Tulane practiced without full pads again Thursday morning, and there was a lot of action in the 11-on-11 drill that ended the workout.
Michael Pratt and Justin Ibieata alternated, each taking four snaps at a time with their units as players were shuffling in and out with the ball moving steadilly down the field in a pre-planned down-and-distance system. On the very first play, Pratt connected with running back Ygenio Booker on a beautiful deep throw on an out route that would have gained at least 50 yards if the drill had been live. Booker beat nickelback Macon Clark by a step as he ran toward the sideline. Clark tried to undercut the route but the ball went past him and right into Booker's hands in stride as he turned up field. Pratt scrambled on the next play before Clark exacted his revenge, jumping a short out route by Cyron Sutton and getting an interception return for a touchdown. Pratt then threw slightly short of Devin Brumfield as he scrambled to his right.
Ibieta went in and had an miscommunication with wide receiver Tyrek Presley, who has yet to make an impact, throwing to the sideline while Presley kept running downfield. Ibieta hit Booker on an short out route, was pressured into a low throw to Phat Watts that fell incomplete and had a pass for Booker broken up by a number I could not identify.
Pratt's second series started with a scramble. He then threw to Duece Watts on a slant, hit Jaetavian Toles on another beautiful bullet pass that eluded Ajani Kerr even though there was almost no space. Arm strength is not an issue for Pratt. His next play was a throwaway under pressure.
Ibieata returned and threw incomplete off Presley's hands. Presley then caught a pass on a bubble screen, but he seemed a little under the weather and was laboring when he went to the sideline. He started heaving and may have thrown up. Ibieata then almost connected with Phat Watts deep for what would have been a touchdown, with the ball going off his fingertips, before hitting Stephen Payne on an underneath route.
I stopped paying attention to every play at that point and being taking down depth chart information, but I noted some more highlights. Lance Robinson had perfect form when he broke up a pass in the end zone, emphatically knocking it down with one hand. Pratt found Toles outside for a nice gain. The defense completely snuffed out a reverse to Booker that would have lost a lot of yards if the drill had been live. Christian Daniels, who is good at getting open but not as good at finishing the play, dropped a low pass from Pratt that was not an easy catch but could have been made about 25 yards down the field. Ibieata threw an interception that Joker Armoni Dixon snagged with good hands and brought back for a touchdown, prompting Dorian Williams to run from the sideline and meet Dixon in the end zone to celebrate with him. On the next play, Ibieta completed a pretty deep TD pass to Phat Watts, who beat Reggie Neely and walk-on Rishi Rattan. The last play of the day was a touchdown pass from Pratt to tight end Tyrick James.
I should have known something was up with the offensive linemen because they practiced next to the wall in one of the end zones, which is unusual. Last year they practiced right in front of where reporters sit in the stands. Everyone was practicing except for Joey Claybrook, who stood right next to them and watched as he recuperates from offseason knee surgery, and and Sincere Haynesworth, whom I did not see at all (despite my erroneous report yesterday). Haynesworth spoke after Wednesday's practice, so I do not believe he is hurt unless he got injured early yesterday. The first-team line in the 11-on-11 was Timothy Shafter at LT, Rashad Green at LG, Corey Dublin at C, Josh Remetich at RG and Trey Tuggle at RT. I don't think I caught the second team right away, but when I wrote it down, it was Michael Lombardi at LT, Jackson Fort at LG, Michael Remondet at C, Hayden Shook at RG and Joseph Solomon at RT. Cameron Jackel and Caleb Thomas, who were practicing in individual drills, were not out there at that point.
The first-unit receivers were Jaetavian Toles, Duece Watts and Phat Watts. Jha'Quan Jackson was in red and did not participate in 11 on 11.
The first-team defense had Carlos Hatcher, Eric Hicks, Jeffery Johnson and Angelo Anderson up front. They were mixing and matching the linebackers, with Kevin Henry and Jesus Machado operating as one unit. Earlier, Henry got some reps in individuals at Joker. Lance Robinson and Ajani Kerr were playing cornerback together, and Clark and Cornelius Dyson were together at safety. I would not read much into any of this because I expect Adonis Friloux and certainly Larry Brooks to be starters.
Earlier in practice, five players fielded balls from a Juggs machine in the end zone--Duece Watts, Toles, Cyron Sutton, Jackson and Phat Watts.
Players not practicing at all were Claybrook, Tyjae Spears, Reggie Brown, Mykel Jones, Ryan Thompson and walk-ons Tyler Lamm and Matthew Redmond.
Tulane reportedly hired a new offensive line coach yesterday. I have not gotten it confirmed through sources, but Football Scoop is almost never wrong, so it almost certainly will be Chris Watt, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman and current grad assistant for the Irish. He is in 20s just like Cody Kennedy was when he arrived with Will Hall. Hopefully Fritz will be able to talk about him tomorrow.
