In what has been the hottest week of practice all year, Tulane completed on-field preparation for Ohio State on Thursday morning at Yulman Stadium. Willie Fritz, who said Tuesday he had needed to pump up some of his players who were dragging after the UAB loss, likes the attitude of his guys as they head on the road as a 37-point underdog against the No. 4 team in the country.
"They've done a good job of responding and coming back," Fritz said. "Obviously we've got a great challenge in front of us, but the big thing I've talked to them about, and it's the same way every game, is compete from the beginning of the game to the end of the game, plain and simple. I think it's a great opportunity to test yourself against the best."
As it turns out, Dane Ledford and Christian Daniels are getting reps at wide receiver this week. I had not seen them take any on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they were out there today. Tulane really needs someone to play well other than Darnell Mooney, who is 19th in the nation in receiving yards. and Terren Encalade, who had the huge game against Wake Forest. The rest of the wideouts have combined for a paltry five catches (two by starter Jabril Clewis, three by Jaetavian Toles). Clewis has been targeted quite a bit and come up empty most of the time. Brian Newman and Jacob Robertson have zero catches, and Jorrien Vallien did not have any in the one game he played. As appeared likely at the time, the career-ending shoulder injury to Freddy Canteen was a big blow.
"We need some more guys to step up and just at the very least be assignment sound and know that they are going to run the right route and know that they are going to catch the ball if we throw it to them when they're open and blocking the right body. Just being assignment sound is a big deal. We've got Dane Ledford out there getting a few reps. He's played there before (against Oklahoma the last time Tulane had a game like this). And then Christian Daniels, I just got done talking to him. If he can learn what he's doing, he'll play for us here in a few weeks. He's a big body and he's got all the tools. He's got really soft hands. A quarterback should have a pretty good sense of where to line up and the depth of the route and all that kind of stuff because he's had to go over all those things. It is putting him at a different position but not entirely a different position."
Wide receiver D.J. Owens, who no longer is on the roster but I've seen every day at practice out of his jersey on the sideline, has been medically D.Q'd, which clears up that mystery. He caught a touchdown pass as a true freshman but missed a lot of time with injury in his career.
"Unfortunately, he's suffered from migraine headaches over the last few years," Fritz said. "Prior to the season he was unable to compete in seven games, and then it started happening again during preseason camp, so we've medically D.Q'd him. He's helping us coach right now. He's a good young man."
Justin McMillan took every second-team rep this week. Although Fritz was not specific on the plan for him this Saturday, he likes what he has seen.
"We think he's closer," he said. "He's learning what we're doing. That's always the big dilemma. You don't want to put a guy out there and he knows a 10th of the offense. Now he's getting closer and closer to having a grasp of what we're doing."
You might see some new faces on the offensive line. Tulane mixed and matched there today for the first time since the first half of preseason camp, and Noah Fisher did not get any reps with the first unit at the end of practice. I would not be surprised if Tyler Johnson starts at left tackle because he got some reps with the other four regular starters. I also saw a lineup with John Leglue at left guard and Cameron Jackel at right guard, although I don't think they would make changes that significant for the Ohio State game. A few minutes later. Leglue was back at right guard and Dominique Briggs was at his usual first-team spot at left guard.
"They've done a good job of responding and coming back," Fritz said. "Obviously we've got a great challenge in front of us, but the big thing I've talked to them about, and it's the same way every game, is compete from the beginning of the game to the end of the game, plain and simple. I think it's a great opportunity to test yourself against the best."
As it turns out, Dane Ledford and Christian Daniels are getting reps at wide receiver this week. I had not seen them take any on Tuesday and Wednesday, but they were out there today. Tulane really needs someone to play well other than Darnell Mooney, who is 19th in the nation in receiving yards. and Terren Encalade, who had the huge game against Wake Forest. The rest of the wideouts have combined for a paltry five catches (two by starter Jabril Clewis, three by Jaetavian Toles). Clewis has been targeted quite a bit and come up empty most of the time. Brian Newman and Jacob Robertson have zero catches, and Jorrien Vallien did not have any in the one game he played. As appeared likely at the time, the career-ending shoulder injury to Freddy Canteen was a big blow.
"We need some more guys to step up and just at the very least be assignment sound and know that they are going to run the right route and know that they are going to catch the ball if we throw it to them when they're open and blocking the right body. Just being assignment sound is a big deal. We've got Dane Ledford out there getting a few reps. He's played there before (against Oklahoma the last time Tulane had a game like this). And then Christian Daniels, I just got done talking to him. If he can learn what he's doing, he'll play for us here in a few weeks. He's a big body and he's got all the tools. He's got really soft hands. A quarterback should have a pretty good sense of where to line up and the depth of the route and all that kind of stuff because he's had to go over all those things. It is putting him at a different position but not entirely a different position."
Wide receiver D.J. Owens, who no longer is on the roster but I've seen every day at practice out of his jersey on the sideline, has been medically D.Q'd, which clears up that mystery. He caught a touchdown pass as a true freshman but missed a lot of time with injury in his career.
"Unfortunately, he's suffered from migraine headaches over the last few years," Fritz said. "Prior to the season he was unable to compete in seven games, and then it started happening again during preseason camp, so we've medically D.Q'd him. He's helping us coach right now. He's a good young man."
Justin McMillan took every second-team rep this week. Although Fritz was not specific on the plan for him this Saturday, he likes what he has seen.
"We think he's closer," he said. "He's learning what we're doing. That's always the big dilemma. You don't want to put a guy out there and he knows a 10th of the offense. Now he's getting closer and closer to having a grasp of what we're doing."
You might see some new faces on the offensive line. Tulane mixed and matched there today for the first time since the first half of preseason camp, and Noah Fisher did not get any reps with the first unit at the end of practice. I would not be surprised if Tyler Johnson starts at left tackle because he got some reps with the other four regular starters. I also saw a lineup with John Leglue at left guard and Cameron Jackel at right guard, although I don't think they would make changes that significant for the Ohio State game. A few minutes later. Leglue was back at right guard and Dominique Briggs was at his usual first-team spot at left guard.