a deep pass from Michael Pratt on his shoulder pad and holding on similar to David Tyree's Super helmet catch in the Super Bowl several years ago. It was not quite the same level of difficulty, but it was an impressive display by a receiver who has been inconsistent since arrive from junior college with twin brother Duece last year. Tulane needs some of its receivers to step up, and this was a good start. Freshman T.J. Huggins made some plays today as well, including a catch on a pass thrown behind him by Justin Ibieta, although he had another drop earlier and Duece Watts finished the practice with a touchdown grab from Ibieta in the 2-minute drill. It was the combo's second touchdown of the day after Duece Watts snagged a pretty pass in the back of the end zone and got his foot down inbounds during a 7-on-7 drill. In that same seven-on-seven work, Tyrek Presley leaped high to catch another Ibieta thrown in the back of the end zone and Shae Wyatt broke free on a crossing route for an easy score.
Michael Pratt's first two passes of the 7-on-7, which was a goal-line drill today, were dropped in the end zone, but the receivers were solid the rest of the way. Huggins dropped a pretty easy one, and Jaetavian Toles had one go off his hands on what would have been a tough catch. Toles rebounded on the next play for a touchdown, and Tyjae Spears looked quick out of the backfield for an easy scoring reception seconds later.
Ibieta had the touchdown passes to Wyatt and Presley and almost had another one to Presley, who's feet came out out of the back of the end zone. In his next segment, he held the ball a long time before throwing late and incomplete for Duece Watts, They made up for it with their beautiful scoring connection on the next play, but Ibieta could not find anyone open on the next snap and threw it away before throwing too low for Christian Daniels.
Saturday's scrimmage will be a big day for the receivers as they determine a pecking order. Wyatt, Cyron Sutton, Jaetavian Toles, Phat Watts, Presley, Daniels and Huggins all have shown flashes of play-making potential to varying degrees, but all of them have yet to prove (with the possible exception of Toles) they can be reliable factors.
In the first 11-on-11 segment, Pratt's second pass was tipped and then intercepted along the sideline. He completed a pass to Toles on a slant and hit Ygenio Booker with a swing pass that might have been a lateral. Either way, getting Booker in the open field, like he was there, should be a successful play this season.
Ibieta went in and immediately tried to thread a needle on a seam throw to Wyatt and was fortunate it was not picked off. In the six days of camp, I'd say Ibieta has thrown more pretty completions than Pratt, but his floor has been considerably lower, too, with some questionable decisions. If he cleans those up, he will be game-ready if needed, and Tulane could win with him.
Kai Horton did not get much going today, throwing low for Presley twice in a row in the goal-line 7-on-7 work. The most action that came on one of his players was a keeper that went nowhere but ended up in a near fight when someone slung offensive tackle Joseph Solomon to the ground.
In the two-minute drill, Pratt completed a pass to Phat Watts inside, threw wide of Wyatt and found tight end Tyrick James for a first down. He then threw incomplete for Wyatt on a back-shoulder pass and missed an open Toles for what would have been a first down. Those are the plays Pratt needs to cut out. Tulane's quarterbacks never have had a high completion percentage under Fritz, but he could be the first if he makes sure the routine throws are on target consistently.
Ibieta went in and completed a pass to Cam Carroll, scrambled on the next play and hit Huggins on the play I mentioned earlier for a good gain. He then threw too low for Sutton and was "sacked," ending the series as Fritz hollered he could not take a sack in that situation.
Each QB got another series, with Pratt getting the fantastic grab by Phat Watts and Ibieta throwing the toucheown pass to Duece Watts as the Watts twins ended with bang.
Tight end Keitha Jones sat out the practice with an unspecified injury. I also did not see third-string offensive tackle Haydan Shook, who was the only one of 15 scholarship linemen not practicing. The first-team offensive line was the same as yesterday, with Rashad Green at right tackle and Caleb Thomas at right guard along with the three usual suspects. The second-team line was Cameron Jackel, Jackson Fort, Thomas, Tuggle and Remetich splitting reps and Matt Lombardi from left to right. The third-team line was Solomon, Hutson Lillibridge, Ethan Marcus, Tuggle and Remetich and Tim Shafter from left to right.
I talked to Fritz, Rashad Green and Sincere Haynesworth after practice. I will post their comments shortly.
Michael Pratt's first two passes of the 7-on-7, which was a goal-line drill today, were dropped in the end zone, but the receivers were solid the rest of the way. Huggins dropped a pretty easy one, and Jaetavian Toles had one go off his hands on what would have been a tough catch. Toles rebounded on the next play for a touchdown, and Tyjae Spears looked quick out of the backfield for an easy scoring reception seconds later.
Ibieta had the touchdown passes to Wyatt and Presley and almost had another one to Presley, who's feet came out out of the back of the end zone. In his next segment, he held the ball a long time before throwing late and incomplete for Duece Watts, They made up for it with their beautiful scoring connection on the next play, but Ibieta could not find anyone open on the next snap and threw it away before throwing too low for Christian Daniels.
Saturday's scrimmage will be a big day for the receivers as they determine a pecking order. Wyatt, Cyron Sutton, Jaetavian Toles, Phat Watts, Presley, Daniels and Huggins all have shown flashes of play-making potential to varying degrees, but all of them have yet to prove (with the possible exception of Toles) they can be reliable factors.
In the first 11-on-11 segment, Pratt's second pass was tipped and then intercepted along the sideline. He completed a pass to Toles on a slant and hit Ygenio Booker with a swing pass that might have been a lateral. Either way, getting Booker in the open field, like he was there, should be a successful play this season.
Ibieta went in and immediately tried to thread a needle on a seam throw to Wyatt and was fortunate it was not picked off. In the six days of camp, I'd say Ibieta has thrown more pretty completions than Pratt, but his floor has been considerably lower, too, with some questionable decisions. If he cleans those up, he will be game-ready if needed, and Tulane could win with him.
Kai Horton did not get much going today, throwing low for Presley twice in a row in the goal-line 7-on-7 work. The most action that came on one of his players was a keeper that went nowhere but ended up in a near fight when someone slung offensive tackle Joseph Solomon to the ground.
In the two-minute drill, Pratt completed a pass to Phat Watts inside, threw wide of Wyatt and found tight end Tyrick James for a first down. He then threw incomplete for Wyatt on a back-shoulder pass and missed an open Toles for what would have been a first down. Those are the plays Pratt needs to cut out. Tulane's quarterbacks never have had a high completion percentage under Fritz, but he could be the first if he makes sure the routine throws are on target consistently.
Ibieta went in and completed a pass to Cam Carroll, scrambled on the next play and hit Huggins on the play I mentioned earlier for a good gain. He then threw too low for Sutton and was "sacked," ending the series as Fritz hollered he could not take a sack in that situation.
Each QB got another series, with Pratt getting the fantastic grab by Phat Watts and Ibieta throwing the toucheown pass to Duece Watts as the Watts twins ended with bang.
Tight end Keitha Jones sat out the practice with an unspecified injury. I also did not see third-string offensive tackle Haydan Shook, who was the only one of 15 scholarship linemen not practicing. The first-team offensive line was the same as yesterday, with Rashad Green at right tackle and Caleb Thomas at right guard along with the three usual suspects. The second-team line was Cameron Jackel, Jackson Fort, Thomas, Tuggle and Remetich splitting reps and Matt Lombardi from left to right. The third-team line was Solomon, Hutson Lillibridge, Ethan Marcus, Tuggle and Remetich and Tim Shafter from left to right.
I talked to Fritz, Rashad Green and Sincere Haynesworth after practice. I will post their comments shortly.