Michael Pratt and Justin Ibieata alternated, each taking four snaps at a time with their units as players were shuffling in and out with the ball moving steadilly down the field in a pre-planned down-and-distance system. On the very first play, Pratt connected with running back Ygenio Booker on a beautiful deep throw on an out route that would have gained at least 50 yards if the drill had been live. Booker beat nickelback Macon Clark by a step as he ran toward the sideline. Clark tried to undercut the route but the ball went past him and right into Booker's hands in stride as he turned up field. Pratt scrambled on the next play before Clark exacted his revenge, jumping a short out route by Cyron Sutton and getting an interception return for a touchdown. Pratt then threw slightly short of Devin Brumfield as he scrambled to his right.
Ibieta went in and had an miscommunication with wide receiver Tyrek Presley, who has yet to make an impact, throwing to the sideline while Presley kept running downfield. Ibieta hit Booker on an short out route, was pressured into a low throw to Phat Watts that fell incomplete and had a pass for Booker broken up by a number I could not identify.
Pratt's second series started with a scramble. He then threw to Duece Watts on a slant, hit Jaetavian Toles on another beautiful bullet pass that eluded Ajani Kerr even though there was almost no space. Arm strength is not an issue for Pratt. His next play was a throwaway under pressure.
Ibieata returned and threw incomplete off Presley's hands. Presley then caught a pass on a bubble screen, but he seemed a little under the weather and was laboring when he went to the sideline. He started heaving and may have thrown up. Ibieata then almost connected with Phat Watts deep for what would have been a touchdown, with the ball going off his fingertips, before hitting Stephen Payne on an underneath route.
I stopped paying attention to every play at that point and being taking down depth chart information, but I noted some more highlights. Lance Robinson had perfect form when he broke up a pass in the end zone, emphatically knocking it down with one hand. Pratt found Toles outside for a nice gain. The defense completely snuffed out a reverse to Booker that would have lost a lot of yards if the drill had been live. Christian Daniels, who is good at getting open but not as good at finishing the play, dropped a low pass from Pratt that was not an easy catch but could have been made about 25 yards down the field. Ibieata threw an interception that Joker Armoni Dixon snagged with good hands and brought back for a touchdown, prompting Dorian Williams to run from the sideline and meet Dixon in the end zone to celebrate with him. On the next play, Ibieta completed a pretty deep TD pass to Phat Watts, who beat Reggie Neely and walk-on Rishi Rattan. The last play of the day was a touchdown pass from Pratt to tight end Tyrick James.
I should have known something was up with the offensive linemen because they practiced next to the wall in one of the end zones, which is unusual. Last year they practiced right in front of where reporters sit in the stands. Everyone was practicing except for Joey Claybrook, who stood right next to them and watched as he recuperates from offseason knee surgery, and and Sincere Haynesworth, whom I did not see at all (despite my erroneous report yesterday). Haynesworth spoke after Wednesday's practice, so I do not believe he is hurt unless he got injured early yesterday. The first-team line in the 11-on-11 was Timothy Shafter at LT, Rashad Green at LG, Corey Dublin at C, Josh Remetich at RG and Trey Tuggle at RT. I don't think I caught the second team right away, but when I wrote it down, it was Michael Lombardi at LT, Jackson Fort at LG, Michael Remondet at C, Hayden Shook at RG and Joseph Solomon at RT. Cameron Jackel and Caleb Thomas, who were practicing in individual drills, were not out there at that point.
The first-unit receivers were Jaetavian Toles, Duece Watts and Phat Watts. Jha'Quan Jackson was in red and did not participate in 11 on 11.
The first-team defense had Carlos Hatcher, Eric Hicks, Jeffery Johnson and Angelo Anderson up front. They were mixing and matching the linebackers, with Kevin Henry and Jesus Machado operating as one unit. Earlier, Henry got some reps in individuals at Joker. Lance Robinson and Ajani Kerr were playing cornerback together, and Clark and Cornelius Dyson were together at safety. I would not read much into any of this because I expect Adonis Friloux and certainly Larry Brooks to be starters.
Earlier in practice, five players fielded balls from a Juggs machine in the end zone--Duece Watts, Toles, Cyron Sutton, Jackson and Phat Watts.
Players not practicing at all were Claybrook, Tyjae Spears, Reggie Brown, Mykel Jones, Ryan Thompson and walk-ons Tyler Lamm and Matthew Redmond.
Tulane reportedly hired a new offensive line coach yesterday. I have not gotten it confirmed through sources, but Football Scoop is almost never wrong, so it almost certainly will be Chris Watt, a former Notre Dame offensive lineman and current grad assistant for the Irish. He is in 20s just like Cody Kennedy was when he arrived with Will Hall. Hopefully Fritz will be able to talk about him tomorrow.